Windows 8.1 Does Not Search Google Drive

Issue: When you use the Windows 8.1 search feature, you do not see results from documents in your Google Drive.

Cause: This is caused by the “System” object not having permissions to the Google Drive folder.

Solution: In Explorer, browse to your Google Drive folder. Be sure it is the actual Google Drive folder and not the shortcut in your Favorites. It defaults to “C:\Users\username\Google Drive”. Right-click and open the “Properties”, then click on the “Security” tab, then click on the “Advanced” button.

Click on the “Enable inheritance” button, make sure that “Replace all child object…” is checked, and click “OK”.

Verify that the “SYSTEM” user is now listed and click “OK”.

In a few minutes (once Windows indexes the location) you should start seeing results from Google Drive in your Windows Search.