What Happens When You Change Folder Owner

When you transfer ownership of a Google Drive folder to another person, that person becomes the sole owner and you lose ownership rights. The new owner can then change permissions, delete the folder, or remove you from it entirely. Google does not keep a record of who the previous owner was, and the transfer cannot be undone by you — only the new owner can transfer it back.

The folder itself, all files inside it, and all subfolders move to the new owner's Drive. If you had shared the folder with others before the transfer, those sharing permissions stay in place unless the new owner changes them. The new owner will see the folder in their "My Drive" section, not in a shared folder area.

You cannot transfer ownership of a folder you do not own, even if you have editor access. You also cannot transfer a folder to a Google Group, a shared drive, or an email address that is not a personal Google account.

Key Takeaways

  • You must be the owner of the folder to transfer it; editor access is not enough.
  • The new owner receives full control and you will no longer be able to manage the folder unless they re-share it with you.
  • The transfer works only to another person's personal Google account, not to a group or shared drive.
  • Once transferred, the new owner can undo the transfer by giving ownership back to you, but you cannot reverse it yourself.
  • All files, subfolders, and existing sharing permissions move with the folder to the new owner.

Steps to Transfer Folder Ownership

Open Google Drive in your web browser and locate the folder you own. Right-click on the folder name and select Share from the menu. A sharing panel will open on the right side of your screen.

In the sharing panel, look for the section that shows current access. You will see your name listed as the owner. Click on your name or the dropdown arrow next to "Owner" to reveal options. Select Transfer ownership from the menu that appears.

A dialog box will ask you to enter the email address of the person who will become the new owner. Type their full email address exactly as it appears in their Google account. Click Transfer to confirm. Google will send a notification to that person's email address letting them know they now own the folder.

The transfer completes when ready. You will no longer see the folder in your "My Drive" section, though you may still see it in your recent files or search results for a short time. Refresh your browser to see the updated view of your Drive.

What the New Owner Sees and Can Do

The new owner receives an email notification that they now own the folder. When they open their Google Drive, the folder appears in their "My Drive" section at the top level, not nested under any other folder. They can see all files and subfolders inside it when ready.

The new owner has complete control: they can move the folder to a different location in their Drive, rename it, delete it, change all sharing permissions, or transfer ownership again to someone else. If you were previously an editor or viewer, you will no longer have access unless the new owner specifically shares it with you again.

If the new owner wants to give ownership back to you, they can follow the same transfer process and enter your email address. This is the only way to restore your ownership after a transfer.

Situations Where Transfer Fails or Is Not Possible

The transfer will not work if the recipient's email address is not a personal Google account. Work accounts, school accounts, and group email addresses cannot receive folder ownership. If you try to transfer to an invalid address, Google will show an error message and the transfer will not complete.

You cannot transfer a folder if you are not the owner, even if you have full editor permissions. If someone else owns the folder and you need ownership, ask them to transfer it to you using the same steps above.

If the folder is inside a shared drive (a team workspace), you cannot transfer it to a personal account. Shared drive folders are owned by the shared drive itself, not by individuals. You would need to move the files out of the shared drive and into a personal folder first, then transfer that folder.

Transfer also fails if the recipient has not yet activated their Google account or if their account has been suspended. Ask the person to confirm their account is active before you attempt the transfer.

Before You Transfer: What to Prepare

Before transferring ownership, make sure you have downloaded or backed up any files you may need later. Once the new owner takes control, they could delete files or remove your access, and you would have no way to recover them.

Check all sharing permissions on the folder and its contents. Make a note of who currently has access and what level of access they have (viewer, commenter, or editor). After the transfer, the new owner will see these permissions, but you will not be able to change them unless they re-share the folder with you as an editor.

If the folder contains sensitive information or files you created, consider whether you truly want to give up all control. Once transferred, you cannot prevent the new owner from sharing it further, deleting it, or changing its contents.

Communicate with the new owner before the transfer so they understand what the folder contains and what you expect them to do with it. This prevents confusion and ensures they know to re-share it with you if you need ongoing access.

Transferring Ownership on Mobile Apps

The Google Drive mobile app (on iPhone or Android) does not have a built-in option to transfer folder ownership. You must use the web version of Google Drive in a browser to complete the transfer.

Open your mobile browser, go to drive.google.com, and sign in with your Google account. Navigate to the folder you want to transfer, then follow the same steps as the web version: tap the three-dot menu, select Share, and choose Transfer ownership.

After the transfer is complete, you can continue using the mobile app normally. The folder will no longer appear in your "My Drive" on any device.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I transfer a folder to multiple people at once?

No. Ownership can belong to only one person at a time. If you need multiple people to manage a folder together, transfer it to one person and have them share it with others as editors, or move the files to a shared drive where multiple people can have equal control.

What happens to files I uploaded to the folder after I transfer it?

Any files you upload after the transfer will go into your own Drive, not the transferred folder, because you no longer own it. If you need to add files to the transferred folder, ask the new owner to share it with you as an editor first.

Can I transfer a folder if it contains files from other people?

Yes. The folder itself and all files inside it transfer to the new owner, regardless of who originally uploaded each file. The new owner becomes responsible for all content in the folder and can do anything with it, including deleting files that other people created.

Will the new owner see the folder's edit history?

Yes. The version history and activity log of the folder and all files inside it remain intact after the transfer. The new owner can see who made changes and when, going back to when the folder was first created.

What if I transfer a folder by mistake?

Contact the new owner when ready and ask them to transfer ownership back to you. They can do this using the same transfer process. If you cannot reach them, you will need to ask a Google Workspace administrator (if your account is through work) for help, though personal Google accounts do not have this recovery option.