How to Share Entire Google Drive with Another Account: 5 Ways

Google Drive is a file storage service that belongs to Google, through which files can be saved and stored in the cloud, allowing access from anywhere around the world for an individual or organisation. Additionally, you can enable other users to view your set of files by either sending them the link or granting access to all files, folders and pictures.

If you have a Google Drive account for your business and a personal Google Drive account, you might be interested in sharing all the contents of your business account with your personal account. How can anyone achieve this differently? What are the benefits or drawbacks?​

This how-to guide will demonstrate the quick steps required to share your entire Google Drive with another Google account using various methods.

There are specific situations where sharing your entire Google Drive with another account you control (like a business and personal account) can be beneficial:

• Centralised Access: If you frequently switch between accounts and need access to all your files in one place, sharing your Drive eliminates the need to log in and out.

• Seamless Collaboration on Large Projects: For extensive projects with numerous files and collaborators, sharing your Drive avoids constant file syncing or sending large attachments.

• Easy Data Migration: Moving all your data to a new account or service becomes simpler when everything is shared.

• Backup Solution: Sharing your Drive with another account you control provides a backup in case your primary account encounters issues.

Considering the access provided, you can use Google Drive to share your files and folders with other users. You can have the files shared through diverse platforms depending on whether or not you want to limit access or how many people you need to share the file with. Here’s a breakdown of how it works: 

Here’s a breakdown of how it works:

• Viewer: There will be no option to edit, download, or delete option to edit, download, or delete the file, as the user will only have the right to view it.

• Commenter: People can visit the file and share their thoughts with it without making alterations or downloading it.

• Editor: View – edit – download – delete are the user’s options on a file.

Can you share an entire Google Drive? Yes, this is how to share Google Drive with another account by following these steps:

1. Log in to the Google Drive account that you want to share.

2. Using the left sidebar, click on My Drive.

2. Press the Ctrl+A (or Command+A on Mac) buttons to select your drive’s files and folders.

4. In the table of the selected items, right-click on them and Choose the Share button.

5. Again click on the Share Button

6. In the “Share with people and groups” window, type down the email address of an account you would like to share this document. 

7. Ensure the Editor’s permission is selected.

8. Click ‘Send‘ or click the prompt to indicate that that sending is complete.

Following these steps, you have effectively shared your drive’s contents with the other account. However, this doesn’t mean a different account has full access to your drive. Individuals with whom you have shared specific files and folders can access only those items.

If you add new files or folders to your Drive later, they won’t automatically be shared. However, share a folder and subsequently add new files to that folder. Those new files will be accessible to the individuals you share the folder with.

This method involves creating a shared folder within your Drive and adding all your existing files. This approach offers more control over specific file permissions within your shared space.

1. Open Google Drive.

2. Click “New” in the top left corner

3. Choose “New Folder” from the menu.

4. Give your folder a descriptive name like “Shared Folder.“

5. Right-click on the Shared Folder and select Share in the pop-up menu.

6. Again Click on the Share button

7. Type the email address of the account you want to share this folder.

8. Choose the desired permission: Editor or Viewer.

9. Click “Send.” will send the invitation to the receipt email account.

10. Drag and drop existing files from your Drive into the shared folder.

Creating a shared folder gives you more control over specific file permissions within your shared space. This method is advantageous when you want to share everything systematically and have flexibility in managing access to your files. This is how to share entire Google Drive.

Using this method, one can send single files or folders, dividing the access level for other users. It is perfect for scenarios where you must give varying access to several individuals.

1. Open Google Drive and Locate the folder or files that you wish to share.

2. Right click on the selected folder and select Share button.

3. Again select Share button

4. Type the email address of the account you want to share.

5. Select the editor permission or any other as per your choice.

6. Click “Send.” It will send an email notification and give access to the files.

Shared Drive is a feature specific to Google Workspace. It allows teams to easily store, search, and access their files anywhere, from any device. Note that your organisation needs Business Standard or higher to use admin security, sharing, and user settings for Shared Drives.

This method gives the other account full editing privileges on your Drive, letting them add, edit, and delete files as if they were their own.

1. Open Google Drive in any web browser.

2. Right-click on the “Shared Drives” icon on the left side.

3. Give your shared drive a Name something like SEO Team

4. Click on the Manage Members.

5. Types the email address of the account you want to share this drive.

6. Set the permission to Content Manage or as required.

7. Click on the Send button.

8. Review the altert and click on Share anyway button

9. Now you can start place the files and folder in side this Shared Drive and access with your another gmail account.

Shared Drive is a feature specific to Google Workspace. It allows teams to easily store, search, and access their files anywhere, from any device. Note that your organisation needs Business Standard or higher to use admin security, sharing, and user settings for Shared Drives.

While Google does not officially allow directly sharing or syncing your entire Google Drive account with another account, a few third-party tools can help you achieve a similar outcome:

• CloudHQ: This popular tool facilitates data migration and syncing between various cloud storage platforms, including Google Drive. You can use CloudHQ to set up one-way or two-way syncs between your Google Drive and another Google Drive account. It is generally recommended that you use this for specific folders or datasets rather than migrating everything simultaneously.

• MultCloud: Another robust option, MultCloud, allows you to connect and manage numerous cloud storage services from a single interface. You can set up sync or transfer tasks between any connected accounts, including syncing all Google Drive accounts (one-way or two-way).

The above is the best method that teaches how to share everything on Google Drive using third-party software.

• Security: Sharing your entire Google Drive account password with any third-party tool has inherent security risks. Always choose reputable tools with solid security measures and consider alternative methods for syncing sensitive data.

• Data Transfer Limits: Many free plans on these tools have data transfer limitations. Ensure you choose a plan that accommodates the size of your Google Drive account.

• Compliance: Using these tools to share copyrighted material or exceed Google Drive’s storage limits might violate its terms of service. Use them responsibly and ethically.

Sharing your entire Google Drive with another account you own has advantages and disadvantages, depending on the conditions under which you make this setup.

• All your files are available in one location, and jumping from account or service is unnecessary.

• You can work with someone on a big project with many files and folders without syncing or sending attachments.

• It is also easy to migrate your files to a new account or another service provider without manually downloading and re-uploading them.

• Backing up your files in this way implies that, in case anything happens to the primary account (e.g. if it is hacked or deleted), you have a safeguard in place, including preventative measures like suspension.

• You may lose some control over your files, as the other account can view, edit, add, or delete any files or folders in your shared drive.

• You may encounter file ownership, permissions, or compatibility issues, as some files or folders may belong to different accounts or services.

• You may use up more storage space in both accounts, as sharing your entire drive means duplicating all your files and folders in both drives.

• Sharing your entire drive means exposing all your files and folders to another account, which can compromise your privacy or security.

That’s it! You have successfully shared your entire Google Drive to another Google account. Now, they can see your folders and files and edit or download them when you continue sharing.

If you need to unshare the whole of your Google Drive with them, withdraw their access from folder-sharing settings. You can also delete or transfer the folder from your drive if it has no new purpose.

When sharing your Google Drive with another account, it’s crucial to understand the different permission levels you can assign:

• Viewer: This permission allows the user to view the file or folder without editing or downloading.

• Commenter: This permission allows the user to view and comment on the file or folder without editing or downloading it.

• Editor: This permission allows the user to view, edit, download, and delete the file or folder.

To ensure a smooth and secure sharing experience, consider these best practices:

Organise Your Drive:

• Create a clear and organised folder structure to make it easier for others to find the needed files.
• Use descriptive folder and file names.
• Regularly clean up your Drive by deleting unnecessary files.

Set Appropriate Permissions:

• Grant only the necessary permissions to each user.
• Be cautious about granting “Editor” permissions, as this allows users to change your files.
• Use the “Viewer” or “Commenter” permissions when appropriate to limit access.

Use Shared Drives for Team Collaboration:

• Create a Shared Drive for your team to collaborate on projects.
• Assign appropriate permissions to team members based on their roles.
• Regularly review and update permissions as needed.

Enable Two-Factor Authentication:

• Add an extra layer of security to your Google account by enabling two-factor authentication.
• MFA will help protect your Drive from unauthorised access.

Be Mindful of Sensitive Information:

• Avoid sharing sensitive information, such as personal or financial data, with others.
• If you need to share sensitive information, consider using encryption or other security measures.

Regularly Review Shared Files and Folders:

• Periodically review the files and folders you’ve shared with others.
• Remove access for users who no longer need it.
• Update permissions as required.

By following these best practices, you can safely and effectively share your Google Drive with others while protecting your sensitive information.

In conclusion, sharing the entire Drive with someone offers a convenient solution for centralising access, promoting collaboration, and serving as a backup. Full sharing of the drive, sharing created folders, sharing file by file, and using third-party tools for this purpose have advantages and disadvantages that should be well understood in terms of file ownership, permissions, disk usage, and security.

However, the author should consider the following limitations and conditions relating to each method of sharing. For instance, Shared Drives in Google Workspace provides robust collaboration features but requires an appropriate subscription. Third-party tools offer flexibility but necessitate careful consideration of security and compliance.

Regularly review sharing settings, manage permissions, and stay informed about security best practices to ensure a smooth and secure collaborative experience with your Google Drive.