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Copy Google Drive Folder

by Drive Explorer

How to Copy a Google Drive Folder (1-Click & Free)

Select a source and destination folder. We'll copy everything — files, subfolders, and the entire structure.

Source Folder

The Google Drive folder you want to copy

Destination

The folder where the copy will be placed

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How to Duplicate a Google Drive Folder Without Downloading

1.

Select the source folder

Connect your Google Drive and pick the folder you want to copy. The tool uses Google's official Drive API to access only what you select.

2.

Choose a destination

Select any folder in your Google Drive as the destination — including the root level. The copied folder will appear there.

3.

Your folder is copied

Select 'Start copying'. We recreate the full folder structure and copy every file to the destination, preserving the original hierarchy at any depth.

The entire process happens in your browser — no files or folder data are ever sent to our servers. You see real-time progress as the copy runs.

Migrate Data to Shared Drives While Preserving Folder Structure

Moving files to a Google Shared Drive doesn't have to mean losing your carefully built folder hierarchy. Drive Explorer lets you replicate your entire folder tree — including deeply nested subfolders — directly into a Shared Drive without any manual reorganisation.

  • Copy from your personal My Drive into any Shared Drive your account has access to
  • Mirror a Shared Drive folder back to your personal drive for offline-friendly access
  • Reproduce multi-level folder hierarchies at any depth — no flattening, no data loss
  • Ideal for team onboarding, departmental reorgs, or client project hand-offs

The folder structure is rebuilt file-by-file using Google's Drive API, so every subfolder is created in the correct position before its contents are copied in — guaranteeing a perfect replica of the original hierarchy.

Is it Safe to Use a Third-Party Google Drive Cloner?

We take your privacy and security seriously. Here's how we protect your data.

Google Verified

Drive Explorer undergoes recurring security audits by Google to maintain access to Drive APIs. We meet Google's strict security and privacy standards.

No Server Storage

Your file data never touches our servers. We don't collect, store, or transmit any of your Google Drive files or folder information.

Frontend Processing

All operations happen entirely in your browser. Your data stays on your device and is never sent to any external server.

How to Copy a Google Drive Folder: 4 Best Methods

Google Drive does not have a native “Copy Folder” button in the web interface. Here is a complete, step-by-step guide to copying your folders using different methods.

Method 1 • Recommended

Duplicate Google Drive Folders Instantly with Drive Explorer

The absolute easiest way to copy folders recursively in Google Drive. No downloads, no coding, and no complex setup. All file names, nested subfolders, and structures are preserved in their exact order directly in your browser.

  • Copy from Personal Drive to Shared Drives (and vice-versa)
  • 100% free with no limits on the number of files or folders you can copy
  • 100% secure: runs locally in your browser using official Google APIs

Why Google Drive doesn't support folder copying:

Google Drive uses an ID-based file system rather than a traditional path system. Since files can technically exist in multiple places simultaneously (via shortcuts), creating copies of full folder graphs creates complex ownership and permission scenarios that Google elects not to manage automatically.

Method 2

Use Google Drive for Desktop

If you copy folders regularly, syncing files to your local machine (Windows or macOS) allows you to copy directories using your native OS file system.

  1. Download & install the Google Drive for Desktop app.
  2. Configure your account to mirror/sync folders locally.
  3. Open Finder (Mac) or File Explorer (Windows) and locate your Drive folder.
  4. Copy and paste the folder. Drive will automatically sync the copy back online.

✓ PROS

• Native OS controls
• Copy folders locally

✗ CONS

• Requires local app
• Heavy disk usage

Method 3

The Manual Download & Re-upload Method

The classic fallback approach. Great for small folders, but highly tedious and resource-intensive for larger hierarchies.

  1. Locate the source folder in your web Google Drive account.
  2. Right-click the folder and click Download (Google will compress it to ZIP).
  3. Wait for the download, then extract the ZIP archive locally.
  4. Click + New > Folder Upload in Drive to upload the extracted directory.

✓ PROS

• Works in any browser
• Clean new copies

✗ CONS

• ZIP structures break
• Very slow upload

Method 4 • Advanced (Google Apps Script)

Recursively Copy Folders with Google Apps Script

For developers, administrators, and power users, Google Apps Script allows you to write custom macros that automate folder copying using Google's cloud infrastructure.

/**
 * Google Apps Script - Recursive Folder Copier
 * 
 * Instructions:
 * 1. Go to script.google.com
 * 2. Click "New Project"
 * 3. Paste this code into the editor
 * 4. Replace source and destination folder IDs below
 * 5. Click "Run" (You'll need to authorize permissions on first run)
 */
function startCopyFolder() {
  // Replace these with your actual folder IDs from the URL
  var sourceFolderId = "PASTE_SOURCE_FOLDER_ID_HERE";
  var destFolderId = "PASTE_DESTINATION_FOLDER_ID_HERE";
  
  var sourceFolder = DriveApp.getFolderById(sourceFolderId);
  var destFolder = DriveApp.getFolderById(destFolderId);
  
  Logger.log("Starting copy of: " + sourceFolder.getName());
  copyFolderRecursive(sourceFolder, destFolder);
  Logger.log("Folder copy completed successfully!");
}

function copyFolderRecursive(source, target) {
  // Copy all files in the current folder
  var files = source.getFiles();
  while (files.hasNext()) {
    var file = files.next();
    file.makeCopy(file.getName(), target);
  }
  
  // Recursively find and copy all subfolders
  var subfolders = source.getSubfolders();
  while (subfolders.hasNext()) {
    var subfolder = subfolders.next();
    var newTargetFolder = target.createFolder(subfolder.getName());
    copyFolderRecursive(subfolder, newTargetFolder);
  }
}

Warning: Google Apps Script has a 6-minute execution timeout. Large folders with thousands of files will fail to complete and throw a timeout error.

Frequently Asked Questions

To find more ways to copy a Google Drive folder, check this article.