DriveFlowShort answer: share the files from the old account with the new one, or make them viewable by anyone with the link. Then, in DriveFlow, choose the new account, open the destination folder, choose Copy files and paste the files’ links. Google copies them on its own servers, so nothing is downloaded to your PC, and the copies belong to the new account.
DriveFlow copies files, not whole folders. For a folder, see Copying whole folders.
Before you start
- Install DriveFlow from the Download page and sign in.
- Connect the account you’re copying to (the destination account) with Connect Google Drive. Connect the old account too if you want to browse it in DriveFlow.
- The destination account must be able to open every file you copy. The simplest way: in the old account, share the files or their folder with the new account’s email address. Viewer access is enough. Setting General access to Anyone with the link also works.
- Check that the destination account has enough free storage. Copies count against its storage, not the original owner’s.
Copy files step by step
- Get the links. In Google Drive on the web, signed in to the old account, right-click a file and choose Share, then Copy link. Collect as many links as you like, one per line. You can also paste any text that contains Drive links, such as a document or a list.
- Choose the destination account in the account list at the top left of DriveFlow.
- Open the destination folder in the Google Drive column on the right. Use New folder if you want a fresh folder for the copies.
- Choose Copy files at the top of the Google Drive column.
- Paste the links. DriveFlow checks them, removes duplicates and lists the files it found. Files the destination account can’t open are listed but can’t be ticked.
- Keep the files you want ticked and choose Copy N files.
- Follow progress in the Queue at the bottom of the window. Each copy appears in the destination folder when it finishes.
Google Docs, Sheets and Slides are copied as Google files, so they stay editable in the new account.
Copying whole folders
Copy files doesn’t copy folders yet. Folder links are listed but skipped. You have two options:
- Copy the files inside the folder. Create the folder in the destination account with New folder, open the original folder on the web, copy the links of the files inside and paste them all at once. This suits a few folders with not too many files.
- Download, then upload. With both accounts connected, choose the old account, select the folder in the Google Drive column and choose Download to save it on your PC. Then choose the new account, select the folder in the PC column and choose Upload. Subfolders are kept. This uses your internet connection and disk space, so it takes longer for large folders.
Other ways to move files between Google accounts
DriveFlow isn’t the only option. Here’s how the common methods compare.
| Method | Copies folders | Files pass through your PC | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| DriveFlow Copy files | No, files only | No | Many files at once, keeping the originals |
| DriveFlow download, then upload | Yes | Yes | Whole folders with their subfolders |
| Make a copy in Drive on the web | No | No | A handful of files. Copies are named “Copy of …” and you move them yourself. |
| Google Takeout | Yes | Yes, as ZIP files | Archiving a whole account. You extract and upload the files yourself. |
| Transfer ownership | Yes | No | Moving rather than copying. The other account has to accept, and the rules differ between personal and work or school accounts. |
If you manage Google Workspace for an organization and need to move everyone’s data, use Google Workspace’s own data migration tools. DriveFlow is built for individuals and small teams.
Limits
- Folders can’t be copied directly yet. See Copying whole folders.
- The destination account must be able to open each file. If the owner has turned off downloading, printing and copying for viewers, Google may refuse the copy.
- Copies are new files. Comments, sharing settings and version history of the original aren’t carried over.
- The original stays in the old account. Delete it yourself if you want to move rather than copy.
Questions
Does copying use my internet connection?
Hardly. Google copies the files on its own servers, and your PC only sends the request. That’s why copying is much faster than downloading and uploading again.
Will the original file change?
No. DriveFlow creates a new copy in the destination folder and leaves the original as it is.
Why can’t I tick some links?
Usually the destination account can’t open that file, the link isn’t a Google Drive file, or it points to a folder. Share the file with the destination account and paste the link again.
Is this free?
Yes. Copying files is part of DriveFlow, which is free to use with no payment card required.