macOS - Software - Install Google Drive

What the Google Drive Installer does

This Automox Worklet™ automates the download and installation of the Google Drive desktop application on macOS endpoints. Google Drive for desktop provides file streaming and synchronization, allowing users to access their Google Drive files directly through the macOS Finder without storing everything locally.

The installation process downloads the DMG from the Automox software cache, mounts it, runs the PKG installer, and cleans up temporary files. The Worklet also provides an optional configuration to remove Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides applications that install alongside Drive if you prefer users access these through the web.

Why deploy Google Drive through Automox

Organizations using Google Workspace face deployment challenges when users manually install Google Drive with inconsistent versions, configurations, or fail to install it at all. Manual installation processes require user action, introduce version drift across the fleet, and leave some endpoints without critical cloud storage integration that impacts collaboration and file access. This Automox Worklet eliminates these inconsistencies by deploying Google Drive silently and uniformly across all macOS endpoints regardless of user session state, providing standardized Google Workspace integration with optional control over companion apps like Docs, Sheets, and Slides.

How Google Drive installation works

1. Evaluation phase: The Worklet checks if /Applications/Google Drive.app exists on the endpoint. If Drive is present, the endpoint is compliant. If Drive is missing, the evaluation triggers remediation.

2. Remediation phase: The script downloads GoogleDrive.dmg from api.automox.com, mounts the disk image, runs the PKG installer targeting the root volume. If RemoveGoogleApps is set to YES, it removes Google Sheets, Docs, and Slides from /Applications. Finally, it verifies installation and reports the installed version.

Google Drive installation requirements

• macOS 10.14 (Mojave) or later

• Intel or Apple Silicon processor

• Network access to api.automox.com

• Google Workspace account for user sign-in after installation

• Optional: Set RemoveGoogleApps=YES to remove Docs, Sheets, and Slides apps

Expected state after Google Drive installation

After successful remediation, you can expect these specific outcomes:

• Google Drive.app will be installed at /Applications/Google Drive.app

• Users will see Google Drive in Finder's sidebar after launching the app and signing in

• Files will stream on demand by default, downloading locally only when opened

• You can verify installation using ls -la /Applications/Google\ Drive.app

• If RemoveGoogleApps=YES, Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides will not appear in /Applications

How to validate install google drive changes

1. Run this Worklet on a pilot macOS endpoint and review evaluation output for install google drive.

2. Confirm Automox activity logs show successful completion and exit code 0.

3. Verify endpoint state using checks aligned to evaluation script logic, such as exit, else.

4. Validate remediation effects from script operations such as function, curl, yes, then rerun evaluation for compliance.

For technical validation, compare endpoint state to the Worklet evaluation logic and remediation flow for install google drive. This supports repeatable software lifecycle workflows, faster change control review, and auditable compliance evidence.

Useful script references for this Worklet include evaluation operations such as exit, else and remediation operations such as function, curl, yes. Use these indicators to verify that endpoint changes match intended policy outcomes.