Securely Unlink Google Drive with OneDrive
Businesses that link their OneDrive and Google Drive often face problems like duplicate files, storage space being used twice, and syncing errors. In that case, your only solution is to disconnect Google Drive from OneDrive. In this blog, I will explain the connection between them and how to stop syncing Google Drive with OneDrive.
Linking two famous cloud storage services, Google Drive and OneDrive, is very beneficial. As it covers the bridge between Microsoft and Google Workspace. In many scenarios, they help you easily access your documents, data backup, etc., but over time, it causes risk of accidental data loss, performance issues, slow syncing, etc.
Disconnecting the syncing between Google Drive and OneDrive can resolve the problem. But to do that, we have to first understand the working of the synchronization.
How is Google Drive Linked to OneDrive?
Linking Google Drive with OneDrive directly is not possible, but using third-party tools or local folder syncing, users can help you in this.
In the local folder syncing option, users download their files and upload them to OneDrive. Whereas users use third-party tools to directly sync their two cloud accounts. In business or shared environments, account permission and backup policies are also used to link the two services.
While these methods connect Google Drive with OneDrive. But if something happens during the procedure, you can face syncing issues.
What Happens When Users Disconnect Google Drive from OneDrive?
Many of you have several questions when you want to unlink Google Drive from OneDrive. So, before stopping the syncing between Google Drive and OneDrive. Read these points.
- When you disconnect Google Drive from OneDrive, only syncing stops. All the stored files remain in Google Drive and OneDrive safely.
- Thus, you don’t have to worry about losing the cloud data unless you manually delete it.
- Automatic two-way or one-way syncing is disabled after unlinking it. You will no longer see new files of Google Drive in OneDrive and vice versa.
- If there is schedule syncing or background backups between the two clouds. It ends immediately.
- After discontinuation, the local file on your computer will be available. Thus, if you made any changes in the local file, it will not automatically update in both the cloud platforms.
- As a result, Google Drive and OneDrive will start functioning independently.
- After the disconnection, your original cloud files and folders will remain. File permissions and ownership are preserved. The folder structure on both platforms is unchanged, and you gain full control over how to store data and manage it.
Only file syncing will be stopped, and all the files will remain in the respective account. After clearing this, let’s continue the process of disconnecting Google Drive from OneDrive.
Stop Syncing Google Drive with OneDrive using OneDrive Web
If you used the Microsoft built-in tool to move files from Google Drive to OneDrive, break the link by going through the OneDrive website.
- Search the OneDrive site from the web browser. Log in to the account.
- Click on the gear icon and then the Settings button.
- Choose the Import cloud photos and files option located in the left sidebar.
- In the Import history, find the Google Drive, then the More button (three dots).
- Select Disconnect from Google Drive and confirm it.
Revoke Google & Microsoft Account Permissions
If both accounts are linked at the service level, remove the permissions from the Google or Microsoft account settings.
- Go to the Google Third-party apps & services page. Find out Microsoft apps & services.
- Click on the See Details button and then Remove all access.
- After that, navigate to the Microsoft Account Consent page.
- Search Google related services, click the manage option, or remove the access.
Disconnect Google Drive from OneDrive by Local Desktop Sync
When OneDrive and Google Drive are both installed on your computer and syncing to the same local folders. Stop one of the folders.
- open task bar in your desktop and click on the OneDrive cloud icon.
- Then, click the Help & Settings button. Choose the Settings option.
- Select Account and Unlink this PC.
- In the same taskbar, choose the Google Drive icon and then Settings.
- Click Preferences, Settings, and Disconnect account.
Remove Google Drive Connected Services in Office Apps
Some users link Google Drive in Microsoft 365 or Office applications as a connected service. Remove it by following these steps.
- Open the Office app, go to the File option, and then Account.
- Find the Google account under Connected Services.
- Click the Remove button to stop the G Drive from appearing.
These are all the ways to disconnect Google Drive from OneDrive. From these, you can easily unlink your Drive account, but it comes at a price.
Issues Occurred After Disconnecting Drive
Some users face problems when unlinking their Gogoel Drive from their OneDrive account.
- When Google Drive and OneDrive are linked in the same local folder, and when they are unlinked. Your system has a problem identifying which existing files belong to which Drive.
- If the user is editing the files while the cloud services are unlinking. After that, reconnecting them to multiple versions of the same file appears in both platforms.
- Google Drive or OneDrive relies on the specific file location. Then, the separation of them will break the file path that is locally stored.
- Also, local shortcuts or recent files lists lead to empty or missing folders due to the unmapping of the underlying sync path.
- Sometimes, after unlinking, the visual representation of the former connection will still be visible in your systems.
- Unexpectedly disconnecting the Drive led to the disappearance in your local machine.
If you don’t properly disconnect Google Drive from OneDrive, you may face these problems. So, to avoid this, follow these practices below.
Tips to Keep Google Drive and OneDrive Separate
- When you sync Google Drive and OneDrive, keep them in different folders. Avoid locations like desktop, documents, or downloads.
- regularly check the sync preferences. Make sure only the necessary folders are selected for syncing.
- When backing up the local folders, don’t backup the same in both cloud services. If the folder is already managed by another cloud app, turn off the automatic backup.
- Some use real-time sync tools to mirror Google Drive and OneDrive. This is risky. Continuous syncing increases the issue of duplicated and accidental data loss.
- Use label folders to indicate which files belong to Google Drive or OneDrive. This makes it less confusing when managing them.
These practices make the disconnection of Google Drive and OneDrive go smoothly. In most organizations, they stop syncing Google Drive with Onedrive is because of switching accounts. If you are also performing this for this purpose. Then, consider the use of professional software.
Expert Tip for Unlinking Google Drive from OneDrive
One of the main reason to disconnecting the syncing is that you are moving from Microsoft to Google. When it comes to switching, migration is a hectic job. To make it easier for you use the SysTools OneDrive to Google Drive Migration Tool, a technical software that can easily transfer your files from one account to another without losing the layout.
Summary
People often having doubt when they have to disconnect Google Drive from OneDrive. So, this blog provides you with different ways to unlink the syncing without losing your data. Along with it, I also discussed the issue you will get after separating both drives. Use the practices and expert tips to avoid any syncing errors after stopping them.