To import Google Drive files or Google Photos into OneDrive, use the import option in the OneDrive mobile app or on OneDrive.com, connect your Google account, and follow the prompts. The import copies content into OneDrive; it does not delete the originals from Google. Check your available OneDrive storage first, and inspect the destination afterward because some items are excluded and the import is not documented as continuous sync.
Import from Google using OneDrive
- Check OneDrive capacity. Compare your available OneDrive storage with the size of the content you plan to import. A large Google library can use a substantial amount of destination storage.
- Open the import feature. In the OneDrive mobile app, use the initial import prompt or go to the profile/settings area and select Import Cloud Photos and Files. On OneDrive.com, open Settings > Import cloud photos and files. The menu and its availability may differ by client or account.
- Connect Google Drive or Google Photos. Follow the prompts to authorize and start the import.
- Check what arrived. Review OneDrive for missing files and converted documents. Microsoft says you can restart the import to copy content added to the source since the previous run.
Microsoft describes this as a copy: imported content goes to OneDrive cloud storage, while the source remains in Google. It does not download the content into your phone’s local storage.
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What transfers—and what does not
Microsoft says the feature copies individual photos and files from Google Drive or Google Photos. Some content is excluded:
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- Zero-byte files are not transferred.
- Restricted or otherwise non-copyable files are skipped unless the restriction is disabled.
- Google Drawings, Forms, Sites, and Maps stored in Drive are not imported.
Google’s proprietary document formats are converted during import. Sheets become Excel workbooks, Docs become Word documents, and Slides become PowerPoint presentations:
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| Google file | OneDrive copy |
|---|---|
| Google Sheets (.gsheet) | Excel (.xlsx) |
| Google Docs (.gdoc) | Word (.docx) |
| Google Slides (.gslide) | PowerPoint (.pptx) |
Microsoft’s guidance does not establish whether Google Photos album organization, dates, or every item of metadata is preserved. Check representative photos and files in OneDrive rather than assuming those details carry over.
Import is not ongoing synchronization
The documented operation ends after copying files. Microsoft says restarting it can bring over newly added source content, but its guidance does not promise that later edits, deletions, or additions will sync automatically. Treat each run as an import, and verify the destination if you add more material to Google afterward.
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- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
Use a computer to download and upload instead
If the cloud-import option is unavailable or skips something you need, download the content to a computer and upload it to OneDrive. Microsoft documents both browser uploads and the OneDrive desktop app.
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- Sign in to OneDrive on the web and open the destination folder.
- Select Upload, choose the files, and start the upload.
- For a folder upload, use Chrome or Edge. Microsoft states that browser uploads support files up to 250 GB each; the support page does not show a publication year for this limit.
Upload with the desktop app
Install or open the OneDrive desktop app, then copy the downloaded files into your local OneDrive folder and let them sync. Microsoft recommends the desktop app for large files or many files. If you want to keep the files in their original local folders too, copy them into the OneDrive folder rather than moving them: moving a file can remove it from its previous location.
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Choose the route that fits your transfer
| Consideration | OneDrive cloud import | Download and upload |
|---|---|---|
| Setup | Connect Google in OneDrive and follow the prompts. | Download to a computer, then upload through the web or desktop app. |
| Storage | Uses OneDrive cloud storage; check available capacity first. | Also uses OneDrive storage, and requires room on the computer for downloaded files. |
| Excluded or unusual items | Some files and Google services are not imported. | Useful as a fallback when the import option is unavailable or does not cover required items; check files individually. |
| Local copies | Copies from cloud to cloud; it does not put the files on your phone. | Lets you inspect downloaded files, but moving them into the synced folder can remove them from their prior local location. |
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