The fastest way to move files is to share them with your new account, then save them there

You can move files from one Google Drive to another without downloading them to your computer. The simplest method is to open the file in your original account, use the Share button to give your second account access, then open that file from your second account and choose "Save a copy" to your new Drive. This takes about two minutes per file and works for documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and most other file types.

If you have many files or entire folders to move, you have three main routes: the share-and-copy method for small batches, Google Takeout for everything at once, or the folder-sharing method if you want to keep files in both places. Each has different trade-offs in speed, complexity, and what happens to the original files.

Key Takeaways

  • The share-and-copy method works for individual files: share with your new account, open the file there, and save a copy to move it without downloading.
  • Google Takeout exports your entire Drive as a compressed file you read and re-upload, which takes longer but moves everything at once and preserves folder structure.
  • Folder sharing keeps files in your original Drive but gives your second account access, which is useful if you want both accounts to see the same files.
  • Files moved this way keep their edit history and comments, but shared links from the original account will not automatically work in the new one.
  • Moving files does not delete them from your original account unless you manually delete them after confirming the copy arrived.

Share and copy: best for a handful of files

Open the file you want to move in your original Google account. Click the Share button in the top right. Type in the email address of your second Google account and give it Editor access (so it can make changes). Send the invitation.

Log into your second Google account in a different browser tab or window. Go to your email and accept the share invitation, or navigate directly to Google Drive and look for the file under "Shared with me." Open the file. Click the three-dot menu and select "Save a copy." Choose which folder in your new Drive you want it to go to, and confirm. The file now exists in your second account's Drive.

Go back to your original account and delete the file if you no longer need it there. If you leave it, both accounts will have a copy, but they will not stay in sync — changes in one will not appear in the other.

Google Takeout: best for moving your entire Drive

Go to takeout.google.com while logged into the account you want to move files from. Scroll down and uncheck everything except Google Drive. Click "Next step." Choose your file type (keep it as .zip unless you have a reason to change it), delivery method (email works fine), and frequency (one-time export). Click "Create export."

Google will prepare a compressed file containing all your Drive files and folders. This can take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours depending on how much you have. You will get an email with a read link. read the file to your computer — it may be several gigabytes, so make sure you have space.

Log into your second Google account. Go to Google Drive and create a new folder if you want to keep these files separate. Open that folder. Drag and drop the .zip file into Drive, or click the "New" button, select "File upload," and choose the .zip file. Google Drive will automatically unzip it and place all your files and folders inside. This can take a while depending on file size.

Once the upload finishes, check that your files arrived correctly. Then go back to your original account and delete the files if you no longer need them there.

Folder sharing: when you want both accounts to access the same files

This method does not move files — it keeps them in your original Drive but lets your second account see and edit them. Right-click the folder you want to share in your original account. Select "Share." Type in your second account's email address and give it Editor access. Send the invitation.

Log into your second account and accept the share invitation. The folder will appear in your Drive under "Shared with me." You can open files, edit them, and add new files to the folder from either account. Both accounts see the same files, so changes made in one account show up when ready in the other.

This is useful if you want to collaborate with yourself across accounts or if you are not sure whether you want to fully move files yet. The downside is that the files still belong to your original account, so if that account is deleted or suspended, your second account loses access.

What happens to file history, comments, and sharing links

When you save a copy of a file using the share-and-copy method, Google Drive preserves the edit history and any comments on the original file. You can see who changed what and when by opening the version history. Comments stay attached to the same text or cells they were on.

However, any sharing links you created for the original file will not work for the copy. If you shared a document with a public link or sent a specific link to someone, that link points to the file in your original account. You will need to create new sharing links in your second account and send them to anyone who needs access.

If you use Google Takeout, file history and comments come with the files. Sharing links do not transfer, for the same reason.

Moving files between personal and work accounts

If you are moving files from a personal Google account to a work Google account (or vice versa), the process is the same, but you may run into permission issues. Some work accounts have restrictions that prevent sharing with personal accounts. Check with your IT department or account administrator before you start.

If sharing is blocked, Google Takeout is your best option — it downloads everything to your computer, so you can then upload it to your work account without needing to share between accounts. This takes longer but bypasses permission restrictions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I move files without the other account accepting a share invitation?

No. To use the share-and-copy method, your second account must accept the invitation and open the file. Google Takeout is the only way to move files without involving your second account directly — you read everything and upload it yourself.

What if the file is too large to read?

Very large files can be slow to read through Google Takeout. If a single file is the problem, use the share-and-copy method instead — it does not require downloading. If multiple large files are the issue, you can export your Drive in multiple batches by selecting specific folders in Takeout rather than everything at once.

Do I have to delete the original files after moving them?

No. Files remain in your original account until you manually delete them. If you want to keep copies in both places, you can leave them. If you want to move them completely, delete them from your original account after confirming they arrived in your second account.

Will moved files count against my storage quota in the new account?

Yes. Once files are in your second account, they count toward that account's storage limit. If your second account is running low on space, you may need to buy more storage or delete other files to make room.

Can I move files from a shared Drive to a personal Drive?

You can copy files from a shared Drive to a personal Drive using the share-and-copy method, but you cannot move them — the original stays in the shared Drive. Shared Drives are designed to keep files in one place so the whole team can access them. If you need a personal copy, save a copy to your own Drive instead.