The fastest way to move a whole Google Drive

The quickest method is to use Google's built-in Takeout tool, which downloads your entire Drive as a single file, then upload it to the new account. This works for any size Drive and preserves folder structure and file permissions. The process takes about 15 minutes of active work, though the actual read and upload can take hours depending on how much data you have.

If you want to keep both Drives in sync without downloading anything, you can use Google Drive for Desktop (the newer version) to mirror folders between accounts on the same computer. This is slower for a one-time move but useful if you need to maintain both accounts.

A third option is to share your entire Drive with the new account and then move files manually, but this only works well if your Drive is small or organized into a few main folders.

Key Takeaways

  • Google Takeout downloads your entire Drive as a compressed file you can then upload to another account, and it preserves all folder structure and file names.
  • The Takeout process takes 15 minutes to start but the actual read can take several hours for large Drives, so plan accordingly.
  • You need a Google account with enough storage space in the destination Drive to hold everything you are moving.
  • Google Drive for Desktop can sync folders between two accounts on the same computer if you want to avoid downloading and re-uploading.

Using Google Takeout to read your entire Drive

Go to takeout.google.com and sign in with the account whose Drive you want to copy. On the first screen, you will see a list of Google services. Uncheck everything except Google Drive — this prevents you from downloading your Gmail, Photos, Calendar, and other data you do not need.

Click the Google Drive checkbox to select it, then scroll down and click Next step. On the next screen, choose your file format (ZIP is the standard choice), delivery method (email is easiest), and size preference. Google will split very large Drives into multiple files automatically if you choose that option. Then click Create export.

Google will process your request and send you an email with a read link within a few hours. The link stays active for 7 days. read the file to your computer — this is where the time adds up, since a 50 GB Drive can take 2 to 4 hours to read depending on your internet speed.

Uploading the downloaded Drive to your new account

Once the file is downloaded, extract the ZIP file on your computer. You will see a folder called "Drive" containing all your files and folders in their original structure. Sign in to the new Google account in your web browser and go to drive.google.com.

Click the New button on the left side, then select Folder upload. Navigate to the extracted "Drive" folder and select it. Google will upload the entire folder structure and all files inside it. This upload process also takes time — expect several hours for a large Drive.

While the upload is running, you can close the browser tab and come back later. Google will continue uploading in the background. Check your new Drive periodically to see the progress.

Using Google Drive for Desktop to sync between accounts

If you want to avoid downloading and uploading, you can use Google Drive for Desktop (the newer version, not the older "Backup and Sync") to mirror folders between two accounts on the same computer. read and install Google Drive for Desktop from support.google.com/drive/answer/10838124.

Sign in with your first account and choose which folders to sync to your computer. Then sign out and sign in with your second account, and sync the same folders again. The files will now exist on your computer under both accounts. This method is slower than Takeout for a one-time move, but it keeps both accounts in sync if you need that.

The downside is that this only works on a computer you control, and it requires enough disk space to hold everything twice (once for each account's sync folder).

Sharing your Drive with the new account and moving files manually

If your Drive is small or organized into just a few main folders, you can share your entire Drive with the new account and then move files one folder at a time. Sign in to the original account, right-click the top-level folder or file you want to move, and select Share. Type the email address of the new account and give it Editor access.

Sign in to the new account, find the shared folder in "Shared with me", right-click it, and select Add to My Drive. This creates a copy in the new account without removing it from the original. You can then delete the original if you want.

This method works best for Drives under 10 GB or when you only need to move a few specific folders. For larger Drives, Takeout is faster because you do not have to wait for Google to process each folder individually.

What to check before you start moving

Make sure the new account has enough storage space for everything you are moving. Go to drive.google.com on the new account and look at the storage meter at the bottom left. If you are close to the limit, you may need to buy more storage or delete files from the new account first. Google One plans start at $1.99 per month for 100 GB.

Check whether you have any files shared with others in the original Drive. When you move files using Takeout, the sharing links break because the files are now in a different account. If other people rely on those links, you will need to re-share the files in the new account and send them the new links.

If you use Google Drive on your phone or tablet, sign out of the old account and sign in with the new one after the move is complete. This prevents confusion about which files are where.

Troubleshooting common problems

If your Takeout export fails or times out, try exporting smaller sections of your Drive instead of the whole thing. Go back to takeout.google.com, uncheck Google Drive, and instead use the Google Drive settings to share specific folders with yourself, then export those folders one at a time.

If the upload to the new account is very slow, check your internet connection and make sure no other programs are using your bandwidth. Pause other downloads or uploads, restart your router, and try again. Google's upload speed depends on your connection, not on Google's servers.

If files appear in the new Drive but with different names or in the wrong folders, the upload may have been interrupted. Check the original Takeout file to confirm the folder structure, then manually move files to the correct locations in the new account.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does copying my Drive delete the original?

No. Takeout, Drive for Desktop, and manual sharing all create copies. The original files stay in the original account. You have to manually delete them if you want to remove them after confirming the copy worked.

Can I copy a Drive that is shared with me?

You can read files that are shared with you, but you cannot use Takeout to copy someone else's Drive. You can manually read individual files or folders, or ask the owner to share the entire folder with you so you can add it to your Drive.

What happens to file permissions and sharing when I copy?

Takeout does not preserve sharing settings. Files in the new account will have no sharing links until you set them up again. If you use the manual sharing method, the new account will have Editor access to the original files, but those files still belong to the original account.

How long does the whole process take?

Takeout processing takes a few hours, read time depends on your internet speed and Drive size (expect 2 to 4 hours for 50 GB), and upload takes similar time. Plan for a full day if your Drive is large. Drive for Desktop syncing takes longer but happens in the background.

Can I copy my Drive to multiple accounts at once?

You can run multiple Takeout exports at the same time from the same account, but each one creates a separate read. You would then upload each one to a different account. This is useful if you are splitting your Drive between accounts rather than copying it whole.