The fastest way to move files is to share them with your new account, then transfer ownership

You can move files from one Google account to another without downloading them to your computer first. The method depends on how many files you have and whether you want to keep them in the original account or remove them completely.

The simplest approach for most people is to share the files with your new account, change who owns them, and then remove the original account's access. This takes about five minutes for a small folder and keeps everything in Google Drive the whole time. If you have thousands of files or an entire Drive you want to move, Google provides a bulk transfer tool that handles the whole folder structure at once.

Key Takeaways

  • You can transfer ownership of individual files or entire folders by sharing them with your new account and changing the owner in the share settings.
  • Google's Takeout tool lets you read your entire Drive as a compressed file, which you can then upload to your new account if you prefer that method.
  • Transferring ownership removes the original account's access to those files, so make sure you have logged into the new account before you start.
  • Shared files that other people own will not transfer — you can only move files you created or already own.
  • The transfer happens when ready once you change the owner, but it may take a few minutes for the change to show up in both accounts.

Transferring ownership of individual files or folders

Open Google Drive in the account that currently owns the files. Right-click the file or folder you want to move, then click Share. In the sharing window, paste the email address of your new Google account into the "Add people and groups" field.

Set the permission to Editor so your new account can make changes. Click Share. Now click the three-dot menu next to your new account's email address and select Transfer ownership. Google will ask you to confirm — click Transfer ownership again. Your new account is now the owner, and the original account automatically loses access unless you add it back as an editor or viewer.

Repeat this process for each file or folder you want to move. If you have a folder with many files inside it, transferring the folder transfers everything in it at once, so start with the largest folders first.

Using Google Takeout to read and re-upload your Drive

If you prefer to have a backup copy or want to move everything at once, use Google Takeout. Go to takeout.google.com while logged into the account you want to move files from. Scroll down and uncheck everything except Drive, then click Next step.

Choose your file format (the default .zip works fine), how often you want the file delivered (one-time is standard), and which storage method (Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, or email). Click Create export. Google will prepare your files — this can take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours depending on how much data you have. You will get a read link or the file will appear in your chosen storage location.

read the .zip file to your computer, then log into your new Google account. Create a new folder in Drive if you want to keep these files organized separately. Click the New button, select File upload or Folder upload, and select the .zip file or extracted folder. Google Drive will upload everything and recreate your folder structure.

What happens to files shared with other people

If you have shared files with colleagues, friends, or team members, those sharing permissions do not automatically transfer when you change the owner. The new owner (your new account) will have full control of the file, but the people you originally shared it with will lose access unless the new owner re-shares it with them.

Before you transfer ownership, make a note of who has access to each file. After the transfer, log into your new account and re-share the files with the same people. You can copy the sharing list from the original file's details if you need to remember exactly who had access.

Handling files you do not own

You cannot transfer ownership of files that someone else created, even if they shared them with you as an editor. You can only move files you own. If you have files in your Drive that belong to someone else, you have two options: ask the original owner to transfer ownership to your new account, or read the file to your computer and re-upload it to your new account (this makes you the new owner).

If you read and re-upload, you are creating a separate copy rather than moving the original. The original owner still has their version, and any changes they make will not appear in your copy.

Transferring a shared Drive (team or workspace)

Shared Drives (used by teams and organizations) have different transfer rules than personal Drive files. You cannot transfer a Shared Drive to a personal account — Shared Drives stay in the workspace they were created in. If you need to move files from a Shared Drive to your personal account, you must read them or copy them to your personal Drive first.

To copy files from a Shared Drive to your personal account, open the Shared Drive, right-click the file or folder, and select Make a copy. Choose your personal Drive as the destination. The copy will be owned by your personal account, and you can then transfer it to your new account using the ownership transfer method described above.

Timing and troubleshooting

Ownership transfers happen when ready, but it may take a few minutes for the change to show up in both accounts. If you do not see the file in your new account's Drive right away, refresh the page or log out and back in. The file will appear in the "My Drive" section of your new account once the transfer is complete.

If you get an error message saying you cannot transfer ownership, check that you are logged into the original owner's account and that the file is not a Google Form, Google Site, or other special file type that does not support ownership transfer. Some file types can only be shared, not transferred. If the file is a Form or Site, you will need to recreate it in your new account or read the responses and rebuild it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I transfer files if I have already deleted the original account?

No. Once an account is deleted, you cannot access it to transfer files. If you still have access to the account, transfer the files before you delete it. If the account is already gone, you cannot recover the files unless you have a backup from Google Takeout that you downloaded before the deletion.

Will the transfer work if my new account is a different type, like a Google Workspace account?

Yes. You can transfer files between a personal Gmail account and a Google Workspace account, or between two Workspace accounts. The process is the same — share the file with the new account and transfer ownership. Some organizations restrict who can receive ownership transfers, so check with your Workspace administrator if you get an error.

What if I want to keep the files in both accounts?

Instead of transferring ownership, just share the files with your new account as a viewer or editor and leave them owned by the original account. Both accounts will have access, and the original account will still own them. This is useful if you want a backup or if multiple people need to work on the same files.

How long does a Google Takeout export take?

Small exports (under a few gigabytes) usually complete within a few minutes. Large exports can take several hours. Google will send you a notification when the file is ready, and you will have a limited time to read it before it expires. You can request multiple exports if you need to move files in batches.

Can I transfer files to someone else's account?

Yes. You can transfer ownership of your files to anyone with a Google account by sharing the file with their email address and selecting "Transfer ownership". They will become the owner and have full control. Make sure you trust the person you are transferring to, because you will lose access to the file once the transfer is complete.