The fastest way to transfer Google Drive files is to share them with your new account, then move them into a folder you own there

You cannot directly transfer ownership of Google Drive files from one account to another in a single step. Instead, you share the files with your new account, accept them there, and organize them into folders you control. This takes about five minutes per folder and works whether you are moving to a personal account, a work account, or a family account.

The process is the same whether you have hundreds of files or just a few. You do not need to download anything to your computer or use third-party tools. Google Drive handles the transfer through its built-in sharing and ownership features.

Key Takeaways

  • Sign into your current Google Drive account, select the files or folders you want to move, and use the Share button to give your new account access.
  • Switch to your new account, find the shared files in the Shared with Me section, and move them into a folder you own.
  • After you move files to your new account, you can remove the old account's access or delete the files from the original account if you no longer need them there.
  • Files shared between accounts keep their original names, comments, and edit history, so nothing is lost in the transfer.
  • If you have thousands of files, moving them in batches by folder is faster than selecting individual files one at a time.

How to share files from your current account

Open Google Drive and sign into the account that currently holds your files. Locate the file or folder you want to move. If you are moving multiple files at once, click the checkbox next to each one to select them all, or select a parent folder to move everything inside it.

Click the Share button (it looks like a person with a plus sign). A sharing window will open. In the text field that says "Add people and groups", type the email address of your new Google account. Make sure you type the address correctly — if you mistype it, the files will be shared with the wrong person.

Click the dropdown menu next to the email address and select Editor. This gives your new account permission to move the files into its own folders. If you only give it Viewer access, you will not be able to move the files later. Click Share to send the invitation.

How to accept and move files in your new account

Sign into your new Google account and open Google Drive. Look for the Shared with Me section on the left sidebar. You will see the files or folders that were just shared with you listed there. Click on one of them to open it.

Right-click the file or folder and select "Add to My Drive" (or click the plus-sign icon if you see one). This creates a copy in your own drive that you now own. The file will appear in your My Drive section, and you can now move it into any folder you want.

Repeat this step for each file or folder that was shared with you. If you shared a parent folder, all the files inside it will move together, so you only need to add the folder once.

Organizing files after the transfer

Once files are in your new account, you can organize them the same way you would any other files. Create new folders, rename files, move them into existing folders, or delete files you no longer need. Your new account now owns these files, so you have full control.

If the files had comments or edit history in the original account, that information stays with the files. People who had access to the files before the transfer will not automatically have access to them in your new account unless you share them again.

What to do with files in your old account

After you have moved files to your new account, you can delete them from the original account if you no longer need them there. Open the original account, find the files you shared, and delete them. This frees up storage space in the old account.

Alternatively, you can leave the files in the original account and simply stop using it. If you plan to close the account later, Google will give you time to download or transfer any remaining files before the account is deleted.

If other people were sharing files with your old account, you may want to let them know you are moving to a new account so they can update their sharing settings.

Transferring Google Drive files from a work or school account

If you are moving files from a work or school account, check with your IT department or administrator first. Some organizations have policies about what can be transferred out of work accounts, and some accounts have restrictions that prevent sharing outside the organization.

If your work account has a data export tool, that may be a faster way to download all your files at once and then upload them to your new account. Ask your IT support whether this option is available.

Using Google Takeout for large transfers

If you have thousands of files or very large files, Google Takeout is an alternative method. Go to takeout.google.com, sign into your current account, and select Google Drive. Google will create a compressed file of all your Drive contents and email you a download link. You can then upload this file to your new account.

Takeout takes longer to set up and requires you to download and re-upload files, so it is most useful when you want a backup copy of everything or when the sharing method is not working for some reason. For most people, the sharing method described above is faster.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the files keep their original names and folder structure?

Yes. When you add shared files to your drive, they keep their names, folder structure, and all comments and edit history. Nothing is lost or changed during the transfer.

Can I transfer files if I do not have access to the old account anymore?

No. You must be able to sign into the original account to share the files. If you have lost access to the old account, you may be able to recover it through Google's account recovery process, or you will need to contact the account owner to ask them to share the files with you.

Do shared files count against my storage quota in both accounts?

Files that are shared with you do not count against your storage until you add them to your own drive. Once you click "Add to My Drive", they count toward your new account's storage limit.

What happens to files I shared with other people?

If you shared files with other people from your old account, they will lose access once you delete the files from that account. If you want them to keep access, share the files with them from your new account before you delete them from the old one.

Can I transfer files to a Google Workspace account?

Yes, the process is the same. Share the files with your Workspace email address, sign into that account, and add them to your drive. Your Workspace administrator may have set restrictions on what can be shared from outside the organization, so check with them first if you run into problems.