Google Workspace Migration

How to Copy Google Drive Folders and Files to OneDrive for Business

John Wilson Oct 26, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user needs a method to copy entire folder structures and their contents from Google Drive to OneDrive for Business on a recurring schedule.

How to Copy Google Drive Folders and Files to OneDrive for Business

Product: Power Automate, Google Drive, OneDrive for Business
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Migrating files and maintaining exact folder structures from a Google Workspace environment to Microsoft OneDrive automatically on a set schedule.
Observed behavior: Available default Power Automate templates mainly focus on migrating individual files rather than accurately reading, recreating, and copying full folder hierarchies.

Before you start

Ensure you have active credentials and necessary permissions for both Google Drive and OneDrive for Business, and verify that your Microsoft Power Automate account has access to premium API connectors if required.

Solution 1Recommended

Build a Custom Power Automate Flow for Folders and Files

Use the Google Drive and OneDrive connectors in Power Automate to detect folders, recreate them in OneDrive, and copy the files.

Since standard templates usually handle only flat files, creating a custom logic flow allows you to differentiate between a file and a folder, ensuring your entire directory structure is preserved during the transfer.

Create a scheduled cloud flow

Log into Power Automate, click on 'Create', select 'Scheduled cloud flow', and define your preferred recurring schedule for the migration.

List items in Google Drive

Add the 'List files in folder' action from the Google Drive connector to retrieve the contents of your target source folder.

Recreate folders in OneDrive

Add a 'Condition' to check the metadata of each item. If the item is identified as a folder, use the OneDrive for Business 'Create folder' action, passing the original folder name and path.

Copy file contents

In the 'If No' branch (meaning the item is a file), use the 'Get file content' action for Google Drive, followed immediately by the 'Create file' action in OneDrive for Business to paste the data into the correctly matching path.

Build a Custom Power Automate Flow for Folders and Files

Run a Test Migration First: Always test your newly created flow with a small sample folder containing dummy files to verify that paths are reconstructed correctly before syncing your entire drive.

Solution 2

Use Microsoft Graph API for Complex Migrations

For large-scale or deeply nested directory structures, utilize the Microsoft Graph API directly to manage OneDrive items with high efficiency.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Seamlessly View and Edit Your Migrated Files with WPS Office

Once your files are safely migrated from Google Drive to OneDrive, accessing and editing them efficiently is crucial. WPS Office offers a powerful, lightweight, and completely free alternative to Microsoft Office, enabling you to open synced cloud files instantly with an intuitive, familiar interface.

1. Download and install: Visit the official WPS website to download the free installation package and install it on your PC or Mac.
2. Connect to your cloud drive: Open WPS Office, navigate to the cloud storage section, and log in to your OneDrive for Business account to access your migrated folders.
3. Start editing: Click on any synced document to open it immediately with full formatting preserved, and save your edits directly back to OneDrive.

Outstanding compatibility with Microsoft Office formats, including DOCX, XLSX, and PPTX.Lightweight software architecture that ensures fast startup and smooth operation.All-in-one suite allowing you to handle Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and PDF files in a single window.Seamless integration with cloud drives, making it easy to open OneDrive files directly.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Power Automate handle Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides formats during migration?

When moving files, Power Automate typically downloads native Google formats as exported Microsoft Office files (like .docx for Google Docs or .xlsx for Sheets) because OneDrive natively supports Microsoft formats rather than Google's proprietary web formats.

Do I need to keep my computer on for the scheduled migration to run?

No. Power Automate cloud flows run entirely on Microsoft's servers in the background. Once the scheduled trigger is activated, the migration will happen regardless of whether your personal computer is turned on.

Are there limits to how many files I can transfer using Power Automate?

Yes, Power Automate enforces API action limits based on your specific Microsoft 365 or Power Automate license plan. For enterprise-scale migrations with hundreds of thousands of files, using dedicated migration tools or the Microsoft Graph API is more appropriate.

Will copying these folders to OneDrive delete my original files in Google Drive?

No. Unless you specifically include a 'Delete file' action in your Power Automate flow, the process only reads and copies the data. Your original folders and files will remain perfectly intact in Google Drive.

Migration & Recovery