Know the Google Drive Folder Permissions after Migration
Confused about Google Drive Folder permissions after migration? Need complete info for smooth workflow! Check out this easy guide now.

Migrate files to a new location & feel like work is done here! If you are thinking the same, you are not on the right track. Because along with the location, folder permissions also change & it controls the flow of collaboration and determines which team member can access specific content & at what level.
Hence, it needs to be managed properly. Otherwise, it can make the Google Drive migration experience bitter through access issues, security gaps, & frustrated team members. Our expert guide helps you to know all the required information about the folder permissions in detail.
Google Drive Permissions: How does it Work?
Permission permits you to identify who can access the file or folder & what they can do with it. So, it is mainly at three levels:
Viewer: Users can only see but are not able to make any changes to the files or folders.
Commentor: In this, users can view & add comments with no editing access.
Editor: Helps users to view, comment & make any changes to the files or folders.
Important to Know: The user can apply permissions at the Folder level or at the individual file level, which may not be the same after the Google Drive folder sharing.
What Changes in Google Drive User Permissions after Migration?
Impact on permissions varies with the migration type. Let’s understand how:
Type 1. My Drive to Shared Drive Migration!
- Ownership Shift: In My Drive, access is managed by the File owner, whereas for a Shared Drive, it is managed by the team or organization.
- Role-based Access: Instead of setting editor / viewer at the file level, the Shared Drive provides options to manage broader roles such as Manager, content manager, Commentor, Contributor & Viewer.
- Inheritance: Whatever the assigned permissions will be, they will be inherited at the Drive level.
Type 2. Between Google Workspace Accounts!
- Loss of Sharing Links: After migration, there is a chance of losing the old, shared links.
- Reset Permissions: Some permissions altered to default during the migration.
- Domain Restrictions: Accessing the file might be challenging if the receiver's domain has strict sharing policies.
Important to Know: In most cases, Google retains the existing permissions if you use the “move” option rather than the “copy” one.
How to Verify the Permissions after the Migration?
Go through the following section to verify the Google Drive user permissions after migration:
- Start from the root folder & check the access at each level.
- You can use the Share tab to check out the listed users with their roles.
- It is necessary to ensure that the links are restricted to the intended audience.
- For Admin, you can run the Drive Audit log to check the unusual or risky sharing.
Best Practices for Setting Folder Permissions after Migration!
Here are some practices that will help you to migrate Google Drive without losing permissions:
- Make sure that you set permissions from the top level to keep things consistent. Override for exceptional cases only.
- Set the permission as the work required by the team personnel. Helps in reducing the risk of data leaks.
- Avoid permission conflicts by separating the internal & external folders.
- Create groups to assign the needed permissions. Avoid adding single users to multiple groups.
- Structure your complete document in terms of permissions to migrate Google Drive data smoothly.
Common Permission Issues after Migration!
There are some common permissions-related issues that users can face after migration. Go through the following section:
- The chance of overexposure arises when there is a discontinuity between the higher & lower-level groups' permissions.
- Improper permission mapping & invalid users’ accounts may lose further access.
- After migration, there can be a situation that outsiders will be blocked due to domain policies.
- Due to human or intended errors, unwanted users can access the broader editing privileges.
Note: If you are looking for a simple & 100% error-free solution, consider the Google Drive migration software.
Also Read: Top 5 Google Drive Migration Tool
Basic Security Considerations for Effective Management!
Go with the given considerations to transfer Google Drive files in an effective way.
- Apply domain-level restrictions to avoid any future ambiguity related to permissions.
- Make a regular practice of reviewing or auditing the permissions settings after a specific interval.
- Update the group membership as per the roles to minimize the risk of data breach.
- Enable the Admin alerts for publicly accessible files to reduce the risk of data loss.
- Train your team regarding the permissions from start to end for complete transparency.
Conclusion
Folder permissions are the most overlooked things in the Google Drive migration, but it is necessary for efficient & secure teamwork. So, we have highlighted all the needed information about the permissions. Always keep in mind that the correct permissions mean the right people get the right work that makes your data useful & protected.
About the Creator
Layla Darzi
I’m Layla, a content writer dedicated to creating meaningful, engaging, and results-driven content. I specialize in writing blogs, articles, website copy, and brand stories that blend creativity with strategy.




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