Amazon Drive Shutting Down! Backup Files Now with Full Guide

Quick Navigation:

• "Amazon Drive is ending on December 31, 2023"
• What to do when Amazon Drive shutting down? Backup
• Further Reading: Amazon Drive vs. Amazon S3
• FAQs About Amazon Drive Shutting Down
• Summary

"Amazon Drive is ending on December 31, 2023"

Most Amazon Drive users must have received the above message from Amazon on July 29, 2022. Launched in March 2011, Amazon Drive has served as a "secure cloud" storage service for Amazon customers to back up their files and access them conveniently. However, it announced the service will be shut down on December 31, 2023, and it will focus on enhancing Amazon Photos. Besides, the photos and videos stored on Amazon Drive can be accessed through Amazon Photos even after Amazon Drive shuts down.

To be more specific, you can still upload files to Amazon Drive until January 31, 2023, and be able to view & download the files from Amazon Drive on December 31, 2023. However, starting December 31, 2023, you will no longer be able to access the Amazon Drive, along with everything inside.

What to do when Amazon Drive shutting down? Backup

When Amazon Drive shuts down the service, the priority for Amazon Drive users should be to move important data to the local drive or another reliable cloud drive in advance. How to do it? You can refer to the following content.

Way 1. Back up Amazon Drive to the local drive

To transfer important files from Amazon Drive to a local computer disk, you just need to visit the Amazon Drive website and log in with your account. Tick the target files or folders and click on "Download". Then they will be downloaded into the "Downloads" folder on your computer.

Way 2. Back up Amazon Drive to another cloud drive

Of course, downloading necessary files from Amazon Drive to local storage price can help prevent data loss when Amazon shutting down its cloud storage drive. However, if the data is huge and the downloading will cost a lot of time, or the local storage space is not sufficient currently, then you can switch to another cloud drive, such as Google Drive, OneDrive, etc.

To transfer files from Amazon Drive to another cloud drive, you can manually download them from Amazon Drive to the local drive, and then re-upload them to the target cloud drive.  Here, we will show you how to move Amazon Drive content to Google Drive as an example for your reference.

Step 1. Download all you need from Amazon Drive to a certain folder or several folders for different types of files.

Step 2. Visit the Google Drive official site and log in with your account.

Step 3. Click the "+ New" icon and choose "File Upload" and "Folder Upload" as you need.

Step 4. In the subsequent window, tick the target folders or files in your computer File Explorer.

Step 5. Do as on-screen instructions and then wait for it to be done.

Then, the content in the Amazon Drive will be safely moved to Google Drive.

Further Reading: Amazon Drive vs. Amazon S3

When it comes to Amazon Drive, you might have Amazon S3 in mind. What are the differences between Amazon Drive and Amazon S3, here we listed the main differences between them with the following table. If you are confused about this, check below.

Aspect	Amazon S3	Amazon Drive
Purpose	Object storage for developers and businesses	Personal cloud storage for individuals
Use Cases	Data backup, data lakes, web applications, data storage for businesses	Personal file storage, sharing, and syncing for individuals
Pricing Model	Pay-as-you-go based on storage, data transfer, and optional features	Subscription-based pricing for personal users
Integration	Deep integration with AWS services and developer tools	User-friendly interface with basic integration
Data Lifecycle Management	Supports advanced data lifecycle policies	Basic file organization and sharing features
Data Security	Offers robust security features for enterprise needs	Focuses on consumer-level data security
Target Audience	Developers, businesses, and enterprises	Individual consumers and personal users

To keep your files safe, you can move files from Amazon Drive to Amazon S3 before Amazon Drive shutdown.

Tip: Swith Amazon S3 to Another Cloud

Sometimes, you might encounter the Amazon S3 not syncing all files or other issues. Fix it with the solutions, or switch Amazon S3 with another cloud with a powerful web-based cloud file manager - MultCloud.

This is a popular and comprehensive web-based service, that allows you to directly transfer, sync, and back up data across more than 30 cloud drives (personal and business cloud ), including Amazon S3, Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, MEGA, iCloud Drive, iCloud Photos, and more, without downloading and uploading.

Here are the simple steps to migrate Amazon S3 to Google Workspace with MultCloud:

1. Please register a free MultCloud account, then log in.

2. Tap Add Cloud > Amazon S3, then follow the guide to add. Then add Google Workspace.

3. Select Cloud Transfer from the left side, choose Amazon S3 as the source, and Google Workspace as the destination.

4. Press Transfer Now to migrate Amazon S3 to Google Workspace smoothly.

Moreover, it even develops "Real Time Sync", helping automatically sync the content in the source to the target directory as long as any changes in the source are detected.

FAQs About Amazon Drive Shutting Down

1. What will happen to my existing files on Amazon Drive?

Your existing files will remain accessible until the shutdown date. After that, you may need to access the backed-up videos and pictures through Amazon Photos or access the backed-up files on your local computer or another cloud if you create a backup for them.

2. Can I get a refund for my Amazon Drive subscription?

Refund policies may vary depending on your subscription plan and the timing of your cancellation. Contact Amazon customer support for more information.

3. Are there any recommended alternatives to Amazon Drive?

Yes, there are several cloud storage services available, such as Google Drive, Dropbox, Microsoft OneDrive, and more. You can choose one that suits your needs and transfer your files accordingly.

4. How do I transfer my files from Amazon Drive to another cloud storage service?

Amazon may provide instructions or tools for migrating your data. Additionally, you can download your files from Amazon Drive and manually upload them to the new service.

5. Will I lose my photos and videos stored on Amazon Drive?

You won't lose your photos and videos stored on Amazon Drive, because these files can be accessible through Amazon Photos even after the shutdown date. But for data security, it's highly recommended to backup them to another cloud.

6. Can I still access Amazon Drive on my mobile devices or computer after it shuts down?

Amazon Drive's apps and website may become inaccessible after the shutdown date. It's essential to retrieve your data before that happens.

Summary

So, to deal with the Amazon Drive shutting down or ending problem completely, it is a wise choice to move the important files to your local drive or another cloud drive for a backup. When the service ends, the Amazon Drive app will also stop work as well. The Drive app for iOS and Android will be removed from App stores on December 31, 2023. You can keep the app after the date, but will not receive any support for bug fixes and security updates.