Transfer Google Drive Data to WD My Cloud

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WD My Cloud is becoming a new norm for storing documents, photos and videos. An increasing number of people are backing up their files from desktops, tablets and smartphones onto My Cloud. It also enables you to create a personalized place for your family and friends and share files in one place.

If you have a lot of content on Google Drive, you can transfer your files to My Cloud. Although My Cloud does not have any in-house functionality to import files from Google Drive, there are other ways to get the job done using Google’s official sync cloud software.

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Benefits of Transferring Your Files to WD My Cloud:

Copying your files on WD My Cloud will enable you to do the following:

    • WD My Cloud provides an additional layer of security and backup for your important data from accidental deletion, hacking, and other issues.
  • You’ll get instant access to others’ shared Google Drive files alongside the regular files you own/ created.

How to Transfer Files from Google Drive to WD My Cloud?

Step # 1: Search Google Drive Files for Duplicates

While it’s not mandatory, deleting duplicate files in your Google Drive account will make the transfer quicker and smoother. By eliminating unwanted duplicate files and junk, there will be lesser files to transfer and it will require lesser bandwidth.

To search your Google Drive files for duplicates before transferring, follow the steps given below on your Windows computer:

    1. Fire up your Web browser and open https://www.cloudduplicatefinder.com/
    1. Register an account for free.
    1. Verify your email address and log into your account.
    1. Click on the Google Drive icon and select Add a New Drive.
    1. Sign in to your Google account and provide the required privileges for file read/ write permissions.
    1. Click on Scan to start the duplicate search.
    1. Once the scan is finished, click on Select Duplicates and choose your desired selection pattern (for example, retain newest files, retain oldest files, retain the most modified, retain the least modified etc).
  1. Once you’ve finished marking your files, click on Select Action and choose whether to move your files to the Trash or a separate folder.

Important: Starting October 2020, the search-engine giant has changed the retention policies for the contents in your Google Drive Trash folder. The contents of your Trash folder will be automatically deleted every 30 days.

Step # 2: Create A Shared Folder with Required Privileges

Usually, when you attempt to access a private folder on the WD My Cloud through a computer, Windows will prompt you to enter the required credentials. However, if you’ve selected a private folder to transfer your Google Drive contents, the transfer might abruptly fail. To prevent such transfer errors, it’s important to create a shared folder with the required privileges.

In WD My Cloud, your folder access permissions are defined under the Shares tab in the My Cloud Dashboard. You can create new shares, modify or delete the existing ones.

To set correct folder access permissions, follow these steps on your WD My Cloud (and not computer):

    1. Open your My Cloud Dashboard.
    1. Select the Shares tab.
    1. In the Set Up Shares, you’d be able to see existing Shares, if any.
    1. Click on the Add Share (+) icon on the left.
    1. A new dialog would open.
    1. Type a name for your new Share (for example, GDrive)
    1. Add a description for your Share to make it easy to distinguish from other Shares (for example, File transfer from Google Drive)
    1. Set the Media Sharing switch to OFF. (This switch is only used for sharing with other DLNA devices)
    1. Select the Save button and wait for some time to save your new configurations.
    1. Once completed, your new Share will appear on the list of existing Shares.
    1. Use the Up/ Down keys to move across different items.
    1. Click your newly created Share (in this example, GDrive).
    1. On the Share Profile on the right-hand-side panel, set the Public Access to ON.
  1. Again, save the changes to update.

Step # 3: Start Actual File Transfer

Now, follow the steps given below on a Windows computer:

    1. Open File Explorer, double-click your mapped WD My Cloud icon.
    1. Create a new folder “Google Drive Sync”.
    1. Now, click the Google Drive icon in the notification area of your Taskbar.
    1. Select the 3 dots, followed by the Preferences option.
    1. Click on the Account tab.
    1. Disconnect your current account.
    1. Although you have disconnected your Google Drive, your synced files shall remain on your hard drive.
    1. Open Google Drive again.
    1. Sign in to your Google account.
    1. At the end of the setup, click on the Advanced Setup.
    1. Click on Change.
  1. Locate your WD My Cloud drive icon and select an empty folder to store your synced files.

Dealing with Transfer Errors

You’ll encounter an error if you choose a non-empty folder that already contains some files, even hidden files. Hence, make sure that the folder you’ve chosen does not contain any hidden or non-hidden files.

To find if your folder contains any hidden files, follow these steps on your computer:

    1. Open File Explorer.
    1. Open your folder.
    1. Click on the View tab on the Ribbon.
  1. Check-up Hidden items.
Vikas
Sorcim Technologies (pvt) Ltd.

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Vikas is a technology enthusiast who loves writing articles on computers and technology. He writes on various topics related to software, software reviews, troubleshooting and tips & tricks to make people's digital lives better.