Google Drive to SharePoint Migration with Secure Steps
Many users have difficulty transferring Google Drive data to SharePoint. But, because of different cloud platforms, some of you have problems moving the data. But if you follow the steps correctly, you can easily migrate data from Google Drive to SharePoint. In this article, I am providing ways to move the data, discussing the challenges that you may face, and the tips to prevent them.
Why Move Google Drive Files to Microsoft SharePoint?
Google Drive and SharePoint are popular programs where users choose Google Drive for its simplicity and SharePoint for a more structured environment. Migrating the data means gaining more advanced features for managing the documents. This is one of the reasons; the other reasons.
- Businesses that are already using Microsoft Teams, Outlook, and Word can benefit from transferring Google Drive data to SharePoint. Like easy access and sharing the files in all Microsoft applications.
- Google Drive has a simple folder-based structure. Whereas SharePoint structures documents into libraries, supports metadata tagging, and provides superior control.
- For security, SharePoint provides detailed permission controls, sharing options with expiration dates and passwords, and many other security features. That’s why enterprises prefer SharePoint over Google Drive.
- Because of the unstructured way Google Drive manages its data, many startups and SMEs choose SharePoint.
So, for a business or a large enterprise, SharePoint is an ideal option for data management. It provides more advanced features compared to Google Drive. But, before moving your data, there are certain points that you must have to keep in mind.
Follow the Pre-Migration Checklist
Migrating data from Google Drive to SharePoint is a critical procedure. One wrong move may result in data loss. So, before going through the steps, you must prepare these prerequisites.
- First of all, review your existing Google Drive data, count the number of files it stores, and notice the type of data. Check which data is important and which one you do not need. This gives you an idea of what you want to move.
- Make sure that your SharePoint account has enough space to contain all the Google Drive data.
- Remove duplicate or unnecessary data so that you can only move the necessary data.
- Don’t forget to backup your Google Drive data before the procedure to reduce the possibility of losing any data.
- Check your Drive file size to make sure it doesn’t exceed SharePoint’s maximum upload limit.
- Properly map Google shared Drives to specific SharePoint libraries, sites, or MS Teams.
- Ensure Multi-Factor Authentication settings are properly configured to avoid API connection failure.
- You must have admin rights for both Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace to perform the migration.
- Also, verify that all users are using the correct license of SharePoint or Microsoft 365.
After following this checklist, you can now go to the migration methods.
Download & Upload Google Drive Data to SharePoint
Individual users can use this method to move their data from Google Drive to SharePoint. But it only transfers a limited range of data.
- In your Google Drive, select the data that you want to move.
- Download them either one by one or in bulk. The files will be downloaded in ZIP format.
- Extract the files, then log in to SharePoint.
- Manually upload them and recreate the folder structure.
This method is free to use, but it is time-consuming as you have to download each item and upload it. The methods only moves files and does not preserve permissions or metadata. Therefore, there is a risk of data loss during manual Google Drive to SharePoint migration.
Using Microsoft Migration Manager
Microsoft provides a native tool called Migration Manager that migrates Google Workspace files to SharePoint in Microsoft 365. It is a lengthy process where you need to create a migration project and ensure you have access to the destination as well as the source account.
- Start the process by installing the Microsoft 365 migration app in your Google account custom apps.
- Sign in to the Google Workspace Marketplace and select Domain install.
- Continue to the Domain-wide Install screen. Agree to the terms of service. Click Allow.
- Complete the installation. Go back to Microsoft Admin Center Migration Manager.
- Press the Next button, sign in to the Google Workspace. Then, click the Next button.
Scan and Access Google Drive
After successfully connecting to Google, add your Google Drive to scan and access it.
- Choose Add Drives and choose an option.

- Highlight all or any tasks and select the Scan button.
- After that, download the report.
- Your migration task should not exceed 100,000 items or 1 TB of data. If it does, the system automatically splits the drive into multiple migration tasks.
- Delete the selected Drive and select Add Drives from the command bar.
- In the side panel, choose Multiple specific Drives.
- Download and edit the CSV template file. Like [email protected]/folder01, [email protected]/folder02, and so on.
- Save the files and upload them.
Copy to Google Drive Migration Tab
Once Google Drive is scanned, the status will show whether it is ready to migrate. If it is, then follow the steps.
- Select tasks in the Drives tab with scan status Ready to migrate.
- Choose Copy to Drive migrations, then click edit Destinations.
- You have the option of single destination edit or upload destinations using a CSV file to provide where you want to migrate selected tasks.
- Check task migration settings. Select copy to Drive migrations.
- In the Drive migrations tab, go to the next step.
Verify Destination Paths
The task cannot be migrated without indicating the destination. Once the migration starts, the destination cannot be modified. Therefore, it is good to review the destination paths before the actual process. If the destination is missing, below are the steps to edit.
- Highlight the row, and you will see a panel. Select Edit from Destination.
- Choose the SharePoint destination. Then, enter the site URL and location.
- Save the path.
Map Identities of Google Drive to SharePoint
In this, we match the destination user identities with the source identities in Microsoft 365. It is an important step, as improper identity setup can result in users losing their content. By default, Migration Manager automaps the identities based on an exact match. But you can also manually edit by following the steps below.
- Highlight the row and provide the Microsoft 365 domain, user, or group. Then, choose the Save button.
- To add single-user mapping or group mapping, select the Import users and groups button.
- Choose Single user mapping or Single group mapping.
- Add a user or group in the source and destination textboxes.
- Select the Save button.
Migrate Google Drive Tasks to SharePoint
The last step of the Migration Manager tool is for migrating data from Google Drive to SharePoint.
- Choose Tasks (Google Drive), then Migrate.
- Confirm the action and click the Migrate button again.
After transferring the Google Drive data, you can download the report. So, this is the process of transferring Google Drive data to SharePoint.
Transfer Google Drive Data to SharePoint by Professional Approach
The Migration Manager and download/upload methods are manual approaches for moving data. But, they are time-consuming, and you can’t move the permissions of the files. Also, many professionals prefer third-party migration tools like SysTools Google Workspace to Microsoft 365 Migrator for their bulk migration while preserving the data or folder hierarchy.
The software has the option to bulk or selective migration with file permissions. The software is available for Windows and Linux operating systems. Follow the steps below.
Working Steps of the Software
- Download the software and activate it.

- Select G Suite as the source and Microsoft 365 as the destination.

- Choose Documents, click permission and apply the date filter.

- Add G Suite Admin Email, Application ID, and Certificate File. Click the Validate button.

- Provide Microsoft 365 Admin Email and Application ID. Press the Validate option.

- Add users using Fetch Users, Import Users, and Template Download.

- Set priority and click the Start Migration button.

Conclusion
Many users migrate data from G Suite to SharePoint. Therefore, in this article, I have provided three methods to move the data. The first manual option can be done for any individual user. But to use Migration Manager, you need an admin account for both Google Workspace and Microsoft 365. They will transfer your data, but are lengthy, and some data will fail to move. However, professionals use the software to securely and easily move their Google Drive data to SharePoint. But, before going through the procedure, make sure you follow pre-migration checklist.
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