Good to know before you move

7 things to know before moving files between cloud services

Moving files from one cloud service to another can look simple: select everything, transfer it, and you are done. In practice, shared files, Google documents, permissions, and provider-specific limits can complicate the move. Here are seven common issues — and how DriveFerry handles them.

Files shared with you may be left behind

Files that someone else has shared with you usually belong to their account, not yours. A standard transfer may skip them, and you may not notice until you need one later.

How DriveFerry helpsBefore the transfer starts, we show you which shared files may be excluded and let you choose which ones you want to bring with you.

Google Docs cannot be transferred in their original format

Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides are not regular files. To move them outside Google, they must be converted to formats such as Word, Excel, or PowerPoint. Complex documents may not convert perfectly.

How DriveFerry helpsConverted documents are listed separately in your delivery report, so you can quickly see which files may need a review.

Large transfers can take days

Cloud providers limit how much data can be transferred within a given period. Large archives, especially terabytes of photos or videos, may therefore take several days regardless of your internet speed.

How DriveFerry helpsWe provide an estimated transfer time in advance, keep the transfer running as long as necessary, and notify you when it is complete.

Comments and version history may not transfer

The current file may arrive successfully while comments and previous versions remain behind. This can matter for documents that have been edited or reviewed over time.

How DriveFerry helpsGoogle documents are identified in your report so you can keep the originals when their history matters to you.

Sharing permissions do not automatically carry over

Access rights, editing permissions, and public sharing links generally do not transfer with the files. You may need to set them up again in the destination service.

How DriveFerry helpsYour delivery report lists the folders and files that were shared before the move, giving you a clear reference when restoring access.

Some files may be rejected by the destination service

Cloud providers have different rules for file names, unsupported characters, file types, and folder depth. A file accepted by one service may be rejected by another.

How DriveFerry helpsRejected files are listed by name together with the reason, so you can see exactly what needs attention.

A "completed" transfer does not always mean every file arrived

A transfer can finish even if some files were skipped or rejected. Closing the old account immediately after seeing a completion message can therefore put files at risk.

How DriveFerry helpsAfter the transfer, we compare the file counts on both sides and include the result in your report. We also recommend keeping the old account for 30 days before closing it.

That is what the delivery report is for

You do not need to track every technical detail yourself. Tell us where your files are and where you want them to go. We handle the transfer and send you a clear report showing what arrived, what was converted, and what — if anything — needs your attention. Early access is open, and members of the founder list receive 50% off at launch.

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