Please note: At this time, Google Takeout is only available for student and alumni accounts.


Use the Google Takeout download option to create a backup or archive of your Google Workspace contents.


Download will allow you to:

  • select specific Drive files and/or folders to download.
  • select the destination* for the downloaded files (i.e., Dropbox, One drive, etc.).
  • select other Google Workspace content (i.e., Email, Calendar, Contacts, etc.) to download.


Before starting the download process, check the capacity of your destination storage location to be sure you have ample storage. Free Google accounts come with 15 GB of storage.  You may purchase additional storage through Google.  *The following prices are Google's pricing and are subject to change.  Basic Plan is 100 GB ($0.49 for the first 3 months/$1.99 a month), and Standard Plan is 200 GB ($0.75 for the first 3 months/$2.99 a month). 




Use Google Takeout to download Google Drive Files


To use Google Takeout / Download, follow the steps below (it creates an export (archive) file):


1. Go to Google takeout/download.

2. Click the link to download data.

3. Select the Google content you wish to download. *This step is important* Be sure to deselect app data you do not want to download.


4. Scroll down to the Google Drive section and select drive


5. Click on All drive data included (this is where you may deselect all and then select specific drives/files). Scroll down to the next step.


6. Select a destination where your data will be downloaded (i.e., Drive, Dropbox, One Drive).


7. Select Zip as the file type - most common.


8. Create the export (archive) file.


Once your export (archive) is created, Google will email you a link to its location.  Most people receive the link to their archive the same day that they request it. Depending on how many files are downloaded, this process could happen within a few hours or may take up to a week.  


9. The last step is downloading your data from the export link to its intended destination.



*ALUMNI* After completing the transfer process, set up a forwarding email address in your alumni account. You may set up forwarding by following the steps shared by Google Support. 






* Looking to transfer your Email and Drive data to a personal Google / Gmail Account? 

View the Google Takeout Transfer instructions here: https://risd.freshservice.com/support/solutions/articles/18000078483