How to Move Files in Google Drive (and Why Some Won't Move)

Moving files is the everyday housekeeping of Google Drive: getting downloads out of the main list, filing client documents into the right folder, tidying up after a project. It's simple, but there's one rule about shared files that explains almost every time a move seems to fail.

How to move a file on a computer

1. Go to drive.google.com.
2. Right-click the file or folder you want to move.
3. Click Organize, then Move.
4. Select the destination folder, or create a new one.
5. Click Move.

Three faster ways to move files

Method	How	Good for
Drag and drop	Drag the file onto a folder, or onto a folder in the left panel	A few files at a time
Cut and paste	Ctrl+X, open the new folder, Ctrl+V (Chrome only)	Moving between folders far apart
Select several	Hold Ctrl or Command, click each file, then move them together	Tidying lots of files at once

Google notes that the keyboard cut and paste only works in Chrome. In other browsers, use right-click or drag and drop.

How to move a file on your phone

1. Open the Google Drive app.
2. Tap the three dots next to the file.
3. Tap Move.
4. Choose the folder you want.
5. Tap Move here.

The catch: you need permission at both ends

This is why moves sometimes don't happen. Google says that to move a file, you need permission to move it out of its current folder and into the new one. If you don't, Drive doesn't move the file. It creates a shortcut in the destination folder instead. The original stays exactly where it was, and you've got a link to it in your folder.

In practice that happens most with files someone else owns. You can see them and even edit them, but you can't take them out of their owner's folder. If you need the file in your own space, ask the owner to move it, or make a copy you own.

Moving versus shortcuts

Sometimes a shortcut is what you want. A shortcut is a link to the original file, so it always shows the latest version, and it lets one file appear in several folders without duplicates. In Chrome, cut the file with Ctrl+X and paste with Ctrl+Shift+V to create a shortcut instead of moving it.

• Move when the file belongs in one place and you want it out of the old folder.
• Shortcut when the same file belongs to two projects or teams.
• Copy when you need your own version to change without affecting the original.

One thing to remember about shortcuts: they don't change who can open the file. Google says the original file's permissions don't update when you create a shortcut, so someone who can see the shortcut may still need to request access.

Moving whole folders

You can move a folder exactly like a file, and everything inside goes with it. Google warns that when you move a folder with lots of files or subfolders, it takes a while for the change to show everywhere, so don't panic if a colleague says they can't see it straight away. Give it a few minutes before trying again, or you may end up moving it twice.

What happens to sharing when you move a file

Files usually pick up the sharing settings of the folder they land in, as well as keeping anyone they were shared with directly. So moving a private document into a folder shared with a client can make it visible to that client. Before moving anything sensitive, check who has access to the destination folder.

If you're building a tidy structure from scratch, my guide to seeing what's been shared with you in Google Photos helps with the photo side of the same clean-up.

Moving files between accounts

Moving only works within one Google Account and the folders you have access to. To get files from a personal Drive into a work Drive, share the files with your work account, then make copies there, or download them and upload them again. If you need someone else to own a file, transferring ownership is a separate process from moving it.

Undoing a move

Moved something to the wrong folder? Straight after the move, Drive shows a small confirmation at the bottom of the screen with an Undo option. Click it and the file goes back. If the message has gone, open the file's details panel to see its current location, then move it again.

My verdict

Moving files in Google Drive takes two clicks: right-click, Organize, Move, or drag it onto a folder. When a move seems to fail and you get a shortcut instead, it's a permissions issue, not a bug, so ask the owner or make a copy. Use shortcuts for files that belong in two places, and check who can see a folder before you move anything private into it. If Drive itself is misbehaving, my guide to Google Photos stuck on preparing backup covers a related sync problem.

Frequently asked questions

How do I undo a move in Google Drive?

Click Undo in the confirmation message that appears straight after the move, or move the file back.

Why did Google Drive create a shortcut instead of moving my file?

You don't have permission to move the file from its current location to the new one, so Drive added a shortcut instead.

Can I move several files at once in Google Drive?

Yes. Hold Ctrl or Command, click each file, then move them together.

How do I move files in the Google Drive app?

Tap the three dots next to the file, tap Move, choose the folder and tap Move here.

Does moving a file change who can see it?

It can. Files usually take on the sharing of the folder they're moved into, so check the destination's sharing first.

What's the difference between moving and a shortcut?

Moving puts the file in a new folder. A shortcut is a link to the original, which doesn't move.