Want to duplicate Google Drive folder content for backup, sharing with others, or reusing templates? Google Drive doesn’t offer a direct folder copy option, but there are reliable workarounds. Whether you're a student organizing course files, a team sharing project folders, or a creator managing templates, this guide walks you through four simple ways to duplicate folders with ease.
Hey everyone, quick question — does anyone know how to duplicate a folder in Google Drive? I’m trying to make a copy of an entire folder (with subfolders and files) for backup and reuse, but I can’t seem to find a "Copy Folder" option anywhere. Am I missing something? Is there a workaround or tool that works well for this? Thanks!
- Question from Reddit
No, Google Drive doesn’t let you duplicate a folder directly with a single built-in feature. While you can copy individual files, there’s no option to copy an entire folder—including its structure and contents—in one click.
🚧 Limitations when trying to duplicate a folder in Google Drive:
To work around these limitations, you can use Google Drive for Desktop, Google Apps Script, or third-party tools like CBackup.
This Google Drive copy folder method, using the web interface, offers a straightforward way to duplicate folder contents without installing additional software. It suits users who need to quickly back up or copy folders with simple structures and mostly individual files. Since it does not preserve subfolders or the original hierarchy, each file must be copied manually.
For large folders or those with deeply nested subfolders, this approach can be time-consuming and less efficient. After copying, users must manually organize the files to maintain order. Additionally, copying shared folders may face permission restrictions, which can complicate the process.
📝 To use the Google Drive duplicate folder method on the web, just follow these steps to copy your files and recreate the folder structure in your browser.
Step 1. Open Google Drive and navigate to the folder you want to duplicate.
Step 2. Double-click the folder to open it and view its contents.
Step 3. Select all the files inside the folder by pressing Ctrl+A (Windows) or Command+A (Mac).
Step 4. Right-click the selection and choose "Make a copy." This will create duplicates of all selected files in the same folder.
Step 5. Create a new folder, then move the copied files into it to mimic the original folder. Rename the new folder as needed.
This method does not preserve subfolders. You’ll need to recreate any subfolders manually and repeat these steps for each one if needed.
Duplicating folders on your desktop offers a simple way to make a copy of folder in Google Drive with all files and subfolders intact. Using Google Drive for Desktop (formerly Backup and Sync), you can access your Drive as a local folder on your computer. This lets you easily copy and paste entire folders within your file explorer or Finder. The app will then automatically sync the copied folder back to Google Drive, ensuring your files are backed up and available across devices.
This method works best for users who want to quickly make a copy of folder in Google Drive without relying on the web interface and need to preserve the folder structure during the process.
📝 Here’s a step-by-step tutorial on how to copy a Google Drive folder using Google Drive for Desktop:
Step 1. Open the Google Drive folder on your computer through File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac).
Step 2. Locate the folder you want to copy within your Google Drive directory.
Step 3. Right-click the folder and select Copy (or use Ctrl + C / Command + C).
Step 4. Navigate to the location where you want the duplicate folder, right-click, and select Paste (or use Ctrl+V/Command+V).
Step 5. Wait for Google Drive for Desktop to sync the new folder and its contents back to the cloud. You can check sync status in the app icon on your taskbar or menu bar.
This method preserves the entire folder structure and allows easy management of large folders offline.
To duplicate a Google Drive folder with its entire structure, using Google Apps Script gives you a reliable and flexible option. This method allows users to copy all contents—files and subfolders—without losing organization. Google Apps Script works inside your Drive account, so there’s no need to install extra tools or export data. Users who manage templates, recurring folder setups, or structured data often prefer this solution.
You can run a custom script directly in the Google Script Editor and automate the folder duplication process. This saves time and removes repetitive work. Although basic script editing is necessary, Google provides clear documentation and examples. For anyone who needs to duplicate a Google Drive folder regularly, this method offers both power and convenience.
📝 To duplicate an entire folder and its contents, follow the guide below on how to copy whole folder in Google Drive using Google Apps Script:
Step 1. Open Google Apps Script by visiting script.google.com and create a new project.
Step 2. Paste the script below into the editor:
function copyFolder() {
var sourceFolder = DriveApp.getFolderById('SOURCE_FOLDER_ID');
var targetFolder = DriveApp.createFolder(sourceFolder.getName() + ' - Copy');
var files = sourceFolder.getFiles();
while (files.hasNext()) {
var file = files.next();
file.makeCopy(file.getName(), targetFolder);
}
var subfolders = sourceFolder.getFolders();
while (subfolders.hasNext()) {
var subfolder = subfolders.next();
var newSubfolder = targetFolder.createFolder(subfolder.getName());
copySubfolder(subfolder, newSubfolder);
}
}
function copySubfolder(source, target) {
var files = source.getFiles();
while (files.hasNext()) {
var file = files.next();
file.makeCopy(file.getName(), target);
}
var subfolders = source.getFolders();
while (subfolders.hasNext()) {
var subfolder = subfolders.next();
var newSubfolder = target.createFolder(subfolder.getName());
copySubfolder(subfolder, newSubfolder);
}
}
Step 3. Replace 'SOURCE_FOLDER_ID' with the actual ID of the folder you want to copy (found in the URL of the folder in Google Drive).
Step 4. Click the Run ▶ button at the top to execute the script. Grant permissions if prompted.
Step 5. Check your Drive for a new folder with the same name plus " - Copy"—your duplicated folder will appear with all contents and subfolders.
To copy Google Drive folder content easily, CBackup provides a reliable third-party solution. This cloud management tool lets users sync or back up files between different cloud drives, including Google Drive, without downloading or uploading files manually. Users can copy entire folders within the same Google Drive account or between multiple accounts.
CBackup maintains the original folder structure and supports scheduled sync, file filters, and multi-account management. This method suits users who manage large amounts of data or need to copy Google Drive folder frequently without using scripts or handling files one by one. With its web-based interface and flexible features, CBackup makes it simple to handle backups, duplicates, and transfers for Google Drive folders across various use cases.
📝 Here are the steps to copy a folder in Google Drive using CBackup. Follow this tutorial to duplicate your folder securely:
Step 1. Visit the CBackup website and create a free account or log in if you already have one.
Step 2. Connect your Google Drive account(s) to CBackup by authorizing access under the "Storage" section.
Step 3. Select the "Cloud Backup" or "Cloud Sync" option to start a new task.
Step 4. Choose the Google Drive folder you want to copy as the source, then select the destination folder or another Google Drive account.
Step 5. Confirm and start the sync or backup task. CBackup will copy the entire folder with its structure automatically.
This method simplifies folder duplication without manual downloads, making it ideal for regular backups or transferring large folders.
This post explored four effective ways to copy folders in Google Drive. You learned how to duplicate folders quickly using the web interface and how desktop apps handle larger or more complex folder structures. We also covered automating the process with Google Apps Script for advanced users. Finally, third-party tools like CBackup offer an easy and efficient way to copy and sync folders without hassle. Each method provides flexibility and convenience, helping you keep your Google Drive organized and backed up. Choose the best approach based on your specific needs.
If you have more questions about managing your files, here are some frequently asked questions to help you better understand how to copy folders in Google Drive.
Yes, you can copy Google folder to another account, but Google Drive doesn’t provide a direct "duplicate folder" option across accounts. To transfer a folder to another Google account, you need to manually share and copy the contents. This works well for users switching accounts or collaborating with others.
Here’s how to copy a Google folder to another account in 5 steps:
Yes, you can use command-line tools to create a new folder in Google Drive, especially with tools like Google Drive API or third-party CLI tools such as gdrive. This method works well for developers or advanced users who prefer automation over manual actions in the browser.
Here’s how to create a new folder using the gdrive command-line tool in 5 steps:
Step 1. Download and install the gdrive tool from its official GitHub repository.
Step 2. Open your terminal or command prompt and authenticate using gdrive about, following the prompts to authorize access.
Step 3. Run the following command to create a new folder:
Step 4. Note the folder ID returned in the terminal for future reference.
Step 5. (Optional) Upload files or manage contents within the folder using other gdrive commands.
If you're looking to use Command Prompt (CMD) to duplicate folders in Google Drive, you'll need to use a third-party command-line tool like gdrive or set up scripts through the Google Drive API. CMD alone can't access Google Drive directly, but paired with gdrive, it offers a flexible solution for advanced users who want to automate folder operations.
Here’s how to duplicate folders in Google Drive using CMD and gdrive in 5 steps:
Step 1. Download and install the gdrive executable and configure it on your system.
Step 2. Use gdrive list to find the folder ID of the folder you want to copy.
Step 3. Create a new folder with gdrive mkdir "Folder Copy" and note the new folder ID.
Step 4. Copy each file from the original folder using gdrive copy --destination [new folder ID] [file ID].
Step 5. Repeat for all files inside the folder to complete the duplication.
While this doesn't copy the folder structure automatically, it's an effective way to manually duplicate folders in Google Drive through the command line.