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Tips & Tricks

How To: Copy Folder Structure and Contents in Google Drive?

ByShunmugha Sundaram

May 4, 2014

Consider John is a project manager of a company and has to create weekly reports covering various areas of the projects say revenue, resource etc., He uses Google Drive to manage the documents on the cloud so that he can jointly create reports along with his team mates.

He uses a standard folder template/hierarchy for his weekly report and wants to duplicate this folder structure every week. So he tries to make a copy of the folder in Google Drive but he’s unable to do it. Why because that feature is currently not supported.

All he can do is manually recreate entire structure which is a monotonous task or use desktop app. Have you faced a similar situation? Want an easier solution which works online from any browser? Here’s how.

How to Copy Folder Structure and Contents in Google Drive

Copy Folder Structure and Contents in Google Drive with Google Script


Meet GDrive Copy Folder script which lets you make copy of any Google Drive folder, duplicating the structure along with the contents in it. Below are the steps to get started.

1. Finding ID of the Folder You Want to Copy

  • Login into your Google Drive account.
  • Click on the folder you want to make copy of.
  • From browser address bar note down the unique ID which comes after folder/.

    Example URL: https://drive.google.com/?authuser=0#folders/0B6y7rBwoHlSvaXBzdjk0OC1tN0k
    Folder ID: 0B6y7rBwoHlSvaXBzdjk0OC1tN0k

    • how to find folder id in Google Drive

2. Installing/Using the Script

  • Click here to make a copy of the project (Version 2). Next click Yes, make a copy link
  • Click GDrive: Copy Folder menu next to help. And select Authorize. Click OK then Accept. This is a one time activity.
  • In B5 cell copy, paste the folder ID which you noted down in previous step.
  • Finally select Make a Copy option from the menu.

    • How to duplicate folder structure and contents in Google Drive

    Also see: How to Auto Save your Gmail Drafts to Google Drive for Backup
  • Wait for few seconds. When the process has completed you will receive a success message.
  • Now check your Google Drive account, a new folder would have been created with _copy in it’s name. Example: ABC Project_copy. If you wish to, rename it by right clicking.

You can easily extend this script even to schedule/automate this process so that copy of a particular folder is created at regular intervals. Please do drop in your comment if you want to know how.

By Shunmugha Sundaram

Author is a Software Developer working for an MNC. He is a game and programming freak.

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178 thoughts on “How To: Copy Folder Structure and Contents in Google Drive?”

      1. I was using it for the same thing, but I have just over 10GB to transfer and it simply ends up failing because there is a maximum run time that google allows.

        Reply

  2. This is brilliant! I have wanted a tool just like this for so long and was super excited when I stumbled upon this.

    One problem though…there is a limit on the size of the folder or how many docs it will copy within a folder. I know this may sound crazy but I have a folder with 500+/- docs then 20+/- subfolders where those docs are sorted. This process would not let me copy that big of a folder which is understandable.

    I will definitely utilize this for other projects but would you happen to have another script that is capable of doing larger projects such as mine or point me in a direction for something that would work?

    Thanks for this and any help you could provide?

    Reply

    1. Whitney,

      You are most welcome 🙂 Thanks for the feedback.

      Even another user mentioned about this. To be frank I haven’t tested it out with huge folder having lot of files. But surely will see what could be done to address this. Problem is that Google sets limits on how many calls can be made per day.

      If possible share with me a folder which has large content in it. Will run the script and test when it is failing. Email Id: skyisdelimit@gmail.com

      Reply

  3. I tried the script with a large folder of about 1,800 files and I received an error. It alluded to there being too many calls to the service, and it suggested implementing a sleep time between requests. (Sorry, I didn’t copy the exact error text.) Have you seen this before, and can you implement a fix so the script works with large copy operations? This is an important use case, I think, because one might want to avoid downloading all the files to the local computer to do the copy via the Google Drive sync app. Thanks!

    Reply

    1. Chris,

      Thanks for the feedback. Agreed, an important use-case to address. Understand what the error is, it’s because the API calls are made too frequently. Can you tell me how many files were copied and line number at which error occurred(In error popup it will be available)

      Problem is I don’t have folder with large files in it. If possible share with me a dummy folder with huge content in it. I will test with that. Email: skyisdelimit@gmail.com

      Reply

  4. Thank you so much for this script. It’s exactly what I am looking for.

    I am trying to copy recordings (original music), and I received an error that exceeds the maximum file size. Is there any way to increase that?

    Thanks either way.

    Reply

  7. Hi, this script is just what I was looking for, for some of our Drive users. They are only interested in copying an singke folder (with subfolders with documents); so they even don’t need to copy the folder ID if we set it up for them.

    A question tough: is it possible to convert this to a script that ‘stands on its own’, i.e. not part of a spreadsheet? Maybe it is possible to copy the script to the drive folder that you want to be copied, so that the script automatically will copy the folder it is in (no need to enter the folder ID). Yust a suggestion. We can work with it as it is in a spreadsheet. Thanks for sharing!

    Another tip: documents that are copied in this way will have ‘copy of ….’ added in front of the original file name. Users will have to delete ‘copy of …’ on each individual file. Maybe it is possible to copy the files without adding ‘copy of’ to their filenames?

    Leendert

    Reply

    1. Leendert,

      Thanks a lot for the awesome feedback. I opted for Spreadsheet is because it provides you easy to use interface.

      – If you don’t want users to be entering folder ID you should hard-code it in code so that users need to just authorize and run the script.

      – It is possible to find out folder in which the script is. But one needs to manually start the script because it needs user authorization at-least once. After which we can set time interval and automate the execution. So copy of the folder will be created at time intervals you mention. Requires some work.

      – As far as removing “copy of” from file name, I can immediately do the change for you. Please write to admin@techawakening.org for support, shall let you know the price Will cost you just $5.

      Please do spread the word about this tool. Would appreciate a share/like 😉

      Reply

      1. How long will it take to get the script without the _copy after the original file name?

        Reply

  8. When I run the script
    Cost me a message:
    Sorry, Error Occured: Exception: Service invoked too many times in a short time driveWriteVolume rateMax. Try Utilities.sleep (1000) between calls

    Please, do you have an idea overcome this problem?

    Reply

  9. After copying only three files only have been rising error!
    I have a perfect disc of songs not implemented because of this error

    Reply

  13. This would be such a great solution for me. Unfortunately, Google says that this app isn’t authorized. I get almost through the process, but then it doesn’t work. Can you help?

    m

    Reply

  14. This works great but it leaves the “files” in the root directory and added them to the folder structure. Is there any way to remove them from the users Google drive root?

    Reply

    1. Thanks for reminding! Actually had a fix ready for that but forgot to push it in. Will do that asap. Meanwhile do spread the word on social networks. Would appreciate it.

      Reply

  15. Hi

    This looks like a great script.

    I am trying to make copies of folders. Is there a way I could convince my boss it’s safe to use this script? Would save me a whole load of work if I could!

    Thanks!

    Reply

  16. I ran the script with a folder and it copied it, but it also put the files in My Drive. When I try to remove them from that location by deselecting My Drive and leaving the Copy folder, they are deleted from the both locations. Any thoughts?

    Reply

  18. Good application however…

    I am using your V1.1 and when the process is done, the file is created in the My Drive folder. Is there a way that it can create the file in the same folder as the folder that is being copied?

    Reply

  19. Thanks for the tool, but I keep getting the error below…

    I have tried copying the address from the address bar and also by “getting the link”. I get the same error message. Thoughts?

    “Sorry, Error Occured: Exception: No item with the given ID could be found, or you do not have permission to access it.”

    Reply

  20. I added a patch to make the “_copy” text that gets appended optional (or changeable) and to allow you to change the name of the base level folder. Is there a place to submit patches so that work can be shared?

    Reply

  22. Good, thanks a lot. I found a little problem. Files are rename with copy_name of the file. Its possible to take identical name like original?

    Thanks and good job

    Reply

  24. Great Job! I am however still seeing the folder I am copying show up in the “My Drive” folder and not the folder i am running the script from.

    Any thoughts?

    Thanks!
    Dale

    Reply

      1. Yes, but then i will have to change the permissions on each folder. I thought the permissions stayed intact after the initial copy.

        Is that correct?

        Reply

      2. Any thoughts on the permissions aspect? If the permissions would stay the same that would be great!

        Dale

        Reply

  25. Hello

    I have tried using this but I think there must be a significant limit on the size of the files. We have a number of video and audio files we are trying to copy but keep getting error messages.

    Please let me know if you can help.

    Thanks

    Reply

  26. Hello

    I have tried copying the files but there seems to be a limit on the sizes. I am trying to copy audio and video files.

    Thanks

    Reply

  27. Great script!! Only thing is when I run it I get:

    “Sorry, Error Occured: Exception: No item with the given ID could be found, or you do not have permission to access it.”

    I know I cut/pasted the folder ID correctly, though it was a LOT longer than the example you give if that might matter in terms of the given ID being found (though it shouldn’t).

    Does this error then perhaps mean that there is a doc buried in the folder somewhere that I don’t have the authorization to copy?

    I tried it however with a folder that I definitely have full ownership of, and still got the same result.

    What’s going on?

    THANKS!

    Reply

  28. Thanks for the tip. Anyway, for our purpose it will be much more useful if only the root folder contained the _copy suffix.

    Reply

  29. Will this work with folders that I have not created but that have been shared with me?
    Rebecca

    Reply

  30. This is fantastic. The main folder I needed to copy was too large and timed out, however I was able to go in and copy the main subfolders quite quickly. Thank you very much!

    Reply

  31. Thank you so much for this script! This works great in my entire team will use this on a daily basis. We are kind of new to the Google drive as far as using it for our business and not being able to copy folders is one of the limitations that was nearly a deal breaker. I honestly can’t believe how this is not a built-in feature with Google. But perhaps it’s not a built-in feature so that innovative organizations such as this can build a script to solve the people’s problems, hence building the community, hence building dependencies and friendships.

    Thank you to all that worked on this and I look forward to using many more of your scripts.

    Reply

    1. Pleasure is mine. That’s so nice to hear feedback’s like these. Please do spread the word via Facebook or Twitter.

      If you found my app useful, buy me a coffee by donating what you wish via PayPal 🙂

      Reply

  33. This script seems to work on files that are NOT SHARED. If folders containing SHARED FILES are copied there will be no preview. If folders have files that are NOT SHARED there will be a preview.

    Reply

  36. I really liked this, but unfortunately Google have now removed the DocsList method and replaced it with DriveApp. This means you can no longer use getFolders(path) to get the subfolders so the script errors.

    Reply

      1. Thanks for building this, I too am encountering the same error. If you manage to get it fixed, it’d be great to use as I have a need to copy the entire contents of a folder.

        Thanks again!

        Reply

          1. Thanks, I finally got around to trying this out tonight.

            I was trying to copy a folder of 155 images, each one between 500k and 100k. It got about half way through (76 images) before spitting out this error message: Exceeded maximum execution time

            I noticed it did take several minutes (maybe around 10?) to get that far, so I’m not sure what the actual time limit Google specifies.

            In any case, thought I’d let you know!

  37. Hi Shunmugha Sundaram!

    First, I want to tell you thank you for your script which really seems to be amazing!

    It could really save my life (as a lot of people as I see) so if you succeeded to fix it, it would be soooooooooo great 😉

    Please, let me know about the progress.

    Thanks!

    Reply

  39. Thank you for this! I see other users in comments reporting failures with large datasets, but they appear to be using V1? I am also trying to copy a large file structure, but the error I am getting at the top of the page is “Exceeded maximum execution time.” The Details link is unhelpful.

    Is there any way I can get this to run successfully?

    (I’m a Linux admin who works with Bash and Python regularly, so I’m not afraid to dive into code.)

    Thanks!

    Reply

    1. Way around this is to monitor execution time and when it reaches threshold time, set script to be in sleep state and resume after cool off period. Hope it makes sense. Thanks!

      Reply

      1. Hey Shunmugha,
        I have the same issue whith the “Exceeded maximum execution time.”, but i’m not familiar with programming.
        Can you tell me where and what I should write on the code to insert the sleep mode?

        Thanks!

        Reply

          1. Hi Shunmugha,

            Where would i put this script to make it stop or slow down Exceeded maximum execution time?

  41. This was really helpful! I had no idea that one could script g-drive that way. I had a bunch of files with a different owner, and since I have my own Google Apps domain it was impossible to switch ownership – so I needed to copy a bunch of files without getting the “Copy of” inserted. Worked like a charm!

    Is there any way to fold something like this into some sort of app instead of the spreadsheet? I’m just curious, as I could imagine a number of useful functions similar to this.

    I’m a bit of an amateur, but have some scripting experience. Is there a particular resource that is helpful to learn google drive scripting?

    Reply

  44. Hi, I have a personal Google Drive AND an organization Google Drive. I can’t get the link to allow me to open it in the work Drive. I have the desktop Drive app installed on my desktop but only for the personal Drive. Any advice?

    Reply

  46. Hi!

    First of all this is a great tool – simplifies the process of duplicating a folder so much.

    I was just wondering is instead of getting a “copy_of_….” you could instead be able to replace the name altogether. So if the name of my folder was “Candy” and all the files inside said Candy this, Candy that.. if there a way to have all those “Candy” replaced by let’s say “Gummy worm”

    Thanks!

    Reply

  47. Hi, Great application! Can you please share what programming language you used to create this script?
    You are an inspiration!!

    Reply

  48. Not working for me I am afraid, tried a variety of folders with different number of files and file sizes 🙁

    Reply

  50. Thanks a lot for this script! It perfectly does what i was looking for!

    Two questions i still have:

    1. Why is your script asking for authorization for CONNECTING TO AN EXTERNAL SERVICE (Create a network connection to any external service (e.g., to read or write data))? Can you tell me the line(s) of the script that require this permission?

    2. To which EXTERNAL SERVICE does the script want to connect to?

    Thank you very much for your info and keep up the good work!

    Reply

    1. Pa wa,

      You are most welcome. And please do spread the word. Would greatly appreciate that.

      That looks to be a false positive, just emptied the script and tried. It still says connecting to an external service. Please feel free to review the code, it’s open sourced 🙂

      False Positive Alert

      Reply

  51. Awesome tool! Just what I need.

    One question though: Any way to change the destination of the copied folder?

    I want to copy it to the same folder the original exists in, not to my G-Drive main folder.

    That adds a few extra steps moving the folders around which is annoying.

    Any ideas?

    Great stuff! Thanks.

    Reply

  55. Sigh. Couldn’t get it to work. When it asks for permission, is it permission from the drive I’m pulling the files from or from the drive I’m placing the files in?

    Reply

  57. I came across the copy command in the API and realized very quickly that it could be leveraged to copy entire directories with the proper wrapper around it.

    The Google Drive web interface is sadly missing a copy folder feature, and I detest the “Copy of” that it appends to files that are copied.

    This did the trick and avoided me having to write my own scripted API calls.

    Reply

  58. Hello,
    This is a lifesaver when it comes to copying folders from one user to another. However, I would love it if it did not say “_copy” at the end of every file and folder. I read the comments, but couldn’t find the exact directions on how to eliminate the _copy.

    Any suggestions?

    Thank you in advance!

    Reply

  59. I love this idea–thanks for making it available. I am having with folders only partially being copied. Getting this message. “Unexpected exception upon serialization continuation” Any ideas? Thanks!

    Reply

  61. Darn. After months of successfully using this tool it no longer shows the G drive option on my toolbar. Any idea what could have happened or how I can restore this?

    Reply

  62. Bad news! The script returns Error: Invalid Argument when run on a “Google Maps” File! 🙁

    Reply

  66. I want to make a large pool of folders containing a many template folders (each with various docs) to be late renamed and used when neeeded, and instead of clicking “make a copy” 50 times, i just added in another menu option:

    function onOpen() {
    var ss = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet();
    var menuEntries = [{
    name: “1. Authorize”,
    functionName: “authorize”
    }, {
    name: “2. Make a Copy”,
    functionName: “findRootFolder”
    }, {
    name: “3. Make a Copy 20 Times”,
    functionName: “copy20times”
    }

    ];
    ss.addMenu(“GDrive: Copy Folder”, menuEntries);
    spreadsheet.toast(“Select GDrive: Copy Folder-> Authorize. This is an One Time Action.”, “Get Started”, -1);
    }

    function copy20times() {
    var x = 0;

    for (x = 0; x < 20; x++) {
    findRootFolder();
    }
    }

    Reply

  67. Hi I’m getting it error “Sorry, Error Occured: Exception: Limit Exceeded: DriveApp” What should I do to fix it

    Reply

  68. Dear Shunmugha Sundaram ,

    I’m trying to copy a folder containing 3 My Maps, but unfortunately I get an error and the copying doesn’t work…

    You have an idea whats going wrong?

    cheers

    Reply

  69. Hey there! It’s a great script, thanks a lot. But i’m getting problem, which says “Exceeded maximum execution time”

    Any idea if it’s possible to avoid that? I understand that i have a lot of files in folder, that’s why that happens. But perhaps any way to fix it? Thanks!

    Reply

  70. Hello Shunmugha, thanks for making this script. I would like to use it but I am very nervous about “authorizing” the script because I have a secure google suite account with highly sensitive information. If I copy a whole folder using this script, does anyone else have access to the folder? What is it I am authorizing specifically?

    Reply

  71. Note that if you have any Google Sites documents (Google Sites are stored as documents in My Drive) in the folder or sub-folders you are trying to copy, the script will fail. You will receive the “Access Denied: DriveApp” error that others have experienced.

    To avoid this, you need to use the getMimeType() method of the File class to check whether the file is a Google Site file and ignore it if it is. You could also output the name of the file to Logger so that you have a record of all files not copied.

    Reply

  72. hello, thanks for the brilliant works, but may I ask how to remove the “_copy”? really thanks

    Reply

  74. This tool works fine, but I have a folder structure in Google Team Drive that I want to duplicate in Team Drive. When I use this tool the copy appears in Google My Drive, and I cannot move it to Team Drive. What to do?

    Reply

  75. I’m a teacher and it looks like my school Google drive account is blocking the process. I even tried copying a folder from my person account and I get the same error message “Sorry, Error Occured: Exception: No item with the given ID could be found, or you do not have permission to access it.”

    What can I do?

    Reply

  77. Thanks for this quick script its worked but its copying to main directly not inside folder

    I will try to figure out how 2 do tahnks ton.

    Reply

    1. Its copying the folder in root directory – can u suggest is their any setting change required to make that folder to copy in the folder where file is presnet?

      thnks for ur help

      Reply

  78. Don’t use this for big files. I tried to do this with 5TB of data didn’t work

    Sorry, Error Occured: Exception: Limit Exceeded: DriveApp.

    Reply

  81. i think that “_copy” to be added to the most top folder only is better to every folders inside.

    Reply

  82. Hello, the script stops when there is too many files to copy within the google drive. Could you please increase the timeout ? Thanks

    Reply

    1. Indeed, if there is too many files to copy the script will be interrrupted due execution timeout. It will be very useful to have the timeout increased.

      Reply

  83. Thanks for a great script, but it doesn’t seem to always copy all files in subfolders. Thoughts?

    Reply

  84. Keeps saying, “Exceeded Maximum Execution Time” so only some folders get published. It’s a great idea but doesn’t work. Any feedback on how we can get it to work?

    Reply

  85. Hello, given the case that I make these copies on a weekly basis, this again copies the existing files or ignores them if they already exist, thank you very much

    Reply

  86. Thanks for doing this. However, the big problem is that the script will require full access to my google drive folder. I suppose there is no other way, when a third party makes a script or extension. I will have to move them manually, one by one.

    Reply

  87. hi. this tool is very good. been using it sometime now. i haven’t come across any problems yet. but this would be grate if. i could tell it where to make the copy. E.G to another T-Drive. i will be testing to day on, if it will copy over a big amount of files and folders.

    Reply

  89. hey, thanks for doing this, is there by any chance this tool can copy straight to google shared drive?

    Reply

  92. Hi there,

    Thank you for this useful script.

    Suggestions:
    – Ask for prefix and suffix to add to the name of the folder and its subfolders. (e.g. “2021-03 – ” at the beginning of the folders names instead of “_ copy” at the end of the names.
    – Copy the folder in the same folder as the Google Sheets file or ask in which folder to create it (instead of “My Drive”).

    Reply

  93. Amazing stuff, thank you. Can’t believe that this script is still required 7 years later… but I am very grateful for you having created it.

    Reply

  96. Hello

    Thank you for this useful script.

    script running show
    Error: Exceeded maximum execution time

    Reply

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