Which export option is best?

• Exporting a smaller number of files:
  
  • Export files using a web browser
  • Export files using the Google Drive desktop app
• Exporting larger storage collections:
  
  • Export files using Google Takeout
• Moving data:
  • Move content from an individual Drive to a Shared Drive.
  • Move content from an individual Drive to OneDrive or Box.

Export files using a web browser

1. Navigate to your Google Drive.
2. Select the Download button on a file or folder you want to download.

Export files using Google Takeout

1. Navigate to Google Takeout
2. Deselect All.
   
3. Scroll down and check Google Drive.  For Photos, scroll down and select Google Photos.
   • If you want to export the whole drive, select Next Step.
   • If you want to export only particular data, select them from the checkbox list.
     
   • Select Next Step 
     
     
4. It is recommended to select Export Once for the Frequency and .zip as the File Type.  The File Size default is 2 GB; you can adjust the File Size to 2, 4, 10 or 50 GB. Choose the options of your preference; click Create export.
   
   

Export files using the Google Drive desktop app

Confirm that Google Drive is installed on your computer. If not, Google Drive is available to download.

Windows

1.  Launch Windows Explorer from Start > All Apps, and expand This PC (or My Computer) to see Google Drive.
   
2. Select files and folders you want to move and copy them to a location on your computer.

macOS

1. Launch the Finder application.
2. On the left sidebar, under Locations click Google Drive. 
3. Select files and folders you want to move and copy them to a location on your computer
   

Move content from an individual Drive to a Shared Drive

• This Google Support about how moving your files into a shared drive will affect them is recommended.
• Here are Google Support instructions covering how to Add files and folders to a shared drive.

Move content from an individual Drive to OneDrive or Box

Current students, faculty, and staff exceeding their Google Drive storage limits have Microsoft OneDrive and Box as alternatives.

• There is 1TB of OneDrive storage available with your UMD Microsoft account.
• There is 512GB storage available with your UMD Box account.

For more information, a post on the IT website about Google Workspace storage limits answers questions about the effects of these quotas.