Copy a folder in Google Drive, subfolders and all
Google Drive can make a copy of a file, but not of a folder. FileDrop handles the folder from inside Google Sheets: duplicate everything into another folder, or copy just the folder structure to reuse as a template.
- Files and subfolders
- Structure-only copies
- Bulk folder creation
- Email when it finishes
| Source: Client template | Copy: Client B |
|---|---|
| 01 Contracts | Copied |
| 02 Invoices | Copied |
| 03 Tax documents / 2026 | Copied |
| Onboarding checklist | Copied |
Schematic. Copy everything, or choose structure only to get the folders without the files.
How it works
Google Drive copies files. FileDrop copies the folder.
In Drive, Make a copy only works on files. Copying a folder by hand means creating a new folder, copying every file, moving the copies across, then repeating it inside each subfolder.
1. Open Folder Tools
Install the FileDrop add-on, open any Google Sheet and launch FileDrop from the Extensions menu. Folder Tools sits in the sidebar.
2. Pick two folders
Paste the folder ID of the source folder, then of the destination. Choose structure only if you want the folders without the files.
3. Start copying
Small folders copy in seconds. Folders with thousands of files keep running in the background, and you get an email when the copy is done.
Folder tools
More than one way to set up Drive
Copy files and subfolders
Duplicate a folder's contents into another folder and keep the subfolder structure intact.
Copy just the structure
Copy the folders without the files, so a setup you like becomes the starting point for the next client, project or hire.
Create folders in bulk
List main folders in one column and nested subfolders in the next. FileDrop builds the whole tree in Drive in one go. See how
Reusable templates
Keep folder, Doc and Sheet templates ready to reuse whenever a new client or project starts.
Folder reports
List every file in a Drive folder in a Google Sheet, with names and links. See how
Share files in bulk
Set sharing on many Drive files at once from your spreadsheet instead of one file at a time.
Your options
Three ways to duplicate a Drive folder
By hand in Drive
Create a new folder, select every file, choose Make a copy, then move the copies across. Each copy starts with "Copy of", and subfolders have to be done one by one.
Drive for desktop
Sync the folder to your computer, copy and paste it there, and wait for the copy to upload back. You need the desktop app and the disk space.
FileDrop in Google Sheets
Copy the whole folder, or just its structure, from a sidebar in Sheets. It runs in the background and emails you when it is finished.
Who uses it
The same folder setup, every time
- New client folders
- Employee onboarding
- Project kickoffs
- Tax year rollovers
- Class and course folders
- Agency client workspaces
Questions about copying folders
Can Google Drive copy a folder?
No. Make a copy works on individual files only. Google Drive on the web has no built-in way to duplicate a folder with its subfolders.
Does FileDrop copy subfolders too?
Yes. FileDrop copies the files and the subfolders inside the source folder into the destination folder.
Can I copy only the folder structure?
Yes. Choose the structure-only option and FileDrop recreates the folders without copying any files. It is the quickest way to turn a folder setup into a template.
What about folders with thousands of files?
Large copies keep running after you close the sidebar. FileDrop emails you when the copy is complete.
Where does it run?
Inside Google Sheets, through the FileDrop add-on for Google Workspace. Your files stay in your own Google Drive.
Which plan do I need?
Folder tools are part of the add-on's paid features. See pricing for the plans that include them.
Stop copying folders file by file
Install FileDrop for Google Sheets and duplicate your next folder, subfolders included, in a couple of minutes.