How to Download a Folder from Google Drive

To download a folder from Google Drive, right-click the folder and select "Download." Google Drive will compress the folder into a ZIP file and download it to your computer. Large folders may take several minutes to prepare.

Download a Folder on Desktop

Go to drive.google.com
Right-click the folder you want to download
Click "Download"
Wait for Google to prepare the ZIP file
The download starts automatically

The folder downloads as a ZIP file. Extract it to access your files.

Download a Folder on Mobile

Android:

Open the Google Drive app
Long-press the folder
Tap the three dots (more options)
Tap "Download"

iPhone/iPad:

Open the Google Drive app
Tap the three dots next to the folder
Tap "Open in"
Choose "Save to Files"

Note: Mobile downloads work better for smaller folders. For large folders, use a desktop browser.

Download Multiple Folders at Once

Hold Ctrl (Windows) or Cmd (Mac) and click each folder
Right-click on any selected folder
Click "Download"

Google combines everything into a single ZIP file.

Downloading Large Folders

For folders over 2 GB, Google may split the download into multiple ZIP files. If the download keeps failing:

Try these fixes:

Use Chrome (works best with Google Drive)
Disable browser extensions temporarily
Download subfolders separately instead of the parent folder
Check your internet connection

For very large folders (10+ GB):

Use Google Drive for Desktop to sync folders directly
Or use Google Takeout to export your entire Drive

What Gets Downloaded

When you download a folder:

Regular files (PDFs, images, videos): Download as-is
Google Docs: Convert to Microsoft Word (.docx)
Google Sheets: Convert to Excel (.xlsx)
Google Slides: Convert to PowerPoint (.pptx)
Google Forms: Convert to ZIP containing HTML

The folder structure is preserved inside the ZIP file.

Download Shared Folders

You can download folders shared with you, as long as the owner hasn't disabled downloading:

Go to "Shared with me"
Right-click the folder
Click "Download"

If "Download" is grayed out, the owner has restricted downloads. You'll need to request access or ask them to enable it.

Backup Your Entire Drive

If you're downloading folders for backup purposes, consider:

Google Drive for Desktop: Syncs your Drive to your computer automatically
Google Takeout: Exports everything as downloadable archives
Overdrive: Helps you identify what's worth keeping before you download, so you're not backing up duplicates and junk