OneDrive to Google Drive Migration Guide
This guide shows you how to migrate your OneDrive for Business content to Google Drive using Cloudiway.
Overview
This OneDrive to Google Drive Migration Guide shows you how to migrate your OneDrive for Business content to Google Drive.
Cloudiway uses Microsoft Graph API and Google Drive API to migrate OneDrive content including files, folders, permissions, and metadata. Microsoft Office documents can optionally be converted to Google native format. All network operations are performed over TLS 1.2.
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View Solution PagePrerequisites
To perform the OneDrive to Google Drive Migration, you need to configure your Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace environments with the appropriate permissions.
Microsoft 365 Requirements (Source)
Cloudiway uses an Entra ID Application with Application Permissions to access OneDrive:
App Registration
Create an application in Microsoft Entra ID
API Permissions
SharePoint: Sites.FullControl.All and Microsoft Graph: Files.ReadWrite.All
Admin Consent
Granted by a Global Administrator
Google Workspace Requirements (Target)
Cloudiway uses a Google Service Account with domain-wide delegation to access Google Drive:
Google Cloud Project
Create a project in Google Cloud Console (or use automatic mode)
Service Account
Create a Service Account with domain-wide delegation
Drive API Scopes
Enable Drive API with full access to user drives
What is Migrated
The following items are migrated during an OneDrive to Google Drive migration:
File Conversion Options
You can optionally convert Microsoft Office documents to Google native format:
| Source Format | Target Format |
|---|---|
| Word (.docx) | Google Docs |
| Excel (.xlsx) | Google Sheets |
| PowerPoint (.pptx) | Google Slides |
Limitations
The following items are NOT migrated:
- File version history
- Comments on files
- OneNote notebooks
- Shortcuts and links to other files
- OneDrive recycle bin items
Migration Process
The OneDrive to Google Drive migration is a five-step process:
Step 1: Create Connectors
For Cloudiway to migrate your files, it needs to communicate with both your source Microsoft 365 and target Google Workspace tenants. To do this, Cloudiway uses connectors.
Microsoft 365 Connector (Source)
Go to Connectors > New, select Microsoft 365 as connector type, set a connector name and select Files. Click Next to configure the connector.
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Automatic | Cloudiway automatically creates and configures the Entra ID Application (recommended) |
| Manual | Manually configure your own Entra ID Application |
| Email Address | Microsoft 365 Global Administrator email address |
| Administrator Password | Password for the Administrator account |
| Grant Admin Consent | Click to authorize Cloudiway to access your Microsoft 365 tenant |
Google Workspace Connector (Target)
Go to Connectors > New, select Google as connector type, set a connector name and select Files. Click Next to configure the connector.
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Cloudiway Google Service Account | Use the Cloudiway-managed service account (recommended) |
| Custom Google Service Account | Expert mode - use your own Google Service Account |
| Domain Names | Your Google Workspace domain(s) |
| Migration Account | Google Workspace Super Admin email address |
| Migration Account Password | Password for the Super Admin account |
Step 2: Configure Global Settings
After setting up source and target connectors, configure your global settings. Navigate to Files > Global Settings.
Migration Settings
| Setting | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Migrate Permissions | Enable | Migrates file and folder sharing permissions to Google Drive. |
| Convert Office to Google Format | Disable | Converts Microsoft Office documents to Google native format (Docs, Sheets, Slides). |
| Preserve Timestamps | Enable | Preserves the original created and modified dates of files. |
Exclusion Settings
You can exclude specific file types or folders from migration:
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Excluded Extensions | File extensions to exclude (e.g., .tmp, .bak) |
| Excluded Folders | Folder names to exclude from migration |
Save Your Settings
Click on the Save button to apply your global settings.
Step 3: Fill User List
The User List contains all OneDrive accounts to be migrated. There are three ways to populate it:
Option 1: Discovery (Get List)
Click on User List > Get List to automatically discover all OneDrive accounts from the source Microsoft 365 tenant.
Then specify the following parameters:
Target Recipient Type
Select Files as the Target Recipient Type.
Matching Rule
Choose how source emails should be mapped to target emails:
- Mail Exact Match: source email = target email
- Keep Email Prefix Same as Source: only the domain changes
- FirstName.LastName: (e.g., [email protected])
Target Domain
Specify the target Google Workspace domain for the migrated users.
Option 2: Import User List
Click on User List > Import to upload a CSV file containing the users to migrate.
Prepare your CSV file
Create a CSV file with the source and target email addresses. For more details on the syntax of the CSV file, read our guide: How to Fill the Users/Groups CSV File
Click on Browse
Click on the BROWSE button to open the file selector.
Select your CSV file
Locate your CSV file on your computer and select it.
Select Connectors
Select the appropriate connectors in the Source and Target fields.
Option 3: Create Manual Entry
Click on User List > Create to manually add individual users. Enter the source Microsoft 365 email address and the target Google Workspace email address for each user.
Step 4: Verify Mapping Table
Cloudiway automatically populates this mapping table when source OneDrive accounts are discovered. Make sure that the mapping table was populated correctly and that you are not missing any users.
Ensure all users who have file permissions are included in the mapping table.
Ensure that Microsoft 365 email addresses are correctly mapped to their corresponding Google Workspace email addresses.
Step 5: Run Migration
Now that you have performed all the pre-migration steps, you're ready to migrate.
- Verify that the target email address is correct for each user
- Ensure the target account already exists in Google Workspace
- Ensure the target account has a valid Google Workspace license with Google Drive
Important: Cloudiway does not provision user accounts. All target accounts must be created before starting the migration.
Start Migration
- Under the Users tab, select all the users you want to migrate
- Click on MIGRATION
- Click the Start button
The migration will start as soon as there is a free spot on the platform. You can monitor your migration by clicking on an entry and checking the logs.
Delta Pass
Cloudiway is an incremental migration platform that supports delta passes for file migrations.
Every time you restart the migration:
- Only files that haven't already been copied to the target will be migrated
- Files that have been modified in the source will be updated in the target
- The platform does not duplicate files
How to Start a Delta Pass
To start a delta pass, simply restart the migration and the platform takes care of everything.
Delta Pass Limitations
- You can submit as many migration passes as you want for 3 months
- Until consuming the amount of GBs allowed by the assigned licenses
- Usually, you only need one pass before the cutover and another after the cutover
Frequently Asked Questions
What is migrated during OneDrive to Google Drive migration?
Cloudiway migrates all files and folders, sharing permissions, metadata (created date, modified date), and can optionally convert Microsoft Office documents to Google native format (Docs, Sheets, Slides).
Are Office documents converted to Google format?
This is optional. You can choose to convert Microsoft Office documents: Word (.docx) to Google Docs, Excel (.xlsx) to Google Sheets, PowerPoint (.pptx) to Google Slides. Alternatively, you can keep files in their original format.
Can I migrate permissions from OneDrive to Google Drive?
Yes, Cloudiway preserves sharing permissions during migration. All users with permissions must be listed in the mapping table for their permissions to be migrated correctly.
What is delta migration?
Delta migration allows you to migrate incrementally. After the initial migration, subsequent runs only migrate new or changed files. Note that deletions are not propagated during delta passes.
Do I need admin access to both platforms?
Yes, you need Global Admin access to Microsoft 365 and Super Admin access to Google Workspace. Cloudiway can automatically configure the required applications and service accounts for you.
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