How to Copy a Folder in Google Drive (the Workaround)

It feels like the simplest thing in the world: you've got a template folder for a client project and you want a fresh copy for the next client. Then you right-click the folder in Google Drive and there's no copy option. It's not you. Google Drive doesn't copy folders. Here's the official limit, the quickest manual workaround, and a smarter way to handle the template problem for good.

Why there's no copy option for folders

Google's help page is clear: you can't copy folders, only files. It also notes that Make a copy is only available in Chrome and isn't available in Drive for desktop. So the option you're looking for doesn't exist in the Drive website; you need to copy the files inside instead.

The workaround: copy the files into a new folder

1. In Drive, click New, then Folder, and name your new folder.
2. Open the original folder.
3. Press Ctrl+A (Cmd+A on a Mac) to select every file.
4. Right-click and choose Make a copy. Drive creates a copy of each file, named "Copy of" the original.
5. With the copies still selected, right-click, choose Organize, then Move, and pick your new folder.
6. Rename the copies to remove "Copy of" if you like.

If the original folder has subfolders, repeat the process inside each one, because Make a copy won't include folders. For deeply nested folders, that gets tedious fast, which is where the next option helps.

Copy with the keyboard

Google also describes a keyboard method for files: select a file, press Ctrl+C, go to the new location and press Ctrl+V, which makes a copy there. It works for several selected files at once, so it's a handy alternative to the right-click menu.

Big folders: use Drive for desktop

If you've installed Google Drive for desktop, your Drive appears as a drive or folder in File Explorer or Finder. From there, you can copy a whole folder with your computer's normal copy and paste, and the copy uploads back to Drive. It's the easiest way to duplicate a large folder with lots of subfolders. Be aware that copying means everything has to download and upload again, and Google notes that mirroring keeps full copies on your computer, so check you have the disk space.

Copy or shortcut?

You want	Use
An independent duplicate you can change	Copies of the files in a new folder
The same folder visible in two places	A shortcut
A reusable starting point for projects	A template folder you copy each time

Google suggests shortcuts if you just want to find a folder easily from somewhere else. A shortcut is a link to the original, so changes in one place show everywhere. That's perfect for a shared resources folder, and completely wrong for a client template, where every client needs their own copy.

Things that don't come with the copies

• Sharing settings. Copies are yours and private until you share them.
• Comments. Copies of Google Docs start fresh, without the original comment threads.
• Version history. Each copy begins its own history.
• File names. Expect "Copy of" at the start until you rename them.

A better system for template folders

If you copy the same folder over and over, set up a dedicated Templates folder with a clean master version: blank briefs, empty trackers, standard contracts. When a new project starts, create the project folder and copy the templates in using the steps above. It takes a minute, and you'll never accidentally edit the master. If your Drive is filling up with copies, my guide to freeing up space on Google Drive helps, and how to transfer ownership in Google Drive is useful when you're handing a project folder to a client.

Copying a folder someone shared with you

If the folder belongs to someone else, you can still make copies of the files inside, as long as they've given you permission to view and download them. The copies become yours and sit in your Drive, using your storage. That's handy when a client shares a folder and you need your own working copy, but check with them first if the files are confidential or the owner has turned off copying.

Copying a folder on your phone

The Google Drive app lets you make copies of individual files from each file's menu, but it won't copy a folder either. For anything more than a couple of files, wait until you're at a computer, where selecting everything at once is much faster.

My verdict

Google Drive can't copy a folder directly, so create a new folder, select all the files in the original, choose Make a copy and move the copies across. For large folders with subfolders, copy and paste through Google Drive for desktop instead. Use shortcuts when you want the same folder in two places, and copies when each project needs its own.

Frequently asked questions

Can you copy a folder in Google Drive?

Not directly. Google says you can copy files, not folders. Copy the files into a new folder instead.

How do I duplicate a folder in Google Drive with subfolders?

Repeat the copy for each subfolder, or copy the whole folder using Google Drive for desktop in File Explorer or Finder.

Why is Make a copy missing in Google Drive?

Google says it's only available in Chrome, isn't available in Drive for desktop and doesn't work on folders.

What's the difference between a copy and a shortcut in Google Drive?

A copy is an independent duplicate. A shortcut is a link to the original, so changes show in both places.

Do copied files keep their sharing settings?

No. Copies start private to you until you share them.