Issue:
How do I move all of my files off of my Google Drive to OneDrive?
How do I archive my Google Drive data?
How do I move my files from Google Drive to my College OneDrive account?
Can I use Google Takeout to move files to my College OneDrive account?
Audience:
CofC Employees and Students with Google Apps accounts
Environment:
Google Drive
Microsoft OneDrive
Cause:
Due to changes in Google's G Suite for Education services, storage limits will be imposed on CofC Google accounts. To ensure you stay within the limits, you may need to migrate your data.
Resolution:
To bulk migrate items in your Google account, including Drive items, you can use Google Takeout. Unfortunately, Google Takeout does not support OneDrive for Business accounts as a direct transfer method, but you can create an archived zipped file and then unzip it in your OneDrive account.
Know Before You Begin
- File permissions (shared settings) will not transfer when you migrate data- you will need to reshare these files via OneDrive once uploaded
- Native Google Apps (Sheets, Docs, etc.) will be converted to the Microsoft version (Sheets to Excel, Docs to Word Document)
- Forms is not transferable at this time
- If you have a large data amount in your Google Drive, IT can help you with migrating your data storage. Please submit a support ticket outlining your request.
- College data must be stored in line with security policies. Where to store CofC files
- If this is departmental data (not individual use) - there are other options outside of OneDrive that may be more appropriate
Steps to Use Google Take Out
Step 1: Create Data Archive Zipped File
- Open your web browser and navigate to Google Takeout page.
- Sign in with your CofC Google Apps account credentials if prompted.
- You will then be prompted for the data you'd like to back up. You can select items you'd like to back up to OneDrive individually or en masse
- Once all necessary items are selected, choose Next Step
- Choose Delivery Method to be Send Download Link Via Email
- There are other methods that can be used (transferring to a personal email/drive account), but keep in mind the following:
- OneDrive- this option is for personal OneDrive (non-CofC account). You cannot use this option for your CofC OneDrive for Business account.

- Choose Create Export- this may take some time to run, but then you'll see a prompt to Download the export
- If you lose the page while this export is being created you can navigate back to the page at a later time
- You will also be emailed a notice once the export is complete
- Keep in mind exports only last for about a week- they will expire after that time and must be downloaded before then
- Choose the option to Download next to the export you ran- you will be prompted to sign in again
- A zipped file named takeout with a string of numbers will appear in your Downloads now or you will be prompted where you'd like to save it- keep note of that location if you save it outside of your Downloads
Step 2: Unzip Files Directly to OneDrive or Locally
- If you'd like to save directly to OneDrive, you must have the desktop version of OneDrive installed on your machine- Install OneDrive
- Proceed with unzipping the files
- When prompted where to Unzip:
- If you'd like items to be stored locally, you can zip to a folder in your Documents or elsewhere on the machine
- If you'd like to save directly to OneDrive, please locate the option for OneDrive- College of Charleston in your File Explorer or Finder menu- that will allow you to directly save to OneDrive vs. locally
- It may take OneDrive some time to upload the data
- You can track its progress via the OneDrive notification center in your bottom or top tray of icons
- You can also verify the data was migrated by reviewing your OneDrive files online
Do you still need help? Create a support ticket and a Service Desk technician will contact you.