How to Copy Files in Google Drive Easily?

• Why Copy Files in Google Drive?
• How to Copy Files in Google Drive? [3 Methods]
• Further Reading: How to Copy Files in Google Drive on iPhone
• Conclusion

Why Copy Files in Google Drive?

Google Drive, as one of the top-notch cloud storage service, has attracted a large number of users for its generous 15GB free storage space or practical features. Apart from providing a safe place to store important data, it also facilitates collaboration work among team members more easily and conveninetly. Now, some users want to learn how to copy a file in Google Drive. Why? 

• Make a Backup of Editing Original Files

Just like editing a file with your computer, you can also first make a copy of the target file you want to edit in Google Drive to make a backup. In this way, there’s nothing to be worried about any more when you edit the files online.

• Protect Shared Files from being Modified 

To make collaboration work with teams easier, Google Drive provides "Shared with me". And the smartest thing about this function is that any shared file you save to your Google Drive will be updated to the latest version as soon as the owner of the file makes change to it.

However, if you choose to "Make a Copy" of the shared file, actually you duplicate the file into your Google Drive and make your own copy which cannot be modified by the original editior.

How to Copy Files in Google Drive?

To copy files in Google Drive or copy entire folder in Google Drive, you find the proper way in the following content.

Method 1: Copy Files in Google Drive by "Make a copy" and "Move to"

This method allows you to copy files in Google Drive (Shared with me), and please note it cannot directly copy an entire folder. To duplicate an entire folder, you have to select all files in the target folder, make a copy of them and then move them to an existing folder or a new-created folder.  Although the steps are quite similar, results will be quite different when you choose different destination folder in the last step:

1. Copy and move copied files in your own Google Drive.
2. Copy files in your Google Drive and move to the shared folder so that everyone who can access the folder can view, edit or comment the copied files.
3. Conversely, copy files in the shared folder and move to your own Google Drive in order to disable others’ access permissions of the copied files.

Step 1: Sign in Google Drive with your Google Account.

Step 2: Right click the file you want to copy. If you want to copy more than one file in Google Drive, please hold down Ctrl on your keyboard and click each of the other files you wish to select.

Step 3: Click "Make a copy" in the pop-up menu.

Step 4: Right click the copied version of the file, then click "Move to".

Step 5: Locate the destination you want to move the copied file to in the pop-up window. Then click the blue button “MOVE HERE”.

Method 2: Copy Files in Google Drive by "Add a shortcut to Drive"

This method is simpler than method 1 right above. However, every change you make to the source file will be updated to the copied file as soon as possible since the copied one only act as a shortcut or a link of the source file.

Step 1: The same as step 1 and step 2 in method 1 right above.
Step 2: Click "Add a shortcut to Drive" in the pop-up menu.

Step 3: Locate the destination of the shortcut. Then click the blue button “ADD SHORTCUT”.

Method 3. Copy Files on Google Drive via a professional cloud transfer tool (2 Options Included)

Above 2 methods is to copy files or folder in Google Drive directly on the drive offical site. Now, we would like to share you with a powerful cloud transfer tool: MultCloud. It can help complete the file copy task in Google Drive with much more ease, and more importantly, allow you to copy files from Google Drive to another cloud drive, or from one Google Drive account to another account.

Considering that some users register more than 1 Google Drive account to get more free space, or have two different cloud drive account for personal and business use, MultCloud is developed to help copy files among various Google Drive accounts or from Google Drive to other clouds. 

Part I: How to Copy Files in Google Drive by "Copy to" (Recommended)

This is the most useful, fast and simple method to copy files from Google Drive. You can not only select more than one file to copy at a time, but also select more than one destination cloud (account).

Step 1: Click “Create Account” to sign up MultCloud for free. 

Step 2: Click "+Add Cloud" below the "My Cloud Drives" sidebar menu. Then choose the Google Drive icon at the right.

Step 3: Allow MultCloud to access your Google Drive. If you have more clouds to add, just repeat step 2 and step 3.
Step 4: Tick the boxes in front of the files you want to copy. Click "Copy to" in the function bar at the top.

Step 5: Click the triangle icon in front of the cloud to select the destination of your copied files in the pop-up window. If you want to copy to more than one destination, you just need to tick the box in front of "Multi-select" in the lower left of the window before selecting.
Step 6: Click "OK" in the lower right of the window.

Step 7: A pop-up window will appear in the lower right corner to show you the process of the copy task.

Part II: How to Copy Files in Google Drive by "Cloud Transfer"

This method is recommended to copy files, folders or even an entire cloud data to a certain destination in the cloud or folder you choose. In this way, you can copy files among different folders or clouds without switching accouts.

Step 1: The same with step 1 to step 3 in the last part.
Step 2: Click "Cloud Transfer" under the "Common Tools" sidebar menu.
Step 3: Click "FROM" in the left square.

Step 4: In the "Please Select" pop-up window, tick the boxes in front of the cloud, the folder or the file you want to copy from Google Drive. Then click"OK" below.

Step 5: Click "TO" in the right square to select the destination you want to copy to.
Step 6: Click “Transfer Now” and the copy task will be finished by MultCloud.

Further Reading: How to Copy Files in Google Drive on iPhone

The above content and demonstration is for copying files in Google Drive on computer browsers. If you want to copy a file in Google Drive on iPhone, you can try the following 2 methods. Although the methods requires the Google Drive application, the steps is kinda of like the above steps in Google Drive website.

Method 1: How to Copy Files and Folders in Google Drive App by “Make a copy” and “Move”

Step 1: Sign in Google Drive mobile application with your Google Account.
Step 2: Tap “Files” in the navigation bar below.
Step 3: Tap the icon “…” in the right of the file you want to make a copy.

Step 4: Tap “Make a copy” in the pop-up menu.

Step 5: Tap the icon “…” beside the copied version of your file.

Step 6: Tap “Move” in the pop-up menu.

Step 7: Select the destination you want to store the copied file in. Then tap “Move here”.

Method 2: How to Copy Files in Google Drive App by “Add shortcut to Drive”

Step 1: The same as step 1 to step 3 in method right above.
Step 2: Tap “Add shortcut to Drive” in the pop-up menu.

Step 3: Select the destination of the shortcut and tap “Add” below.

Conclusion

Now, you must know how to copy files in Google Drive in different situations. Choose the best one for your requirements. If you often need to copy files between different clouds, then the MultCloud is really an excellent choice. Add all your clouds into this one platform and manage them better. In addition to "Cloud Transfer", its "Cloud Sync" is quite popular and practical, along with around 10 sync modes, including the real time sync (trigger sync task automatically when any changes are detected in the source cloud).