Google Drive - Transfer Ownership

Owned by Liz Christopher
Jun 12, 2023
2 min read

Make someone else the owner of your file

By default, you own any file you create in or upload to Google Drive. You can transfer ownership of your Google files and folders to the Google Account of someone at your work or school.

Transfer ownership after a user leaves after account deactivated

Helpdesk option: The supervisor for leaving employee must contact the Helpdesk and request Google drive content ownership be transferred from the previous employee to another staff member. All Google Drive content will be transferred, IT cannot transfer individual files.

Provide the following information to the Helpdesk:

  • Email address of old and new owner 

  • Effective date for the ownership to be transferred

Transfer ownership while account is still active

Helpdesk option: The supervisor for leaving employee or leaving employee must contact the Helpdesk and request Google drive content ownership be transferred from the leaving employee to another staff member. Provide email address of old and new owner as well as the effective date for the ownership to be transferred.  All Google Drive content will be transferred, IT cannot transfer individual files.

Self-help options

Move ownership using Team Drives

  1. Locate or create Team Drive and ensure appropriate members have Full access within the Team Drive

  2. Using drive.google.com browser interface (does NOT support folder copy)

    1. Click the file you want to transfer to someone else.

    2. Click "Move to..."

    3. Click back arrow "<- My Drive"

    4. Select "Team Drives"

    5. Select previously determine Team Drive.

    6. Click "MOVE HERE"

  3. Using Google Drive File Stream application (supports folder copy)

    1. Open Google Drive File Stream

    2. Select "Open Google Drive Folder" 

    3. Open "My Drive"

    4. Select content you want to move

    5. Right-click, select "copy"

    6. Click back to "Google Drive Folder"

    7. Open "Team Drives"

    8. Open the destination Team drive

    9. Right click within folder and select "paste"

Modify ownership using drive.google.com browser interface

  1. Open the home screen for Google Drive, Google Docs, Google Sheets, or Google Slides.

  2. Click the file you want to transfer to someone else.

  3. Click Share or Share.

  4. Click Advanced.

  5. To the right of a person you've already shared the file with, click the Down arrow.

  6. Click Is owner.

  7. Click Save changes.