Want advanced Google Workspace features for your business?
You own the files you create or upload on Google Drive. You can transfer ownership of the files and folders you own to another account.
Before you transfer ownership
- You can only transfer ownership to someone you shared the file or folder with. Learn how to share files from Google Drive.
- When you make someone else the owner of a folder, you still own the files inside. Learn how to share folders in Google Drive.
- If you transfer ownership of a lot of files and folders at once, it may take some time for you to see the changes.
- To transfer all your Google Drive files and folders to another account, you can download your Google data.
If you use your Google Account for work or school:
- You can only transfer ownership of files and folders to someone in your organization.
- The transfer doesn’t require the new owner to accept.
After you transfer ownership
When you send an ownership transfer request:
- The pending owner is notified by email that if they accept the transfer request, they become the file owner. Until then, you remain the owner.
- The pending owner is upgraded to an Editor, unless they’re already an Editor.
- If the pending owner accepts, you’re downgraded to Editor. The new owner can remove you.
- If the pending owner declines, you remain the owner.
You can’t change owners from an Android device
To change the owner of a file, go to drive.google.com on a computer.
Important: This article refers to Vids, a product available for select customers to test in Alpha and users in Google Workspace Labs, which is an invite only program for users to try new AI features. Users with Vids access can invite any user with a Workspace account to find, edit, and collaborate on a video. Workspace Labs is currently available to trusted testers in English and may not be available in your country or region.
Related resources
Need more help?
Try these next steps:
To get the latest tips, tricks, and how-to's, subscribe to our YouTube Channel.
