Copy Folder Structure in Google Drive, OneDrive and Dropbox

Organizing files and folders is similar to organizing your belongings at home. Just as you sort clothes by type, color, and usage, keeping files in an orderly structure ensures you can find them when needed. A well-organized file system not only boosts productivity but also reduces bandwidth usage during downloads.

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In this blog, we’ll discuss the importance of effective folder structures and provide steps to replicate these structures in Google Drive, OneDrive, and Dropbox. Whether you’re managing personal documents or coordinating team projects, a consistent folder organization can make your digital life more efficient. Let’s dive in.

What Makes a Good Folder Structure?

• A good folder structure shouldn’t have 10-20 subfolders inside every folder. At this point, the original purpose of creating a folder structure is lost.
• Create a nested folder structure that works best for everyone in your team or family depending on where you use it.
• Don’t keep files of a similar nature or subject in two different folders. Doing so would lead to confusion and disorganization.
• Your folder structure should be easy to understand and simple. If it’s too difficult or complex, it’ll deter the purpose of creating it.
• A good folder structure should be usable for a long term without the hassle of maintaining or re-creating it again and again.
• Use descriptive names as your folder names. If the folder names are more specific, you won’t be wasting a lot of time finding your needed files.

Copy Folder Structures in Google Drive, OneDrive and Dropbox

A) Microsoft OneDrive

1. Sign in to your OneDrive account.
2. Go to the My Files tab.
3. Open the folder that contains the directory you want to copy.
4. Select Copy to.
5. Select a folder where you want to copy the files and then click on the Copy here button.

Note: If you want to copy folder structure from OneDrive to a site on Microsoft SharePoint, select your preferred site from the Quick access panel on the left. If no site is displayed, click on the More places icon and choose your site.

B) Dropbox

1. Sign in to your Dropbox account.
2. Go to the folder that contains the directory you want to copy.
3. Click on the Ellipsis icon.
4. Select Copy.
5. In the new dialog, choose your destination folder and then click on the Copy button.

C) Google Drive

Unfortunately, Google Drive does not provide a direct option to copy folder structures. You can only copy files, not folders.

The only official way to accomplish it is to use the Google Drive desktop tool. Alternatively, you may use a third-party online service such as MultCloud. We’ll discuss both methods below.

Using Google Drive for Desktop

These are the steps you need to follow to copy the folder structure in the Google Drive for Desktop method.

1. Download the Google Drive for Desktop application from here.
2. Install and set up Google Drive using the initial setup wizard.
3. Now, open File Explorer.
4. Click the Google Drive icon on the left panel.
5. Navigate to the folder containing a directory structure you want to copy.
6. Right-click that folder and select Copy.
7. Now, go to the target folder. Right-click on an empty area and select the Paste option.

Using MultCloud

MultCloud is not entirely free. You can use the free plan that provides a limited bandwidth for file copying or moving operations. After exceeding the bandwidth limit, you will have to wait for the next month for the rollover, or upgrade to the paid plan.

1. Sign up for MultCloud.
2. Click on the Cloud Transfer tab.
3. Click on Add Cloud > Google Drive.
4. Click on Next.
5. Specify a name for your drive and then click on Add Google Drive account.
6. Sign in to your Google Drive account and provide the required file access privileges.
7. Now open the Google Drive account in MultCloud and right-click the folder you want to copy. Select Copy.
8. Go to the target location. Right-click on an empty area and select Paste.