A Complete Step-by-Step Guide to Migrating Google Drive to OneDrive for Business

Introduction

As organizations evolve, the need for a unified and secure workspace often leads them to migrate from Google Drive to Microsoft OneDrive. While the benefits seamless Teams integration and stronger compliance are clear, the migration process itself can be daunting. The risk of data loss or downtime often holds teams back. This blog cuts through the complexity, offering a strategic overview of why the switch is worth it and how to execute a planned migration that guarantees zero data loss and a smooth transition for your end users.

Note: This article focuses on migrating files and folders from Google Drive to OneDrive for Business.

For email (Gmail) migration from Google Workspace to Microsoft 365, refer to this guide: Google Workspace to Microsoft 365 Email Migration.

Step 1: Access the Microsoft 365 Admin Portal

To begin the migration, you must be logged in as a Global Administrator.

1. Navigate to Microsoft365.com in your browser.
2. Log in using your Admin credentials (e.g., admin@yourcompany.com).
3. Once the dashboard loads, locate the App Launcher (the icon with nine dots in the top-left corner, often called the "waffle").
4. Click the icon and select Admin from the apps panel. This will open the Microsoft 365 Admin Center in a new tab.

 

Step 2: Access the SharePoint Admin Center

Once you are inside the main Microsoft 365 Admin Center, you need to navigate to the specific migration tools found in SharePoint.

1. Look at the left-hand navigation pane.
2. If you don't see all the options, click on ... Show all to expand the menu.
3. Scroll down to the "Admin centers" section at the bottom.
4. Click on SharePoint. This will open the SharePoint Admin Center in a new tab.

 

Step 3: Select the Google Workspace Migration Tool

Once the SharePoint Admin Center opens in a new tab, you will see a dashboard dedicated to managing your organization's data.

1. In the left-hand menu, click on Migration.
2. You will see several options for cloud providers. Locate and select the Google Workspace card.
3. This will launch the setup wizard specifically designed to transfer your Google Drive content to OneDrive for Business.

Step 4: Connect Your Google Workspace

After selecting "Google Workspace," a new setup window will appear titled Migrate your Google Workspace content to Microsoft 365.

1. This is where you establish the secure link between the two clouds.
2. Locate and click the Connect to Google Workspace button.
3. This will prompt you to sign in with your Google Admin account to authorize the transfer.

Step 5: Install the Migration Application

To verify your domain and access your files securely, Microsoft requires a "Connector" app.

1. After clicking "Connect," you will be redirected to the Google Workspace Marketplace.
2. You will see an app titled Microsoft 365 Migration.
3. Click the blue Install button.
4. Select Continue and then Authorize to grant the necessary permissions for the migration tool to run.

 

Step 6: Authorize the App in Google Workspace

You will be redirected to the Google Workspace Marketplace. Here, you need to grant the migration tool permission to access your organization's data.

1. Locate the Admin install button (usually a blue button on the right side of the screen) and click it.
2. A pop-up window will appear titled "Admin install control".
3. Click Continue to acknowledge that you are installing this for your organization.

Note: To proceed past this step, you must log in using a Google Workspace Super Admin account (e.g., admin@yourcompany.com). 

Step 7: Configure Installation Access

A new window titled "Admin install" will appear. This is where you define who in your company is covered by the migration tool.

1. Under the section "Turn on for," select the radio button for Everyone at your Organization.
• Note: This ensures the migration tool can reach all user drives.
2. At the bottom, check the box to agree to the Application Terms of Service.
3. Click Finish to complete the installation.

Step 8: Confirm Installation

Once the permissions are granted, Google will confirm that the application is active.

1. A final pop-up window will appear with the message "App installed".
2. This confirms the "Connector" is ready.
3. Click the Done button to close the wizard and return to the main screen.

 

Step 9: Finalize the Connection

Once you have finished the installation in the Google tab, return to the SharePoint Admin Center tab in your browser.

1. You will see the "Install the migration app" screen where you left off.
2. Since you have already completed the installation, locate the blue Next button at the bottom of the screen.
3. Click Next to verify the connection and proceed to the final sign-in.

Step 10: Authenticate Your Google Account

After clicking "Next," the wizard will move to the second stage: Authenticate Google Workspace.

1. You will see a prompt titled "Sign in to Google Workspace".
2. Click the blue Sign in to Google Workspace button.
3. A secure pop-up window will open. Enter your Google Super Admin email and password to finalize the secure connection.

Step 11: Finalize the Connection

After successfully signing in, the wizard will update to confirm the status.

1. You will see a success message stating Connected to Google Workspace.
2. This indicates the secure link is established and you are ready to start scanning drives.
3. Click the blue Finish button to close the setup wizard.

Step 12: Add Source Path & Start Scan

Now that the connection is active, you need to instruct the tool to find your Google users and their data.

1. On the Migration dashboard, scroll down to the Scans tab.
2. Click the Add source path button.
3. A side panel will open. Select the option Look for new users and groups in Google Workspace.
4. Make sure to choose Automatically scan content. This ensures the tool indexes the files immediately.
5. Click the Add button to confirm and begin the discovery process.

Step 13: Review Scanned Drives

Once the scan is initiated, the tool will automatically discover all Google Workspace drives associated with your organization.

1. The status will initially show as Queued or Scanning.
2. After a few moments, the list will populate with all available drives.
3. You will see columns for Drive name, Google owner, and Scan status, allowing you to verify that all users have been found.

Step 14: Copy Drives to Migration List

Once the scan is complete, you need to move the verified drives to the actual migration staging area.

1. In the Scans list, check the box next to the drive(s) you want to migrate.
2. Click the Copy to Migrations button located in the top menu bar.
3. A confirmation pop-up window will appear titled "Copy to migrations".
4. Click the Copy to Migrations button inside the pop-up to confirm the action.

Step 15: Access the Migrations Dashboard

After copying the drives, you need to switch views to manage the actual data transfer.

1. Locate the tabs at the top of the screen (Scans, Migrations, Reports).
2. Click on the Migrations tab.
3. Here, you will see the drives you just selected.
4. Notice the "Destination status" column. It may show "Not scanned" or "Ready", indicating that we need to map these users to their new Microsoft 365 accounts in the next step.

 

Step 16: Edit Destination Path

If the automatic mapping is incorrect or missing, you can manually set where the files should go.

1. Click on the specific task row (the username) in the Migrations list.
2. A side panel titled "Migration details" will slide out from the right.
3. Locate the Destination section within this panel.
4. Click the Edit link/button to modify the target OneDrive path.

Step 17: Configure OneDrive Destination

In the "Edit destination path" panel, you will define exactly where the data should go.

1. Select Destination: Choose the OneDrive option (since we are migrating a personal user drive).
2. Select Account: In the search box, type and select the Microsoft 365 email address of the user (e.g., user@yourcompany.com).
3. Create Folder (Optional): If you want the data to go into a specific subfolder (e.g., "Google Drive Backup"), enter the name here. Otherwise, leave it blank to migrate to the root.
4. Save: Click the Save path button to confirm the mapping.

Note: If you are customizing paths (e.g., specific subfolders), you must repeat the "Edit Destination" step for each user individually.

Step 18: Map Identities & Groups

To ensure that file permissions (like "Shared with") work correctly after the move, you must tell the system how to translate Google users to Microsoft 365 users.

1. Click the Map identities button in the command bar (above the user list).

2. A side panel will open.

3. Domain Mapping: Locate the Domain mapping section.

• If your users' email addresses are changing (e.g., from @gmail.com or @old-domain.com to @new-company.com), use this field to define the rule.
• If the email prefixes match (e.g., john@... to john@...), the system can often map them automatically once the domains are defined. 

4. Group Mapping: If you are migrating content that is shared with Google Groups, switch to the Groups tab (or section) to map them to equivalent Microsoft 365 groups.

Step 19: Initiate the Migration

With your destinations mapped and identities configured, you are ready to start the transfer.

1. Navigate back to the main Migrations tab.
2. Select the checkbox next to the user drive(s) you want to move.
3. Click the Migrate button located in the command bar at the top.
4. A confirmation pop-up will appear. Review the details and click the blue Migrate button to officially begin the process.

Step 20: Monitor & Verify Completion

The system will now begin transferring the data. This process may take some time depending on the size of your drives and internet speed.

1. Monitor the Migration status column in the dashboard.
2. It will cycle through statuses like Queued, in progress, and finally Completed.
3. Once finished, you will see a green checkmark next to the user.
4. The dashboard will also display a summary of the Files count and Data volume (GB) that was successfully migrated.

Conclusion

Migrating your organization's data is a critical task, but with the right approach, it can be done efficiently and safely. By following this comprehensive guide, you have successfully transitioned your data from Google Workspace to OneDrive for Business, ensuring a seamless and secure migration for your organization.