Google Drive is great for storing your data in the cloud, so that your data is synced across several devices for instant access. Unfortunately, Linux Mint 18.1 and even the latest 18.2 doesn’t come installed with GNOME Online accounts. Therefore, you can’t add Google accounts by default settings.

In this article, I will guide you on how to install GNOME Online Accounts which will enable the PC to install Google Drive.

INSTALLING GNOME-ONLINE-ACCOUNTS

STEP 1: Launch ‘Terminal’.

STEP 2: Enter the following command to install GNOME Control Center.

sudo apt-get install gnome-control-center

STEP 3: Enter the following command to install GNOME Online Accounts.

sudo apt-get install gnome-online-accounts

STEP 4: Let’s launch Gnome Online Accounts from Terminal. Copy and paste the following command, and hit enter.

Exec=env XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP=GNOME gnome-control-center --overview

Installing Google Drive

STEP 5: You should now see the GNOME Control Center. Note that this will look similar to the ‘System Settings’ app of Linux Mint, but both are different.

STEP 6: Click ‘Online Accounts’.

STEP 7: Click ‘Add Online Account’.

STEP 8: Go ahead and add your Google Account. After entering correct credentials, you should see your Google account and Google Drive data.

You should see your Google account in the network section of Nemo (Files) app.

Note that you will see a directory with your google account in the “Home” section. This directory will not sync from PC to cloud, but vice-versa is true. In order to have a sync capability from PC to Google Drive, you must use the directory in the “Network” section of “Files” app.