How to Copy a Large Folder Between Personal OneDrive Accounts
Question details
The user needs to transfer a 200 GB shared folder from one personal OneDrive account to another without downloading it locally.
- Product
- Microsoft OneDrive
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Transferring a massive shared folder between personal cloud storage accounts.
- Observed behavior
- Direct copy commands via Microsoft Graph Explorer return internal server errors, and Mover.io does not support the required personal transfer.
Ensure both OneDrive accounts have sufficient storage capacity (at least 200 GB free on the receiving account) and that you have active login credentials for both.
Use an Azure Virtual Machine for Cloud-to-Cloud Transfer
Set up a temporary cloud-hosted virtual machine to handle the heavy downloading and uploading without relying on your local internet connection or physical storage.
Transfer options for personal OneDrive accounts are more limited than business accounts. Tools like Mover.io or Graph Explorer often fail or don't support personal accounts for massive data. Using an Azure Virtual Machine provides a high-speed, temporary environment to process the transfer.
Log into the Azure portal and create a Windows virtual machine. Make sure you allocate a data disk with more than 200 GB of storage space.
Use Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) to log into your new virtual machine.
Open a web browser on the virtual machine, log into the source personal OneDrive account, and download the 200 GB folder to the VM's disk.
Log into the destination personal OneDrive account within the same VM browser and upload the downloaded folder. Delete the VM from Azure once finished to stop incurring charges.
Edit Your Cloud Documents Easily with WPS Office
While WPS Office does not handle the cloud-to-cloud server migration of OneDrive files, it serves as a lightweight and powerful alternative to Microsoft Office. Once your files are transferred, use WPS Office to open, edit, and collaborate on your documents seamlessly.
- 1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free installation package.
- 2. Install the Software: Run the downloaded file and follow the simple on-screen instructions to complete the setup.
- 3. Connect Your Cloud: Open WPS Office and sign in to link your cloud storage accounts for direct document access.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Mover.io to transfer a 200 GB folder between personal OneDrive accounts?
No, Mover.io does not support transfers between personal OneDrive accounts; it is designed primarily for tenant-to-tenant or business migrations.
Why does Microsoft Graph Explorer return an internal server error when copying large folders?
Graph Explorer often times out or hits API throttling limits when processing massive folders (like 200 GB) on personal OneDrive accounts, resulting in internal server errors.
Is there a free method to copy a large OneDrive folder without using a virtual machine?
Yes, if you have sufficient local storage and unmetered internet bandwidth, you can use the OneDrive desktop app to sync the folder locally, then drag it to the destination account's sync folder.
