Using Takeout to Download or Transfer Your Data from Google Drive

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District Google accounts will be suspended for students who are leaving the San Diego Unified School District. However, you can download your data from your district Google drive through a service called Takeout.

In a few easy steps, you can create an archived zip file that can be uploaded to another Google account or copied to an external storage device, such as a flash drive.

Note: Only the data that you are the owner of will be backed up. If someone has shared a file or folder with you, then you must create your own copy of it before archiving. Alternatively, you can request that the owner share the file or folder with you again to your non-district Google account.

Please read through this entire document before attempting the procedure.

Links to document sections:
Google Takeout for Students
Considerations

GOOGLE TAKEOUT FOR STUDENTS

Step 1

Click on your icon in the upper right corner of your browser window.

Click on Manage Your Google Account.

Step 2

In the next window, there is a window that says TRANSFER YOUR CONTENT - DO NOT CLICK THE BLUE BUTTON YET.

Instead, use the left navigation column to select Data & privacy.

Step 3

In the next window, again DO NOT select START TRANSFER unless you are sure that you have enough storage space in a personal Google Account to transfer your data.

Instead, scroll down until you see Download or delete your data.

Click on the Download your data bar.

Step 4

In the new window, you will see CREATE A NEW EXPORT

SELECT DATA TO INCLUDE

At this step, you will be selecting the items you want to export. By default, almost all items are selected. We recommend that you keep this setting.

For more information on this section click HERE.

(see: “Select data to include in your download archive”)

Scroll down until you see the Next step button and click it.

Step 5

CHOOSE FILE TYPE, FREQUENCY & DESTINATION

Next, select the delivery method and frequency - we recommend the default settings - “Send download link via email” & “Export once”

Further down, select the file type, we recommend the default settings - “.zip” & “2 GB”

For more information on this section click HERE.

(see: Customize your archive format)

Click on the Create export button when ready.

Step 6

Your export file will be created.

Step 7

After the export process has completed, you will receive a notification that your download is ready. Click on the DOWNLOAD button when ready.

If you had to leave your computer during the export process,you can access the DOWNLOAD YOUR DATA screen again to find the download button (repeat steps 1-3 above)

If your data file is ready, you will see an option to download your file.

Step 8

If you are using your student Chromebook, you will find the takeout download in FILES>DOWNLOADS

Step 9

Attach an external drive to your Chromebook to transfer the data off your student device.

Considerations

Please plan ahead to complete this process. Depending on how large your Google Drive files are, it may take some time for Google to create your download link(s).

If you predict to have a number of large files, like the example above, please consider your data storage options ahead of time. Portable storage devices like flash/thumb drives are one option, however for larger sizes you may need to consider an external hard drive to store your data.

If you are planning to upload your drive data into a personal Google Drive account, be aware of the data size limit for free accounts. Currently a personal Google Drive account has 15GB of free storage - larger storage options will require a fee.

After downloading your .zip files from your district Google account, you can upload the files into a new/personal Google Drive. In order to do this, you will need to “unzip” your files (most computers will be able to unzip files) first. Google Drive will not be able to restore your folders and files if the downloads stay “zipped”. Once the folders/files have been unzipped, you can upload them into your new/personal Google drive. For more support with this process, please watch this short video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXlDraWYfcM