How to Transfer Files from Google Drive to OneDrive Without Downloading Them

To move files from Google Drive to OneDrive, add both accounts to Air Explorer, open Google Drive on one side and OneDrive on the other, and drag the files across. You don’t have to download them to your computer and upload them again by hand: Air Explorer copies them straight from Google Drive to OneDrive without saving them to your disk, and turns your Google Docs, Sheets and Slides into Word, Excel and PowerPoint files on the way. Air Explorer is free for Windows and Mac.

How to Transfer Files from Google Drive to OneDrive

1. Download Air Explorer for Windows or Mac and open it.
2. Add your Google Drive and OneDrive accounts in Accounts → Add account. Each one asks you to sign in on Google’s or Microsoft’s own page; you only do it once.
3. Open both accounts side by side: Google Drive in one pane, OneDrive in the other.
4. Drag the files or folders from Google Drive to OneDrive, or use Copy and Paste. The task list at the bottom shows each file and its progress.

Migrating a Whole Google Drive to OneDrive

For a full migration, open the Google Drive folder in one pane and the destination in OneDrive in the other, and click Synchronize Current Folders, the button between the two panes: Air Explorer compares both sides and copies only what is missing in OneDrive, so if the migration stops halfway you just run it again. Because the files are never written to your disk, you can move hundreds of gigabytes even if your computer has little free space, and several files are transferred at the same time to make the most of your connection. Shared drives can be moved the same way.

With Air Explorer Pro you can save that synchronization and schedule it, for example every night, if you need to keep both clouds in step for a while during the move.

Ways to Move Files from Google Drive to OneDrive

Method	How it works	Good for	Drawbacks
Download and upload again	Download from Google Drive’s website (folders come as a ZIP), then upload to OneDrive	A few files	Two manual steps, you need free disk space, and large downloads often fail
Google Takeout	Google’s tool to export your data as ZIP files	A full copy of your account	You still have to unzip everything and upload it to OneDrive yourself
Google Drive and OneDrive desktop apps	Install both sync apps and move files between their folders on your PC	People who already sync both clouds	Everything is downloaded to your disk first, then uploaded again
Online transfer services	Websites that move files between clouds on their own servers	Transfers without installing anything	You have to give them access to both accounts, and your files go through a third party’s servers
Air Explorer	Desktop app with Google Drive and OneDrive side by side	Any size, from a few files to a full migration	Your computer has to stay on while it transfers

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens to my Google Docs, Sheets and Slides?
Air Explorer converts them to Word (.docx), Excel (.xlsx) and PowerPoint (.pptx) files as it copies them, so they open in OneDrive and Microsoft 365 like any other document.

Can I connect Google Drive to OneDrive?
Neither of them lets you send files straight to the other. With Air Explorer you add both accounts and see them side by side in the same window, so moving files between them is a matter of dragging.

Is it free?
Yes. The free version lets you add one Google Drive account and one OneDrive account and transfer between them with no data limit. Air Explorer Pro adds more accounts of the same cloud, scheduled tasks and encryption.

Do I need free space on my computer?
No. The files travel through your internet connection but are never saved to your disk.

Does it work with OneDrive for Business?
Yes. Add the account as OneDrive for Business or SharePoint and transfer the same way.

Can I move files from OneDrive to Google Drive too?
Yes. See how to transfer files from OneDrive to Google Drive.

Move your Google Drive files to OneDrive today. Download Air Explorer free or see what Pro adds.