Make a copy of a folder in Google Drive: 5 methods compared

You cannot make a copy of a folder in Google Drive with a single click — Google doesn't offer that feature. The Google Drive API's files.copy operates on individual files only — no folder-level endpoint exists.

Five methods at a glance

• Manual file-by-file — Best for folders with fewer than 10 files, no subfolders, one-time task.
• Drive for Desktop — Best for one-off copies of any size with subfolder structure; preserves hierarchy via OS-level copy.
• Google Takeout — Best for archival snapshots. Google-native files convert to Office formats; not ideal for in-Drive duplication.
• Third-party tools (MultCloud, rclone, Activepieces) — Good for GUIs and cross-cloud transfers.
• Apps Script or CodeWords — Best for recurring templates, large folders, permission preservation, and integration with other workflows.

Automating with CodeWords

Automation becomes the right choice when folder copying is a repeating operation. On CodeWords, describe the operation to Cody: "Copy the folder 'Proposal Template v3' to 'Meridian Corp Proposal,' keep all subfolders, share with sarah@meridian.com as editor and notify me on Slack when done." The platform builds a workflow that recursively maps the source folder, creates matching destination structure, copies each file preserving Google-native formats, applies permissions, and sends completion notification. No timeout limits (unlike Apps Script's 6-minute cap), no file-count ceilings, full integration with 500+ services. Automate your folder copying workflow on CodeWords →