Working with Google Drive folders can be a nightmare. Even after more than a decade, there is still a painful lack of quality-of-life improvements. Unlike individual files and folders, which have a simple "Make a Copy" button, duplicating entire folder structures is still a challenge.
Google Drive folder copy limitations:
- No simple full-folder copy - The Drive web app simply does not allow users to copy folders containing any subfolders.
- Large copies are slow - big folder structures can stall, fail, or take a long time.
- File formats are inconsistent - Native Google files like Docs, Sheets, and Slides are not included or convert unknowingly to other formats.
- Permissions can break - Sharing, ownership, and Shared Drive rules may not carry over cleanly.
- Copying from a template is manual - Drive has no built-in way to reuse folders without lots of manual clicking and relabelling work.
Whether you're setting up client project folders, creating monthly templates, or backing up complex folder hierarchies, knowing your options to copy Google Drive folders efficiently could save you hours.
Here are 4 methods to copy folders reliably that actually work.
| Method | Effort | Keeps Google file formats | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Download & Re-upload | High — Download, unzip, then drag back into Drive | No — converts to Office | One-off copies without Google Docs |
| Google Drive Desktop App | Medium — Install desktop sync, then copy-paste locally | No — skips Google Docs | Power users already syncing Drive |
| Third-Party Solutions | Varies — Install and configure a third-party tool | Depends on tool | Automating workflows or more powerful features |
| FolderPal | Low — Select a template folder, copy in one click | Yes — keeps native formats | Repeated, templated folder cloning |
Method 1: Download and Re-upload the Google Drive folder
This is the most widely recommended hack to reproduce a folder and subfolder cloning operation on the Google Drive web interface.
1. Right-click your template folder and select "Download". It will download as a ZIP file to your local machine
2. Extract the downloaded ZIP file to see the folders
3. At this point, you can rename your newly extracted folder
4. Open your Google Drive to the destination folder. You should click and drag the folder in to preserve all your nested folders exactly (using the Folder Upload feature skips empty folders)
This is the most reliable method for cloning Google Drive folder structures without having to sync your entire Drive to your computer.
Drawbacks of using the zip and upload method
- Your Google Workspace files (Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, etc.) will be converted to Office formats on download (e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint). When you upload your new folder, it will show up in Google Drive in the Office format. There is no way to preserve the Google file format unless you individually convert each one or copy them over one-by-one from the original folder.
- FolderPal lets you preserve all your file types AND all your nested subfolders exactly.
- It is not suggested you use the New -> Folder Upload button, because only folders with content will be uploaded. Empty folders will not be copied, which might be frustrating for copying template folders.
- The operation does take quite a lot of manual effort (downloading, unzipping, uploading), and it will eventually clutter your local files.
Method 2: Copy from the Google Drive Desktop App
For users who have Google Drive installed locally or need to move large folders, the desktop app will be the easiest native solution.
1. Install Google Drive for Desktop
2. Sync your folders locally
3. Navigate to your Google Drive folder in Windows Explorer or Mac Finder
4. Copy and paste the entire folder structure using standard commands (Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V), then rename the folder as needed.
5. Wait for the desktop app to sync your changes back to the cloud. Your nested folder structure will be copied over
This will preserve the entire folder hierarchy regardless of depth, and really should be how the web interface works.
Drawbacks of using the desktop app
- Be warned that all Google Workspace documents (Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, etc.) cannot be copied over, so they must be excluded. Only static files like PDFs, Excel, etc. will be copied with this method.
- Additionally, this requires downloading and syncing your Google Drive contents to your computer, and unless you're a power user, is probably overkill.
Method 3: Third-Party Solutions
Third-party tools let you power up your Google Workspace when you can't rely on out-of-the-box features. They can range anywhere from free scripts you install and configure yourself, to full-featured enterprise software suites (which can be quite costly). Some common places to look for solutions are:
- Google Workspace Marketplace - Google-approved apps that work directly in your browser. They are free to install and try, but be careful of paywalls.
- Chrome Web Store - A limited range of apps that work in your browser.
- Third-party applications - These are standalone applications that require authenticated permissions to access and modify your Google Drive. These can range from small, convenient tools to all-in-one enterprise software suites.
Method 4: Try FolderPal
For teams who regularly create repetitive folder structures - agencies onboarding clients, consultants managing projects, teams launching campaigns, or school admins managing student folders - cloning folders and files consistently can become a productivity bottleneck over time.
Rather than fighting Google Drive's limitations, FolderPal lets you create folder templates once then customize and copy over perfect folders instantly.
- Instead of tediously copying, pasting, and renaming folders and files, you can define your perfect folder structure, and it will create it the same way every single time
- It takes only a matter of seconds to copy new folders and files, including the entire subfolder tree and all files within - no need to wait for unzipping and downloads
- Your file formats will be preserved every time. Your native Google files (Google Sheets, Google Docs) will remain as Google files, and your binary files (Excel, PDFs) will be cloned identically.
- Customize each new folder and file with unique labels for that new project, including text, custom dates, and number formatting
- FolderPal lets you select an existing template folder in your Google Drive, which you can use to generate new templates
- Customize your permissions each generation - Copy the same permissions or set new permissions for your new folders
Get started with FolderPal and save hours of your time working with Google Drive folders.