Google Drive expands to Arm-based Windows devices

Google Drive desktop is receiving native app for Windows on Arm brings Snapdragon-powered PCs

Tech Desk - Nov 21, 2024

An undated image of the Google Drive logo on a smartphone, along with an interface displayed on a laptop. — Shutterstock

Google has launched a beta version of the Google Drive desktop app, supporting Windows 11 running on flagship Snapdragon chips.

Google Drive provides the same features as on computers with Intel and AMD chips, except the Outlook Meet plugin.

You can install the beta from Google using this direct link to the .exe file. Besides requiring Windows 11, Google said that the installer will prompt users to download the also-necessary Microsoft WebView2.

Google Drive desktop is receiving a native app for Windows on Arm brings the Snapdragon-powered personal computers (PCs) a step closer to native software party with their x86 cousins.

Meanwhile, Chrome has already supported Arm PCs since January, and other app makers have released native versions this year, including Blender and the start menu customise Start11.

However, a lot of apps still depend on Microsoft’s Prism emulation, which the company has been working to enhance the performance of.