How to Migrate Google Drive to Another Account for Transferring Data?

There is no doubt that throughout our digital lives, we end up accumulating a lot of stuff. Photos, Videos, Documents, and whatnot. Moreover, for keeping all this there is no better place than the trusty Google Drive. However, there are chances that you need to migrate Google Drive to another account someday.

There can be quite a few reasons behind it from a personal account switch to an emergency work-related task. No worries as we have assembled a set of procedures that help you in transferring data across Google Drives. Apart from the obvious, our discussion here also helps you select the best approach as well. So to get the maximum advantage, we recommend reading this tutorial till the end. Starting with the reason to carry out such an operation in the first place.

Table of Content

• Why Migrate Google Drive to Another Account At All?
• Methods to Transfer Entire Google Drive to Another Account
• Manually Migrate Google Drive to Another Account
• Conduct Mass Migration of Google Drive User Data Using Admin Console
• Use Google Apps Script and Move Documents 
• Professionally Transfer the Entire Google Drive to Another Account
• Automated Steps to Migrate Google Drive to Another Account
• Conclusion
• FAQs

Why Migrate Google Drive to Another Account At All?

The majority of the user requirements can be put into one of three categories.  

• Regain Storage Space in the Primary Drive – Both Google Drive and Gmail are on the same storage. So if your Google Drive overflows, it causes issues in email communication. Gmail may warn you, and if no action is taken, it can even pause all email communication. Google charges no extra money for a new account. It is better to set up an account just to hold the extra Google Drive data.  
• Merge Two Separate Google Drives for Easier Access – Sometimes lack of storage is not the main issue, but mismanagement due to the presence of multiple accounts is. Therefore, combining the data from multiple accounts into one can help with cost savings as well as improve the accessibility of the content. For that too you need to transfer all Google Drive to another account on a timely basis.
• Improve the Security Posture of the Storage Method – Although, it is recommended to have multiple areas where you keep the data. Having too many accounts with the same cloud storage is not what experts want you to do. As it can result in users being locked out of their accounts. Especially if you forgot your password. Not to mention the extra time wasted in shuffling through the accounts to find the data. 

These are just a few of the instances from which such a user demand arises. Your reason might be unique. However, that doesn’t mean that there is no solution for you

Methods to Transfer Entire Google Drive to Another Account

There are quite a few ways in which one can carry out the movement of data across two Google Drives. So let’s see what they are, one by one.

First, the most basic method is using the native file/folder sharing option present in Google Drive. 

With this, any user can give access to a particular set of files to another account of their choosing. After which, they unlock the option of transferring ownership. This permanently switches the account on which storage is used.

Another option with which users can migrate Google Drive to another account is to download the data from the source, Google Drive, and upload it to the target. 

With the help of the Google Desktop app, it may be possible to set up a passive sync of two different Google Drive accounts. However, this comes at the cost of local storage consumption.

If users want they can get all the items simultaneously using the Google Takeout option. Or even build a Google Drive API call to fetch and fix data between accounts.

Apart from these individual-oriented methods of transfer, there are routes with which admins can conduct mass transfers of Google Drive in their organization. For that, we have a separate set of solutions. But first, let us address the personal user queries.

Manually Migrate Google Drive to Another Account

• Open source Google Drive. 
• Select all the files.
• Press the person icon on the top menu ribbon.
• This opens a new window where you can:
• Choose an access type and Role
• Copy links and Press Done.

This method is straightforward. However, there is a huge drawback. All the files still belong to the original account. If something happens to the source, like being deleted, all data access will vanish without warning.

Note that if your intended location is known then add that account via the text box beneath People with Access. After that, a new option is unlocked that gives the ability to transfer ownership entirely.

1. Click on the shared file/folder. 
2. Set up the permission level as Editor. 
3. Select Transfer ownership. Tap Send Invitation.
4. Log in to the target account and accept the transfer.

If you don’t want to risk it or are planning to retire/close the source account, then try an alternative route.

• Download and Upload to transfer Google Drive Data to another account. 
• Sign in to the source G-Drive. 
• After that, click on the download button.
• This brings all the files offline.
• Open the target account and click on the + icon on the left pane.
• Choose the folder upload option
• Browse for the data you downloaded earlier and upload it.

Wait for the upload notification and look in the target Google Drive to see if the flies arrived or not. 

As the manual download/upload is quite tiresome, users can also check the Google Takeout for extracting the Google Drive data. However, it has issues like unzipping loads of data/ abrupt failure/ quota expiration. 

Use Google Apps Script and Move Documents

Another Advanced Option is to set up a Google Apps Script here we will discuss the logic. You would have to complete the script development on your own according to your requirements.

The path consists of the following:

Authorization:
Both endpoints need to have read permissions made available via https://www.googleapis.com/auth/drive
Set up OAuth 2.0 alongside the default permission list.

Identify Data:
Specify the files/folders/documents that need to be transferred on a priority basis.

Copy Data and Migrate Google Drive to Another Account:
Pull files from the source and put them in the destination Google Drive.

Handle Permissions:
Ensure the destination account has access to the copied data then Share files or folders as necessary.

You can find out more on the subject in the official Google documentation https://developers.google.com/drive/api/

The majority of the time is spent on creating and testing the script once it is done the data transfer can be performed without manual intervention. This allows for repeatability but requires in-depth technical knowledge. Mistakes in the code-based approach can lead to permanent data erasure so caution is mandatory.

Moreover, none of the above-described methods are acceptable in a scenario where a mass transfer of files can take place. So, admins must use their special privileges; study the next series of steps for that.

Conduct Mass Migration of Google Drive User Data Using Admin Console

1. Login to your Google Admin console with an administrator account.
2. There, open to Menu >> Apps >> Google Workspace >> Drive and Docs.
3. Press Transfer ownership.
4. Fill in the details for both the current owner and the new owner in their respective location.
5. Press the Transfer Files button.
6. Let the transfer be complete. Every stakeholder receives an email upon its completion.

However, this is not the best method to migrate Google Drive to another account. The following reasons help explain why.

• First, it is limited to users that currently belong to the organization, meaning no data migration from outside domains can be done.
• Second, you must repeat the process for every user transfer, there is no way to mass map and automate. 
• Third, this transfer cannot work if the source user is active, which means it may break down if any data is added in between the transfers.
• You can’t set any sort of filter, meaning it is an all-or-nothing sort of transfer, and there is no reporting feature; you have to ask users to manually check the content.

To bypass these issues use the solution described next.

Professionally Transfer the Entire Google Drive to Another Account

Your best bet is to use the SysTools Google Drive Migration Tool. It is designed to assist administrators in moving large quantities of data from one cloud storage to another. This tool is the top choice that professional organizations make when they want to do a mass transfer of all the content present in user accounts. It allows you to share the entire Google Drive in a few simple clicks.

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The easy-to-use UI and multiple filters allow admins to select and shift the exact data they want. Apart from the UI, the tool bypasses the need for downloading any data on local systems and directly places all of the user content in its intended location. This, along with a legacy of successful transfers, helps users get back to work with minimal downtime.

Next up, we explain the easy steps with which admins, regardless of the experience they possess can use the tool easily.

Automated Steps to Migrate Google Drive to Another Account

Step 1. Download, Install, and Open the tool then select GSuite (for Google Drive) as both the source and the destination. 

Step 2. Under the Workload Tab Mark the box next to Documents, and apply the Date filter if need be.

Step 3. Move on to the source page, fill in the required details, and press validate.

Step 4. Repeat the step for destination to migrate Google Drive to another account.

Step 5. Choose a User Mapping option from, Fetch Users, Import a premade CSV, or Download a premade template, fill it, and upload.

Step 6. Once the User list is available on the preview screen, select the ones whose cloud data you want to move. Prioritize any accounts from your selection, and Validate them.

Step 7. End the process from your side by pressing the Start Migration button. 

Compare the Manual Methods

Here is a comparison chart. Use it to make a more informed decision on the path you wish to take and more importantly, check what methods are available for free and which require a subscription.

Method	Key Features	Ease of Use	Speed	Cost	% of Manual Steps
Google Drive’s Built-in Sharing	Share files/folders with another Google account, requires recipient to copy files to their Drive	Easy	Moderate	Free	60%
Google Takeout	Export data from one Google Drive and import it into another	Moderate	Slow	Free	80%
Google Drive File Stream/Mirror	Sync files between source Google Drive and local storage then sync it to another G-Drive account	Moderate	Moderate	Free	70%
Manual Download and Upload	Download files from one Google Drive and upload them to another	Moderate	Slow	Free	100%
Google Apps Script	Automate transfer with custom scripts, suitable for advanced users	Difficult	Fast	Free	10%
Google Workspace Admin Console	Transfer ownership of all files from one user to another within the same organization	Easy (Admin only)	Fast	Requires Google Workspace	10%
Shared Drives	Centralized storage, easy transfer within organization, collaborative access control	Easy	Fast	Requires Google Workspace Business Standard	20%

Note: The speed and % manual steps are calculated from personal experience and testing so the data may vary slightly for your account.

Conclusion

In this tutorial on how to migrate Google Drive to another account, we went over all the possible paths that are available. With this knowledge at their disposal, every user can transfer data from one Google Drive to another. While the Basic methods are more than sufficient for everyday users, a professional situation needs a professional solution. So, as a result, we have also put in the steps to use an advanced utility right here in this blog. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Why did Google forbids transfer of a Google Drive to an account outside my organization despite me having admin privileges?

This is a security feature of Google that can’t be changed from your end, even if you hold admin privileges. The only alternative is to extract all Google Drive data and send it over to the external entity by other means. 

Q2. What do different permission levels of Google Drive sharing indicate? Which one is the most appropriate?

There are 3 different access levels that you can put on a file/folder while sharing it. The first is Viewer choose it if you don’t want the recipient to make any changes to the source. Commenters can add notes on the data but cannot make any permanent changes. The last criterion is the Editor it most closely resembles the owner. They can add/delete and pass on edit power to others as well.

Q3. Am I going to lose any data after I decide to migrate Google Drive to another account?

Not if you select the automated utility. As it prioritizes both the data as well as the way it is arranged in the source. The tool maintains the folder structure as well. So all of your data is safely taken from the source and deposited on the target.

Q4. I use the free tier of Google Drive; are there any maximum thresholds that I need to be aware of?

For free account holders, the threshold limits are of no concern as the daily limit of Google Drive is 750 GB. Moreover, a single file can be up to 5 TB in size. It is extremely rare that your requirement ever reaches this limit at all. The speeds of upload/download depend entirely on your network bandwidth.