Transferring Data from Google Drive to OneDrive

Transferring data between cloud storage services can be a time-consuming process, but it doesn't have to be difficult. There are many ways to move data between cloud storage devices, with simpler methods being more applicable if you don't have a large number of files that need to move. See below for an overview of some of the ways to move files between Google Drive and OneDrive

Downloading and Re-Uploading

One way to transfer files to OneDrive is to download them from Google Drive and then upload those files to OneDrive. To download a file from Google Drive, right-click the file and select "download." Find the file in your downloads folder, and drag it into the OneDrive folder you'd like it to be in. Follow the .gif below to see this in action. Remember that you can select multiple files at the same time by clicking the first file you'd like, then shift+clicking the last file you want. For a more precise selection, you can click the first file, then ctrl+click other individual files you'd like to add to the download/upload.
Shows the process of downloading a file from Google Drive, then uploading it to OneDrive

Google Takeout

Google Takeout is a service offered by Google that enables you to download your Google Account data to your computer. It can also be used to download the files you've stored on Google Drive in a single batch. To do this, visit the Google Takeout website and un-check all programs except for Google Drive by hitting "deselect all" at the top right of the product list. Then, scroll down and select "Google Drive" from the list. Click "next" and choose which way you'd like to receive your download. Set the frequency of exports to either one, or every 2 months for 1 year depending on your preferences, set the file type to zip, and make sure the file size is manageable for you. Follow the .gif below to see this process in action.
Shows the process of using Google Takeout.

When finished with this process, take the downloaded .zip file and extract it into your OneDrive.

Using RClone to Transfer Files

The accordion boxes below detail a very involved way to transfer data to OneDrive using a command-line program. These should only be used if you are experienced in using command line functions and are confident in your ability to use the program successfully. If you have problems with this software, do not try and solve it yourself. Seek help from the Help Desk or make use of a different strategy.

To prepare your files for a move to OneDrive, create a directory in the root of your Google Drive named “Transfer to OneDrive”.

Then, use the Google Drive Desktop Application to copy every other directory into your Transfer to OneDrive Directory. 

RClone is a program that lets you use the command prompt application to manage files on cloud storage. It offers a wide range of capabilities that aren’t included in the toolbox of first-party storage management systems. If you are unfamiliar with using command line programs, or are unsure of how to use RClone, this YouTube video discusses the basics of the program and some of the functions that it can be used to perform. For this guide, we will use RClone to “dedupe” files. This means that files with the same name will be renamed in order to prepare them to be transferred to OneDrive.

To download RClone, visit https://rclone.org/install/.

Since Google Drive sorts and stores files by hash number, you are allowed to have multiple files with the exact same name. A hash number assigns each file a unique string of numbers, allowing file names to be the same while still allowing for differentiation between two files with the same name. Using the script below will then remove these hashes and rename files that share the same name but have different content. If your questions are still unanswered, be sure to consult the Help Desk if you have problems with this step, or have any questions regarding this process.

If you haven't done so yet, make sure that any important information is stored in a backup. This way, data loss won’t cause you or your organization to lose sensitive or important files. To do this, copy important files from your Google drive into your S: drive or to a personal storage device if allowed. Do not use cloud storage as a backup.

Note: This step can cause some data loss. Make sure you check after the step is completed.

rclone dedupe --dedupe-mode rename "drive:Transfer to OneDrive"

 

 

 

After you have created your Microsoft Team and you have a OneDrive for your team setup, go to the OneDrive and click Sync. This will make it so that you have OneDrive mapped to your local computer.

Note: The location you map must have more storage available than all the files in your “Transfer to OneDrive” folder.

 

Now that all your files in Google Drive are deduped and OneDrive is linked, you can copy your files. Use the below commands. The only limitation is the download speed from Google Drive and then the upload speed to OneDrive.

rclone copy “drive:Transfer to OneDrive” <path to OneDrive Link>