How To Guide
How to Migrate Data to a New Cloud Provider
Switching cloud providers doesn't mean losing your files. With the right approach, you can migrate everything safely and efficiently.
Overview
Common migration paths include Google Drive to OneDrive (when adopting Microsoft 365), Dropbox to Google Drive, or consolidating multiple services into one.
Step 1: Prepare for Migration
Plan your migration before moving files.
1
Audit Current Storage
- Log into your current cloud provider
- Check total storage used and file count
- Identify shared files and folders — note who has access
- Download a list of shared links if possible
- Check for files in trash that should be permanently deleted or kept
2
Set Up Destination
- Create account on new cloud provider if needed
- Purchase sufficient storage plan
- Install the desktop sync client for the new provider
- Set up the sync folder on your computer
- Verify you have enough local disk space for temporary download
Step 2: Migration Methods
Choose the best approach for your situation.
1
Manual Download and Upload
- Best for small migrations (under 10GB)
- Download all files from source provider to your computer
- Wait for download to complete fully
- Move/copy files to the new provider's sync folder
- Wait for upload to complete
- Verify file count matches between source and destination
2
Use Migration Tools
- MultCloud.com: Free web-based tool for cloud-to-cloud transfer
- Rclone: Free command-line tool for advanced users
- Movebot: Business-grade migration tool
- Google Takeout: Export all Google data at once
- These tools transfer directly between clouds without downloading locally
Pro Tip:
Cloud-to-cloud migration tools save significant time and don't require local disk space. MultCloud offers 5GB free transfer per month.
3
Verify and Clean Up
- Compare file counts between old and new provider
- Spot-check important files to ensure they're intact
- Test shared links and recreate sharing permissions
- Update links in documents and bookmarks
- Keep old provider active for 30 days as safety net
- Cancel old subscription only after confirming everything migrated
3
Post-Migration Cleanup
- Verify all files transferred successfully by comparing file counts and sizes
- Test shared links and recreate sharing permissions on the new provider
- Update links in documents, emails, and bookmarks that reference the old provider
- Update application integrations that connect to your cloud storage
- Notify team members about the new location and provide access instructions
- Keep the old provider active for 30-60 days as a safety net before cancelling
4
Avoiding Common Migration Pitfalls
- File name restrictions differ between providers — some characters may cause failures
- Maximum path lengths vary: OneDrive has a 400-character path limit
- Large file limits: Check maximum file size on the destination provider
- File versioning history usually does not transfer between providers
- Some file types may not preview correctly on the new platform
- Test migration with a small folder first before migrating everything
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