Tutorial: Google Drive to OneDrive Migration¶

Status: Authored 2026-04-30 Audience: M365 administrators performing hands-on Google Drive to OneDrive/SharePoint migration using Migration Manager. Duration: 2-3 hours for setup + migration time depending on data volume.

Prerequisites¶

Before starting this tutorial, confirm:

• Microsoft 365 tenant is provisioned with SharePoint Online and OneDrive.
• All target users are created in Entra ID with M365 licenses assigned (including SharePoint and OneDrive).
• OneDrive has been provisioned for all target users (first sign-in or bulk provisioning).
• SharePoint sites are created for shared drive destinations.
• You have Google Workspace super admin access.
• You have M365 Global Administrator or SharePoint Administrator role.
• Google Cloud project with Drive API enabled (from email migration, or new project).

Step 1: Prepare Google Workspace¶

1.1 Enable Google Drive API¶

If not already done for email migration:

1. Navigate to console.cloud.google.com.
2. Select or create a project.
3. Navigate to APIs & Services > Library.
4. Search for "Google Drive API" and click Enable.
5. Search for "Admin SDK API" and click Enable.

1.2 Create or reuse service account¶

If you created a service account for email migration, you can reuse it. Add these OAuth scopes to the domain-wide delegation:

https://www.googleapis.com/auth/drive.readonly
https://www.googleapis.com/auth/admin.directory.user.readonly
https://www.googleapis.com/auth/admin.directory.group.readonly

If creating a new service account:

1. Navigate to IAM & Admin > Service Accounts.
2. Click Create Service Account.
3. Name: m365-drive-migration.
4. Enable domain-wide delegation.
5. Create JSON key and download.
6. Add the scopes above in Google Admin Console > Security > API controls > Domain-wide delegation.

Step 2: Provision OneDrive for all users¶

OneDrive personal sites must be provisioned before migration. Users get provisioned automatically on first sign-in, but for migration you need them provisioned in advance.

2.1 Bulk provision OneDrive¶

# Connect to SharePoint Online
Connect-SPOService -Url "https://contoso-admin.sharepoint.com"

# Option 1: Request OneDrive provisioning for specific users
$users = @(
    "user1@contoso.com",
    "user2@contoso.com",
    "user3@contoso.com"
)

Request-SPOPersonalSite -UserEmails $users -NoWait

# Option 2: Provision for all licensed users
# Navigate to M365 Admin Center > SharePoint Admin Center > Settings
# Under OneDrive, ensure "Default storage" is set appropriately

2.2 Verify OneDrive provisioning¶

# Check if a user's OneDrive is provisioned
Get-SPOSite -IncludePersonalSite $true `
    -Filter "Url -like '-my.sharepoint.com/personal/'" |
    Select-Object Url, Owner, StorageQuota |
    Format-Table -AutoSize

# Check specific user
$userUpn = "user1_contoso_com"  # UPN with underscores
Get-SPOSite -Identity "https://contoso-my.sharepoint.com/personal/$userUpn" -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue

Step 3: Create SharePoint sites for shared drives¶

3.1 Map shared drives to SharePoint sites¶

Review your Google Workspace shared drives and map each to a SharePoint site:

3.2 Create SharePoint sites¶

# Create team sites for shared drives
New-SPOSite -Url "https://contoso.sharepoint.com/sites/finance" `
    -Title "Finance Team" `
    -Owner "admin@contoso.com" `
    -StorageQuota 26214400 `
    -Template "STS#3"

New-SPOSite -Url "https://contoso.sharepoint.com/sites/marketing" `
    -Title "Marketing" `
    -Owner "admin@contoso.com" `
    -StorageQuota 26214400 `
    -Template "STS#3"

# Or create via Teams (creates SharePoint site automatically)
New-Team -DisplayName "Finance Team" `
    -Description "Finance team collaboration" `
    -Visibility Private

3.3 Configure external sharing (if needed)¶

# Enable external sharing on sites that had external sharing in Google Drive
Set-SPOSite -Identity "https://contoso.sharepoint.com/sites/finance" `
    -SharingCapability ExternalUserAndGuestSharing

# Verify tenant-level sharing settings
Get-SPOTenant | Select-Object SharingCapability

Step 4: Configure Migration Manager¶

4.1 Open Migration Manager¶

1. Navigate to SharePoint Admin Center.
2. In the left navigation, expand Migration.
3. Click Google Workspace.

4.2 Connect to Google Workspace¶

1. Click Get started (or Connect to Google Workspace).
2. Click Sign in to Google Workspace.
3. Sign in with your Google Workspace super admin account.
4. Grant Migration Manager permissions to access Drive data.
5. Upload the service account JSON key file.
6. Migration Manager tests the connection.
7. Verify: Connected successfully.

If using PowerShell to configure:

# Migration Manager is primarily a UI tool
# PowerShell alternative uses the SharePoint Migration Tool (SPMT)

# Install SPMT
Install-Module -Name Microsoft.SharePoint.MigrationTool.PowerShell

# Configure Google Workspace connection
# SPMT requires manual configuration through the GUI for Google Workspace
# Migration Manager in SharePoint Admin Center is the recommended approach

Step 5: Scan and assess¶

5.1 Run the scan¶

1. In Migration Manager, click Scan.
2. Migration Manager scans all user drives and shared drives.
3. Wait for the scan to complete (15-60 minutes depending on environment size).

5.2 Review the assessment report¶

The assessment report shows:

5.3 Address assessment findings¶

For each finding:

Step 6: Configure destination mapping¶

6.1 Map personal drives¶

Migration Manager auto-maps personal Google Drives to OneDrive based on email address matching:

Review the auto-mapping and correct any mismatches.

6.2 Map shared drives¶

For each shared drive, select the destination SharePoint site and document library:

Configure in Migration Manager:

1. Select each shared drive.
2. Click Edit destination.
3. Enter the SharePoint site URL and document library name.
4. Click Save.

Step 7: Run the migration¶

7.1 Start migration¶

1. Select the users and shared drives to migrate (start with the pilot group).
2. Click Migrate.
3. Confirm the migration settings.
4. Migration begins in the background.

7.2 Monitor progress¶

The Migration Manager dashboard shows real-time progress:

7.3 Review migration logs¶

For each migrated source, Migration Manager provides:

• Files migrated: Count and size.
• Files skipped: Files not migrated (with reasons).
• Files failed: Files that encountered errors.
• Warnings: Non-critical issues.

Click on any source to view detailed logs and per-file status.

Step 8: Validate migration¶

8.1 File count validation¶

Compare file counts between Google Drive and OneDrive/SharePoint:

# Check OneDrive file count for a user
# Via SharePoint Admin Center > Active sites > user's OneDrive site

# Or via Microsoft Graph
Connect-MgGraph -Scopes "Sites.Read.All", "Files.Read.All"

# Get OneDrive site for user
$user = Get-MgUser -UserId "user1@contoso.com"
$drive = Get-MgUserDrive -UserId $user.Id
Write-Host "Drive quota used: $($drive.Quota.Used)"
Write-Host "Drive item count: Check via UI or Graph API"

8.2 File conversion validation¶

Verify converted files open correctly:

• Open 3 converted Word documents (from Google Docs) --- check formatting, images, tables.
• Open 3 converted Excel workbooks (from Google Sheets) --- check formulas, charts, conditional formatting.
• Open 3 converted PowerPoint files (from Google Slides) --- check layouts, animations, speaker notes.

8.3 Permission validation¶

Test access with multiple user accounts:

• Owner of a shared drive can access the SharePoint site as owner.
• Members can edit files in the document library.
• Viewers can read but not edit files.
• External sharing links work (if applicable).
• Users can access their personal OneDrive files.

8.4 Folder structure validation¶

• Top-level folder hierarchy matches Google Drive.
• Nested folders are preserved.
• No truncation of folder names.
• No orphaned files (files outside their expected folder).

Step 9: Deploy OneDrive sync client¶

9.1 Deploy via Intune¶

# OneDrive sync client is included with Microsoft 365 Apps
# If deploying standalone:

# Option 1: Deploy via Intune Win32 app
# Download OneDrive installer from https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=844652
# Package as .intunewin and deploy via Intune

# Option 2: Deploy via Microsoft 365 Apps deployment
# M365 Admin Center > Settings > Microsoft 365 Apps
# Ensure OneDrive is included in the deployment configuration

9.2 Configure Known Folder Move (KFM)¶

Known Folder Move redirects Desktop, Documents, and Pictures to OneDrive:

# Configure via Intune device configuration profile
# Or via registry keys:

# HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\OneDrive
# KFMSilentOptIn (REG_SZ) = <tenant-id>
# KFMSilentOptInWithNotification (DWORD) = 1
# KFMBlockOptOut (DWORD) = 1  # Optional: prevent users from opting out

9.3 Configure Files On-Demand¶

Files On-Demand shows all files in File Explorer without downloading them:

# Files On-Demand is enabled by default in OneDrive sync client
# Verify via Intune or registry:

# HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\OneDrive
# FilesOnDemandEnabled (DWORD) = 1

Step 10: Communicate to users¶

10.1 Pre-migration communication¶

Send to all users before migration:

Subject: Your Google Drive files are moving to OneDrive/SharePoint

Your Google Drive files will be migrated to Microsoft OneDrive and SharePoint
starting [date]. Here's what you need to know:

WHAT'S HAPPENING:
- Your personal Google Drive files will move to OneDrive for Business
- Shared drives will move to SharePoint document libraries
- Google Docs will automatically convert to Word documents
- Google Sheets will convert to Excel workbooks
- Google Slides will convert to PowerPoint presentations

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO:
- Install the OneDrive sync client (IT will push this to your device)
- Sign in to OneDrive with your contoso.com credentials
- After [cutover date], use OneDrive/SharePoint for all file storage

YOUR FILES ARE SAFE:
- All files will be copied (not moved) during migration
- Google Drive will remain accessible during the transition
- After [cutover date], use OneDrive as your primary file storage

NEED HELP?
- Training: [link to training resources]
- FAQ: [link to FAQ]
- Support: [help desk contact]

10.2 Post-migration communication¶

Subject: Your files are now in OneDrive/SharePoint

Your Google Drive migration is complete. Here's where to find your files:

PERSONAL FILES:
- Open File Explorer > OneDrive - Contoso
- Or visit https://contoso-my.sharepoint.com

SHARED TEAM FILES:
- [Finance Team]: https://contoso.sharepoint.com/sites/finance
- [Marketing]: https://contoso.sharepoint.com/sites/marketing
- [Your team]: [link]

TIPS:
- Files On-Demand: Files show in Explorer without downloading.
  Right-click > "Always keep on this device" for files you need offline.
- Share files: Right-click > Share > enter email address
- Recent files: Office apps show recent OneDrive/SharePoint files

KNOWN CHANGES:
- Google Docs are now Word documents (.docx)
- Google Sheets are now Excel workbooks (.xlsx)
- Google Slides are now PowerPoint files (.pptx)
- Apps Script macros in Sheets did not migrate (IT is rebuilding critical ones)

NEED HELP?
- [help desk contact]

Step 11: Incremental sync and cutover¶

11.1 Incremental sync¶

Migration Manager runs incremental sync automatically. Files created or modified in Google Drive after the initial migration are synced to OneDrive/SharePoint.

• Sync frequency: Automatic (every few hours).
• Direction: Google Drive to OneDrive/SharePoint (one-way).
• Duration: Until you stop the migration task.

11.2 Cutover¶

On the cutover date:

1. Verify incremental sync is complete (last sync time).
2. Communicate to users: "Use OneDrive/SharePoint starting now."
3. Optionally: Set Google Drive to read-only (Admin Console > Apps > Drive > Sharing settings > OFF for creating new files).
4. Stop the Migration Manager task.

11.3 Post-cutover monitoring¶

# Monitor OneDrive adoption
# M365 Admin Center > Reports > Usage > OneDrive

# Check for users still accessing Google Drive
# Google Admin Console > Reporting > Apps Usage Activity

Troubleshooting¶