If you want to play Google Drive music on Android, the built-in Drive app will disappoint you fast — no queue, no shuffle, playback stops the moment you lock your screen. It’s a file storage app, not a music player.
Here are five methods that actually let you play Google Drive music properly on Android, from quick streaming to full offline library access.
Method 1: Play Google Drive Music Using the Built-In Drive Player
The Drive app has a basic preview player. Open Drive, find your audio file, tap it — it plays. Supported formats are MP3, WAV, AAC, OGG, and FLAC.
That’s where the good news ends. Lock your screen and playback stops. There’s no queue, no shuffle, no way to move to the next track automatically.
Use it when: you just need to check a file, or play one song and you’re done. For anything beyond that, keep reading.
Method 2: Play Google Drive Music with Symfonium
Symfonium is the best way to play Google Drive music on Android if you have a real library. It connects directly to Drive and presents your music as albums, artists, and playlists — reading your ID3 tags so everything looks organized instead of a flat dump of filenames.
It supports MP3, FLAC, ALAC, and most common formats. Gapless playback works. You can download tracks for offline listening. It casts to Chromecast too.
The catch: it’s paid. Free trial available, but you’ll need to buy it to keep using it.
How to set it up:
- Install Symfonium from the Play Store
- Tap “Add a media source” and choose Google Drive
- Sign in and let it scan
- Your library shows up organized by album and artist
Method 3: Play Google Drive Music Files with MusicSync
MusicSync is a free option that streams Google Drive music directly on Android. It’s lighter than Symfonium, rated 4.2 on the Play Store, and setup takes about two minutes — connect your Google account, point it at your music folder, done.
One limitation: it works best with files you’ve organized into Drive folders manually. If your music was auto-backed up from a PC, it may not find everything. Check your folder structure first.
Method 4: Download First, Then Play Locally
The most reliable way to play Google Drive music on Android — download the file first, then use a local player.
Open Drive, long-press the file, tap the three-dot menu, and hit “Download.” It saves to your Downloads folder. Any local music player — VLC, Musicolet, Poweramp — will pick it up from there.
No streaming, no app compatibility issues, no surprises after a Google API update. The tradeoff is storage space and the extra step of downloading what you want before you need it.
Best for: travel, commutes, or anywhere with unreliable signal.
Method 5: Upload to YouTube Music and Play from There
If you want to play Google Drive music on Android without dealing with third-party app compatibility, moving your library to YouTube Music is the cleanest long-term option.
YouTube Music lets you upload up to 100,000 songs for free. The Android app is a proper music player — background playback, offline downloads, playlists, the works.
To do it: go to music.youtube.com on desktop, click your profile icon, then “Upload music.” Choose your files. They appear in your library within minutes.
You’re not streaming from Drive anymore — you’re migrating your library. But you get a native Android music experience that doesn’t depend on third-party apps staying compatible with Google’s security changes.
Why Some Apps Stop Working with Google Drive
Google updates its API security regularly. Apps that could play Google Drive music last year sometimes lose access without warning — CloudPlayer by doubleTwist is a well-known example. It had Drive support, then it didn’t.
Before committing to any third-party player, check recent Play Store reviews for Drive connectivity complaints. Symfonium and MusicSync are both actively maintained as of mid-2026.
Comparison: Best Ways to Play Google Drive Music on Android
| Method | Offline? | Playlists? | Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drive built-in player | No | No | Free | Quick file preview |
| Symfonium | Yes | Yes | Paid | Full music library |
| MusicSync | No | Basic | Free | Simple streaming |
| Download + local player | Yes | Depends on player | Free | Max reliability |
| YouTube Music | Yes | Yes | Free (upload) | Long-term solution |
The built-in Drive player works for previewing a file. To actually play Google Drive music on Android with background playback, playlists, and proper controls, you need Symfonium (paid, best experience), MusicSync (free, simpler), or the download-and-play approach if you want something that always works regardless of app updates.
Daniel
Daniel is an SEO & Content Writer at MWT Media, specialising in crafting data-driven content that ranks. With a deep understanding of search engine optimisation, keyword strategy, and audience engagement. He creates compelling articles, blog posts, and web copy that not only attract organic traffic but convert readers into customers. At MWT Media, Daniel plays a key role in developing content strategies that align with client goals — from on-page SEO optimisation to high-quality guest posting campaigns.