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Cloud computing has become very popular nowadays and helps everyone who has access to the Internet. Now, users upload their useful files on cloud platforms rather than saving them on a hard drive, as it allows them to access their required data whenever or wherever they want. There are several cloud platforms that are solely used to store and retrieve files. Among two cloud service providers, two tech giants boast of getting the maximum number of users – Google and Microsoft. They provide Google Drive (Google Workspace) and OneDrive (Office 365), respectively.
When you employ a multi-cloud environment with Google Drive, OneDrive, etc., it’s important to have a sync between the platforms. It will provide you with benefits such as more storage, better collaboration, easy accessibility, safety against data loss, and many more. This article is the perfect guide you’re looking for to sync Google Drive with OneDrive data, explaining several ways for a smooth synchronization.
Sync Google Drive with OneDrive
Google offers 15 GB of free space to each user. This 15 GB is shared between all the Google Workspace components, including Google Drive. On the other hand, Microsoft has OneDrive that provides 5 GB of free space, and you can upload individual files or entire folders to it. Given their prominence, as two biggest tech companies, most users use these platforms.
When you’re using Google Drive and OneDrive simultaneously, there’s often the need to transfer their files and folders from one platform to another. Therefore, we need to find some trustworthy methods to sync both platforms and make a bridge to migrate the data easily.
How to sync Google Drive with OneDrive data
Our technical backend teams have searched the web thoroughly and come up with the 3 most reliable methods for synching Google Drive and OneDrive. You can execute any method suitable for your environment. We recommend you backup Google data like crucial files & documents to avoid any data loss.
Method 1. Download data from Google Drive and upload to OneDrive
When the number and size of files are low, you can easily download data from Google Drive and upload it on OneDrive.
- Sign in to Google Drive, choose the files, right-click on them, and choose Download.
- Sign in to OneDrive, then choose the Upload button and upload the downloaded files from Google Drive.
This is the simplest method that is feasible when you have less data, and the network speed is fast. When there is a large amount of data, then this approach is not recommended.
Method 2. Use Google Takeout to export specific data
Google Takeout is a special service of Google that can export data as an offline file directly to OneDrive. Follow the steps-
- Login to Google Takeout by using the URL – https://takeout.google.com/
- All Google applications are present in the list, and you can select by checking the box. Click Next after choosing all the apps.
- In the Destination, choose ‘Add to OneDrive.’
- Select the Frequency, File Type & size. Then click Link accounts and create export.
- The sign-in window will prompt you to log in with OneDrive account. Click Next.
- Google will require permission to work with its folder in OneDrive. Click Yes.
- Click the button ‘create new export’ that will create a new export consisting of all the data you have selected earlier.
- The data will export and show you a new link that you can click to reach directly to the OneDrive location where data is exported. In OneDrive, there will be a new folder with the name ‘Google Download Your Data.’
You can open the zipped file and check all the contents.
Method 3. Use Microsoft Power Automate
Microsoft Power Automate provides you with some templates that you can choose to synchronize data between OneDrive and Google Drive.
- First, you need to create two dedicated folders on both platforms that will have the data during synchronization.
- Then, navigate to Office.com and select Power Automate.
- Now, search Sync new OneDrive Files to Google Drive Files & select the template.
- Link the OneDrive and Google Drive accounts. After adding the account, click Continue.
- Specify the OneDrive & Google Drive folder for synchronization and click Create.
Easy Tips for Data Synchronization
By synchronizing the data, you get to make the most out of your data and you’re able to access your files from any device and whenever you want to.
Organization: Use meaningful naming conventions and categorize your files and folders using a clear structure. This will make them more accessible even for other users. Regularly get rid of outdated and irrelevant files from the drive.
Regular backups: Data synchronization between these two platforms might cause data redundancy. Take regular backups of your data to protect it against corruption, loss, and accidental deletion of important files.
Avoid data duplicity: When you’re syncing your Google Drive and OneDrive, make sure that you compare the data between these two platforms. It will avoid duplicity and verify if any file is missing from either of the platforms.
Maintain privacy: Prevent your crucial data from unauthorized access using two-step authentication and strong encryption methods. It permits complete privacy and security of your important data files.
Conclusion
When you synchronize Google Drive and OneDrive, consistently monitor the internet connection to avoid errors and hassles. The manual methods are time-consuming for large file sizes. If you are planning to migrate OneDrive to Google Drive or vice versa, we recommend Kernel Migration for SharePoint tool. This SharePoint data migration tool will simplify Google Drive and OneDrive sync with features like smart filters and permission migration. The software can also schedule the migration at an appropriate time. You can easily add both Google Drive and OneDrive for Business accounts and migrate an unlimited amount of data between them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ans: No, when you synchronize OneDrive and Google Drive, there are no changes in the quality of data. All the files will be synced as they are.
Ans: If such a situation occurs and there is less storage space within OneDrive, do the following:
1. Upgrade your storage with your Microsoft 365 subscription.
2. Remove duplicate files from the Google Drive account.
3. Eliminate any irrelevant or unnecessary files before syncing.
Ans: No, you cannot merge OneDrive account with the Google Drive. Rather, you can simply sync or transfer OneDrive to Google Drive or vice versa.
