Can You Copy a Google Drive Folder to Another Account?

You want a duplicate of a Drive folder in another account. Google gives no folder copy command so you need to know what Drive handles before you plan the move.

Facts follow Google Drive Help pages on organizing files and downloading files and adding shortcuts.

Can You Copy a Folder in Google Drive?

No. Drive Help states "You can't copy folders, only files." The same page suggests a shortcut to a folder when you want to find it easily.

How do You Copy a File in Drive?

1. Go to drive.google.com on your computer.
2. Right click a file.
3. Select Make a copy.

Chrome also accepts a keyboard method. Select a file and press Ctrl+C. Open the new location and press Ctrl+V. Google documents these steps for one file at a time.

How do You Add a Shortcut to a Shared Folder?

1. Go to drive.google.com.
2. Select Shared with me on the left.
3. Right click the file or folder.
4. Select Organize then Add shortcut.

Shortcuts can sit in My Drive or in any shared drive you can open. Shortcuts point to the original so they are not a second copy of the data.

Why is Make a Copy Missing for Some Files?

Owners can stop viewers and commenters from downloading, printing or copying a file. Editors can download files. Ask the owner to change the share settings when the option is missing.

When Drive reports too many users viewed or downloaded a file, the limit is temporary and typically resets within 24 hours. Google suggests that a viewer open Shared with me, choose Make a copy, open that copy in My Drive and download it.

Drive Help does not describe a folder tree copy between two accounts. Any method beyond these steps comes from tools outside Google and this guide does not test them.

Related guides: how to restore deleted Drive files and how to fix a failed Google Takeout export.