Migrating files from Google Drive to SharePoint Online doesn’t have to be daunting. Explore the top reasons IT admins are making the move and see how tools like ShareGate Migrate can simplify data mapping, permissions transfer, and more.
Hybrid work is here to stay — but with nearly half of today’s employees (47%) saying they struggle to find documents in their company’s cloud system, it’s clear that businesses need better solutions for collaboration and document management. For many IT teams, that means switching their organization’s files over from Google Drive to SharePoint Online in Microsoft 365.
At ShareGate, we believe IT teams should spend less time wrestling with migrations and more time empowering their organizations. That’s why we’ve made it our mission to make your SharePoint and Microsoft 365 migration journey as smooth and simple as possible.
We’ll explore why so many businesses are choosing to migrate in the first place, offer tips to avoid common challenges, and show you how ShareGate Migrate simplifies the transition, so you can make the switch with confidence. Let’s get started!
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Why migrate Google Drive to SharePoint Online?
Migrating from Google Drive (part of Google Workspace, formerly G Suite) to SharePoint Online (in Microsoft 365, formerly Office 365) is more than just a platform switch — it’s also a chance to unlock advanced security features and future-proof your organization’s information architecture.
If you’re still on the fence, here are a few top reasons why today’s IT admins are making the move:
Scalability: SharePoint Online handles millions of files and complex folder structures. It also supports structured metadata and granular permissions, ensuring smooth performance as your organization grows.
Smarter document management: Microsoft 365 gives you more advanced tools to organize and manage your files in SharePoint Online and OneDrive, including improved version control, detailed metadata tagging, and highly customizable permissions at the SharePoint site, folder, and file levels.
Create all-in-one collaboration spaces: SharePoint integrates seamlessly with Microsoft Teams, combining file storage, real-time co-authoring, chats, and meetings in a single, connected workspace.
Faster, more powerful search: SharePoint’s search, powered by Microsoft Search, uses AI to deliver personalized results, making it easy for users to quickly find documents, people, or sites — even in massive, complex document libraries.
Enterprise-grade security & compliance: SharePoint delivers enterprise-grade security with tools like Data Loss Prevention (DLP), audit logs, and eDiscovery—making it ideal for businesses with strict compliance needs.
Feature comparison: Google Drive vs. Microsoft SharePoint
| Feature | Google Drive | SharePoint Online |
|---|---|---|
| File access | Cloud-based with basic offline capabilities for Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides via Chrome (requires setup). File sync for other file types is available through Google Drive for Desktop. | Cloud-based with seamless offline access and file sync powered by OneDrive for Business, fully integrating with desktop apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. |
| Document versioning | Built-in version history for Docs, Sheets, and Slides allows for easy viewing and restoring of previous versions. Version tracking for non-Google file types is limited. | Advanced versioning with support for major and minor versions, enabling users to view, restore, and compare changes easily. |
| Metadata tagging | Supports basic tagging via file names, search keywords, and folder organization. Lacks structured metadata features. | Offers extensive metadata tagging for advanced file categorization, filtering, and robust search capabilities. |
| Permissions management | Basic sharing settings (view/edit) with limited options for managing permissions across large teams or complex file structures. | Granular permissions at file, folder, and site levels, supporting complex team structures, workflows, and enterprise needs. |
| Workflow automation | Includes basic approval workflows for Google Workspace Enterprise users. Advanced automation requires third-party tools (e.g., Zapier) or custom scripting using Google Apps Script. | Built-in, advanced workflow automation via Power Automate for approvals, notifications, and complex tasks — no coding needed |
| Integration | Native integration with Google Workspace apps (Docs, Sheets, Slides). Limited support for third-party integrations compared to SharePoint. | Seamless integration with Microsoft 365 apps (Teams, Outlook, OneDrive, and Power Automate), creating a fully connected and productive workspace. |
3 ways to migrate data from Google Drive to Microsoft 365
There are several ways to migrate a shared Drive from Google Workspace to SharePoint Online in Microsoft 365, each with its own advantages and limitations:
1. Manually migrate files from Google Drive to SharePoint Online
This time-consuming approach involves downloading files from Google Drive and uploading them to SharePoint.
While technically possible, we typically recommend against manual migrations because the amount of work (along with the potential for human error) could blow up exponentially — unless you’re dealing with a very small-scale, simple migration, that is.
Good to know:
- Cost-effective (in the sense that no additional tools or software are needed) — but labor-intensive for IT
- Time-consuming for large file volumes or complex folder structures
- Requires manual reapplication of metadata and permissions
- Only suitable for ad-hoc or simple, one-time migrations
2. Migrate Google Workspace files to Microsoft 365 with Migration Manager
Depending on your needs, Microsoft’s built-in Migration Manager (accessible via the Microsoft 365 admin center or SharePoint admin center) can be a cost-effective solution, especially for small to medium-scale migrations.
A free tool included with Microsoft 365, Migration Manager offers solid functionality for moving files from personal and shared Drives using the Google Export API. It supports folder hierarchies, preserves file structures, and automatically converts Google files (.gsheet, .gdoc, .slide) into Microsoft Office files (.xlsx, .docx, .pptx), saving you time compared to the manual method with enhanced, consolidated processes.
Even with these improvements, though, some limitations persist. The built-in tools often need manual setup and a bit more technical know-how, which can lengthen the preparation and migration timelines. They also lack the advanced reporting and monitoring features you’ll find in many third-party solutions — tools that make it easier to track progress and quickly address any issues during or after the migration.
Still deciding? Compare top Google Workspace to Microsoft 365 migration tools
3. Migrate Google Drive files with the help of a third-party SharePoint migration tool
Moving your Google Drive files to SharePoint with leading third-party software like ShareGate Migrate offers several advantages over the methods outlined above. Designed with IT admins in mind, its purpose-built Google Workspace migration tool is intuitive and user-friendly, featuring a drag-and-drop interface that reduces setup time and makes for faster, hassle-free deployments — no configurations or PowerShell scripting required!
Why ShareGate?
- The Google Drive migration functionality is readily available in the ShareGate interface as a drag-and-drop process. How easy is that?
- With ShareGate, you can copy over all your Google Drive content to a library so you maintain your folder structure and its contents. However, make sure you have this library identified at the destination to place your content prior to the migration.
- During the migration, all Google files will be converted to their Microsoft equivalent (for example, Docs to Word, Sheets to Excel).
- If you need to migrate content from multiple Google Drives to multiple destinations (for example, migrating each user’s Google Drive to their equivalent OneDrive), you can do a sequenced/bulk migration with the ShareGate PowerShell module so you map multiple combinations of sources and destinations to be migrated sequentially.
Learn more about how to use ShareGate’s built-in Google Workspace migration tool for a fast and easy transition to Microsoft 365 in our step-by-step migration guide. Or, head over to our product documentation for more technical details on how to execute the Google Workspace migration process with ShareGate.
How ShareGate helps you tackle common Google Drive to SharePoint Online migration challenges
Migrating from Google Drive to SharePoint Online can feel daunting, even for seasoned IT teams. From ensuring file integrity to managing permissions and supporting user adoption, the challenges can quickly add up. Thankfully, our Google Workspace migration tool is designed to make the process straightforward and stress-free.
Here’s how ShareGate’s powerful features help you tackle some of the most common migration challenges:
1. Seamlessly migrate large volumes of data
Challenge: Migrating massive amounts of files and folders without errors or delays is one of the biggest hurdles for IT admins.
Efficiently transferring large volumes of data without losing or corrupting files is critical. ShareGate Migrate makes this possible with:
- Scalable migration engine: Handle everything from smaller, incremental migrations to full, large-scale transfers with unlimited data and Microsoft 365 end users.
- Concurrent migrations: Multi-activation license allows concurrent migrations, speeding up the process to minimize downtime and keep end users productive.
2. Preserve file structure and metadata
Challenge: Google Drive and SharePoint Online organize and tag files differently. Without careful mapping, key metadata — like timestamps, version history, and ownership — can be lost or misaligned.
Preserving file organization and metadata ensures users can easily find what they need in their new environment and hit the ground running. ShareGate’s solution includes:
- Comprehensive metadata mapping: Automatically map and migrate metadata, such as creation dates, modification dates, and author information, to maintain consistency.
- Folder and hierarchy retention: Keep folder structures intact, ensuring a smooth transition for end users post-migration.
3. Simplify permissions management
Challenge: Google Drive’s user-focused sharing model doesn’t align directly with SharePoint Online’s hierarchical permissions system, leading to potential security risks or access issues.
ShareGate bridges the gap between these two systems by offering:
- Advanced permissions mapping: Automatically translate Google Drive’s sharing settings into SharePoint’s permission levels, maintaining secure and appropriate access.
- Pre-built and custom SharePoint reports: Review guest access and external sharing settings, clean up unused sites, and reduce the risk of data sprawl with actionable insights in ShareGate’s centralized reporting.
4. Minimizing disruption and supporting user adoption
Challenge: A messy transition — missing files, broken links, or unfamiliar structures—can frustrate users and slow adoption of SharePoint Online.
A smooth user onboarding experience is key to successful adoption. ShareGate helps by offering:
- Post-migration reporting: Generate detailed reports to validate success and confirm that everything is in place.
- End-user training: Access 15+ hours of ready-made M365 training for end users, along with progress reports for IT admins to track adoption.
A smoother way to migrate from Google Workspace to SharePoint Online and Microsoft 365
With ShareGate, you can migrate your organization’s documents from Google Drive to SharePoint without headaches — helping you save time, reduce errors, and ensure a secure transition.
Ready to start your migration? Book a ShareGate demo to see all these features in real time and learn more about how our Microsoft 365 migration and management platform can help you effortlessly transform your digital workspace.
