Copy Your Organization’s Files from Microsoft OneDrive to Google Drive

Quick Answer

You can copy your organization's files from Microsoft OneDrive to Google Drive by downloading the files and folders from OneDrive to a computer and then uploading them to Google Drive. For a large migration, organize the files into manageable batches and verify the uploaded data before removing anything from the source account.

This method is suitable for documents, spreadsheets, PDFs, images, archives, and other supported file types. However, copying files does not automatically transfer all sharing permissions, access settings, version history, or cloud-specific features.

Before You Begin

Prepare both accounts and confirm the following requirements before starting the transfer.

• Access to OneDrive: You must have permission to download the required files. For an organizational account, your Microsoft 365 administrator may need to authorize the operation.
• Access to Google Drive: Confirm that you can upload files to the destination account or shared folder.
• Available storage: Check the available storage in Google Drive and the local disk space required for downloaded files.
• Stable internet connection: A reliable connection helps prevent interrupted downloads and uploads.
• Migration permissions: Identify files owned by other users, shared folders, restricted documents, and files protected by organizational policies.

Method 1: Download from OneDrive and Upload to Google Drive

This is a straightforward method for small and medium-sized transfers when you have sufficient local storage.

Step 1: Open Microsoft OneDrive

1. Open Microsoft OneDrive or the OneDrive website provided by your organization.
2. Sign in using the Microsoft account that contains the files.
3. Navigate to the folder you want to transfer.
4. Review the folder contents and confirm that you have selected the correct data.

Step 2: Select and Download Files

1. Select the files or folders you want to copy.
2. Choose the Download option from the available menu.
3. If your browser downloads multiple items as a ZIP archive, wait until the download finishes.
4. Save the downloaded files in a clearly identified local folder, such as OneDrive_Migration.

Microsoft may package multiple selected files and folders into a ZIP archive. Extract the archive before uploading if you want the original folder structure to be represented by individual files and folders in Google Drive.

For detailed instructions and download limitations, refer to Microsoft's official guide to downloading OneDrive and SharePoint files.

Step 3: Extract and Organize the Downloaded Files

1. Open File Explorer and navigate to the downloaded files.
2. If the download is a ZIP file, right-click it and select Extract All.
3. Open the extracted folder and confirm that the expected files and subfolders are present.
4. Keep a record of the original folder names and, for important migrations, the number of files in each folder.

Do not upload an archive if your objective is to access its individual documents and folders directly in Google Drive. Upload the extracted contents instead, unless storing the archive itself is intentional.

Step 4: Open Google Drive

1. Open Google Drive.
2. Sign in using the Google account that will receive the files.
3. Navigate to My Drive or the authorized destination folder.
4. Create a new folder if necessary, using a meaningful name such as Imported from OneDrive.

Step 5: Upload the Files and Folders

1. Click New in Google Drive.
2. Select Folder upload to upload a complete local folder, or select File upload for individual files.
3. Select the extracted folder or files on your computer.
4. Wait for the upload process to finish.
5. Check the upload status and resolve any errors before continuing.

You can also drag files or folders from your computer into Google Drive using a supported desktop browser. See Google's official instructions for uploading files and folders.

Step 6: Verify the Uploaded Data

After uploading, confirm that the files are accessible and that the transfer is complete.

• Open several documents from different folders.
• Compare the number of files and subfolders against your source records.
• Check file sizes and names for important documents.
• Open sample PDFs, spreadsheets, images, and other critical file types.
• Review the upload status for failed or skipped files.
• Confirm that the destination account and folder have the correct access permissions.

Keep the original OneDrive files until the destination has been verified and the organization has approved the migration.

Method 2: Transfer Files Using OneDrive and Google Drive for Desktop

For larger transfers, desktop synchronization applications can make file management more convenient. This method requires enough local disk space for files that must be downloaded before they can be uploaded.

1. Install or open the official OneDrive application and sign in to the appropriate Microsoft account.
2. Install Google Drive for desktop and sign in to the destination Google account.
3. Wait for OneDrive synchronization to complete for the files you intend to transfer.
4. Ensure that online-only OneDrive files are downloaded locally before copying them. In File Explorer, use the available OneDrive option to make the required files available offline.
5. Copy the required files into the appropriate Google Drive destination, using the location exposed by Google Drive for desktop.
6. Allow Google Drive to synchronize the copied files and verify the results online.

Important: Do not assume that every file visible in File Explorer is stored locally. OneDrive Files On-Demand can display online-only files that have not been downloaded. Copying these files without ensuring local availability can cause transfer problems.

Refer to Microsoft's documentation on OneDrive Files On-Demand for more information.

Method 3: Migrate a Large Organization's Data

When transferring data for an entire department or organization, a manual download-and-upload process may be inefficient. A planned migration can reduce interruptions and make it easier to track ownership, access, and completion.

1. Inventory the source: Identify users, folders, file types, approximate data volume, shared content, and critical business documents.
2. Identify the destination: Decide whether each department's data belongs in an individual user's My Drive or an organizational Shared drive.
3. Review permissions: Record important sharing arrangements and determine which permissions must be recreated in Google Drive.
4. Check compatibility: Identify OneNote notebooks, protected documents, Microsoft-specific features, and other content that may require a separate migration procedure.
5. Run a pilot transfer: Test the process with a small, representative set of files before moving the entire dataset.
6. Transfer in batches: Move manageable groups of files and maintain a record of successful and failed transfers.
7. Verify business access: Ask relevant users to confirm that important documents open and that the intended collaborators can access them.
8. Complete the cutover: Update workflows, shared links, and internal instructions as necessary. Retain the original source data until the migration has been formally accepted.

For complex Microsoft 365-to-Google Workspace migrations, evaluate an appropriate migration tool or professional migration service. Confirm its supported content types, permission mapping, security requirements, and licensing before use.

Google's Google Workspace Learning Center guide to adding files to Drive explains the basic upload methods available to Workspace users.

What Transfers and What May Need Additional Work?

Item	Expected Result	What to Check
Ordinary documents and PDFs	File contents can generally be copied as files.	Open the uploaded files and check readability.
Images and archives	Files can generally be uploaded in supported formats.	Check file integrity and archive contents.
Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files	Microsoft Office files can be stored in Google Drive.	Test formatting, formulas, macros, and specialized features if opened or converted.
Folder organization	Folder structure can generally be recreated by uploading folders or copying their contents.	Compare folder names and nesting.
Sharing permissions	Existing OneDrive permissions are not automatically reproduced by an ordinary file copy.	Recreate and test the required Google Drive access.
Version history	Ordinary file copying does not transfer the complete original version history.	Determine whether historical versions must be preserved separately.
OneNote notebooks and specialized content	May require a separate supported migration method.	Test the content and consult the relevant vendor documentation.

Common Problems and Solutions

1. The OneDrive Download Option Is Missing

Confirm that you have selected the file or folder and that your account has permission to download it. Some shared content, organizational policies, or protected files may restrict downloading. Try navigating back to the folder and selecting the item again. If access remains restricted, contact the file owner or Microsoft 365 administrator.

2. The Downloaded ZIP File Cannot Be Opened

Check whether the download completed successfully and whether the archive is damaged. If possible, download the affected files again. For large transfers, download smaller batches and extract each archive separately.

3. Google Drive Uploads Fail

Check the internet connection, available Google Drive storage, destination permissions, and the file's size and format. Retry failed uploads and inspect the upload status. If the transfer is large, upload smaller batches to make failed files easier to identify.

4. Some Files Are Missing

Compare the source and destination folders, including subfolders. Check whether files were omitted from a download, excluded because of access restrictions, or left behind when an archive was extracted. Transfer the missing files separately and verify them.

5. Office Documents Look Different in Google Drive

Storing a Microsoft Office file in Google Drive is different from converting it to Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides format. If you convert a file, test its formatting, formulas, macros, charts, and other features. Retain an original copy of critical documents before conversion.

6. Shared Users Cannot Access the Transferred Files

Sharing permissions generally need to be configured in Google Drive. Open the sharing settings for the destination files or folders, add the appropriate users or groups, and assign the required access level. Test access using an authorized account.

Security and Data Protection Considerations

• Use only authorized Microsoft and Google accounts for the transfer.
• Do not upload confidential organizational files into a personal Google account without approval.
• Apply appropriate sharing restrictions to sensitive information.
• Keep a backup of critical files until the migration has been verified.
• Do not delete the original OneDrive content immediately after uploading it.
• For regulated or confidential data, follow your organization's retention, compliance, and access-control requirements.

How to Confirm That the Migration Is Complete

Use this checklist before considering the transfer finished.

• All required source folders have been accounted for.
• Expected files and subfolders exist in Google Drive.
• Important documents open correctly.
• Files that failed to upload have been retried or documented.
• Required sharing permissions have been recreated and tested.
• Critical business workflows and links have been reviewed.
• The original OneDrive data remains available until final approval.

A successful upload confirms that files reached Google Drive, but it does not by itself prove that every permission, version, or application-specific feature was migrated.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I transfer OneDrive files to Google Drive without downloading them?

Some migration tools and services may transfer data between cloud platforms without requiring a full manual download to your computer. Their capabilities, permissions, supported file types, and costs vary. Verify these details before authorizing access to organizational data.

Will copying files delete them from OneDrive?

No. Downloading files and uploading copies to Google Drive does not normally delete the original OneDrive files. Keep the originals until the destination has been checked and the migration is approved.

Can I transfer an entire OneDrive folder?

Yes. You can select and download a folder through OneDrive, subject to applicable download limitations and permissions. You can then extract the downloaded archive if necessary and upload the folder to Google Drive.

Will the original sharing links continue to work?

Do not assume that OneDrive sharing links will work for the copied files in Google Drive. Create new sharing links where required and update documents, emails, and workflows that reference the old links.

Can I transfer Microsoft Word and Excel files without converting them?

Yes. You can upload supported Word and Excel files to Google Drive in their existing formats. If you open or convert them using Google applications, check compatibility and formatting before relying on the converted versions.

How do I transfer a large amount of business data?

Inventory the data, check storage and transfer limits, run a pilot, and transfer the files in manageable batches. For extensive migrations involving multiple users or complex permissions, consider a supported migration tool or professional assistance.

Do I need administrator access?

Not necessarily for files you are authorized to download and upload. However, organizational restrictions, shared folders, managed accounts, and migration tools may require approval or administrator assistance.

How can I check whether all files were transferred?

Compare folder structures, file counts, and important file sizes. Open representative documents and review upload errors. For critical or large migrations, maintain a detailed transfer log and use appropriate integrity checks.

Conclusion

For a straightforward transfer, download the required files from OneDrive, extract any ZIP archives, upload the files or folders to Google Drive, and verify the results. For organization-wide migrations, plan for permissions, ownership, version history, compatibility, and business continuity before retiring the original storage location.

Sources

• Microsoft Support: Download files and folders from OneDrive or SharePoint
• Microsoft Support: Save disk space with OneDrive Files On-Demand
• Google Drive Help: Upload files and folders to Google Drive
• Google Drive Help: How to use Google Drive
• Google Workspace Learning Center: Add files and folders to Drive