How to Upload a Folder to Google Drive (Computer Steps)

Moving a whole folder of client files, product photos or old project documents into Drive sounds like it should be one click. It nearly is, but there's one menu option people miss, and a couple of behaviours that catch them out afterwards, like duplicate names and files that stay in their old format.

I'll take you through the routes Google's help describes, what happens to files with the same name, and how to make Word documents open as Google Docs instead of staying in their original format.

The Folder Upload route into Google Drive on a computer

1. Go to drive.google.com.
2. Click New at the top left.
3. Choose Folder Upload (File Upload is the option next to it, for single files).
4. Select the folder on your computer and confirm.
5. Wait for the upload progress box to finish before you close the tab or shut the laptop.

The folder keeps its name and its subfolders arrive with it. Google's help treats this as a computer route, so on a phone the options differ, and menus vary between app versions.

Dragging a folder into Google Drive

If you like dragging, Google's help describes this as well. Go to drive.google.com, open or create the folder you want the files to land in, and drag files or folders into that window. It's quick when you've already got the destination open, and it saves hunting through menus.

Think about where the folder is going before you drop it. Dragging into My Drive's top level is how people end up with a cluttered home screen. Create a destination folder first, such as 'Clients' or 'Archive', and drop into that.

Syncing a whole folder with Google Drive for desktop

For a folder you'll keep adding to, uploading each time is tedious. Google's help says that after installing Drive for desktop, you can drag files or folders into the Google Drive folder on your computer, and they then appear on drive.google.com.

That suits a working folder like 'Current projects'. One thing to keep in mind from Google's delete help: if you mirror or stream files, anything you trash is trashed everywhere. Syncing is convenient, but it also means a deletion on your laptop reaches the cloud copy.

Method	Good for
New, then Folder Upload	A one-off move of a whole folder
Drag and drop in the browser	Adding files to a folder you already have open
Drive for desktop folder	A working folder you keep adding to
Save to Drive from a PDF in Chrome	A single PDF you're reading; doesn't work in Incognito or a Guest profile

What happens when a Google Drive upload has the same name

Google's help says that uploading a file with the same name adds it as a revision of the existing file. That's handy for a document you update, and a nasty surprise if you meant to keep two different files called 'Proposal'. To keep both, click Keep both files when it offers the choice.

When you upload a whole folder that overlaps with one already in Drive, look at the prompts rather than clicking through them. Rename the incoming folder first if you're not sure which version is newer.

Turning uploaded Word files into Google Docs

Uploaded files keep their original format by default. Google's help says that to convert uploads such as Word documents into Google formats, you turn on Convert uploads to Google Docs editor format in Drive settings, and that you can only change this from a computer.

1. In Drive on your computer, open Drive settings (menus vary, so look for the settings cog).
2. Find the Convert uploads to Google Docs editor format setting and switch it on.
3. Upload the folder again, or use it for the next upload.

Check the first converted file before you convert a hundred. The layout may look different after conversion. I'd convert a copy, compare it, then decide whether to switch it on for everything.

Storage and ownership after you upload a folder to Google Drive

Google's help says uploaded files count toward your Drive storage, even when you upload into a folder someone else owns. Check that before you drop a large folder into a shared client space, or you'll use up your own allowance on their project.

That's the time to think about who should own the files. If they belong to the business, upload them into a space the business controls. My guide on using a Google Docs template without the numbering chaos is a decent next stop if the folder holds client paperwork.

If your Google Drive folder upload gets stuck

1. Keep the browser tab open and the computer awake until the progress box says it's done.
2. Try a different browser, such as Chrome, and sign in to the right Google account.
3. Check you have enough storage left, because uploads count against it.
4. Split a huge folder into smaller ones and upload them one at a time.
5. On a work or school account, an administrator setting may block some uploads, so ask them if it keeps failing.

If you're deciding where to keep files in the first place, my comparison of Google Slides alternatives covers the file storage side of some of those apps too.

Frequently asked questions

How do I upload a folder to Google Drive?

Go to drive.google.com, click New at the top left, choose Folder Upload and select the folder on your computer.

Can I drag a folder into Google Drive?

Yes. Open drive.google.com, open or create the destination folder and drag the folder into the window. With Drive for desktop you can drag into the Google Drive folder on your computer.

What happens if I upload a file with the same name?

Google's help says it's added as a revision of the existing file. Click Keep both files if you want two separate copies.

How do I make uploaded Word files open as Google Docs?

Turn on Convert uploads to Google Docs editor format in Drive settings. Google says you can only change this setting from a computer.

Do uploaded files use my Google storage?

Yes. Google's help says uploaded files count toward your Drive storage, even when you upload into a folder someone else owns.