In this guide, we explore three easy ways to transfer files from Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive to iCloud Drive using your iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Windows PC.
Method 1: Use the Files app on iPhone and iPad
1) Download Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, or other cloud storage app to your iPhone or iPad, and log in with your account details.
2) Open the Files app and enable the third-party service. You can do that by tapping Browse inside the Files app and hitting the three dots menu button, followed by Edit. Now, enable the switches for Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, or the concerned service and tap Done.
3) Select Drive, Dropbox, or another storage option under the Locations heading to go inside it.
4) Tap the menu button and hit Select, and then choose the files and foldesr you want to copy to iCloud.
5) Tap the folder icon to copy/move them.
6) Tap the <back button in the top left until you reach the Browse screen. From here, tap iCloud Drive and go to one of its folders.
7) Finally, tap Copy.
The Files app will copy the data from Google Drive or the chosen third-party cloud storage to Apple’s iCloud.
Seeing errors?
In some cases, you may see ‘The Operation Can’t Be Completed. Couldn’t communicate with a helper application.’ To fix this:
- Retry the above steps.
- Follow steps one through four and then tap the menu button > Copy N items > go to a location inside iCloud Drive > touch and hold an empty area and choose Paste.
- Ensure your iPhone or iPad is connected to the internet so that files from online cloud service can be downloaded.
- Reduce the number of files and folders you have selected.
- Force quit the Files app and try again.
- Update the third-party app in question.
- Restart your iPhone or iPad.
- Make sure your device is on the latest version of iOS or iPadOS.
- Still no luck? Follow the next method.
Method 2: Copy files from Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive app to iCloud Drive
You can’t copy folders using this method; however, you can work with individual files and move them to iCloud Drive. The steps differ from app to app, so we have covered three of the most popular ones.
Dropbox
- Open the Dropbox app to see your files.
- Tap the small checkbox icon in the top and select the files. Don’t select a folder.
- Now, tap Export and choose Save to Files.
- Hit the back button (<) in the top left until you reach the Browse screen. Select iCloud Drive and hit Save.
One Drive
- Open the Microsoft OneDrive app and navigate to the location of your files.
- Touch and hold a file, and it will select it. You can now tap other files to select them.
- Hit Share, followed by More, and then Save to Files in the iOS Share Sheet.
- Use the back button (<) in the top left until you get to the Browse screen. From there, hit iCloud Drive, go to your desired folder, and tap Save.
Google Drive
- Open the Drive app and go inside the folder with your files.
- You can’t add multiple Drive files to iCloud using this method. So, touch & hold a file, and it will be selected.
- Tap the three dots icon and select Open in > Save to Files.
- Use the back button (<) in the top left till you see the Browse screen. Select iCloud Drive, pick a folder, and hit Save.
After following the above steps, open the Files app and go to iCloud Drive to see the data you just transferred.
Related: How to save videos from Google Drive to iPhone Photos and Files app
Method 3: Use a computer
This is the most reliable method to move files from Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, and other services to iCloud Drive.
Mac
- Visit Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, etc., in a web browser and log in.
- Download the files and folders you want to move to iCloud Drive.
- Make sure you have set up iCloud Drive on your Mac. When that’s done, you will see the iCloud Drive option in the Finder sidebar.
- Drag the files and folders from your Downloads folder to the iCloud Drive section, and you’re all done.
Your Mac will automatically upload the files to iCloud Drive and make them accessible from all your Apple devices and the web. You can access them inside the Files app on iPhone or iPad, the iCloud Drive section in Mac’s Finder, and on iCloud.com using a web browser.
Aside from the web browser, you can also use the respective apps (i.e., Drive and Dropbox) on your Mac to get the files.
Both Mac and Windows PC
You can use the iCloud app for Windows or a web browser to set up iCloud Drive.
- Log in to your Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive account and download the files and folders.
- Next, log in to iCloud.com using your Apple Account and select Drive.
- Go to the Browse section of iCloud Drive.
- Drag the files from your PC’s File Explorer or Mac’s Finder and drop them over the iCloud Drive window. Alternatively, you can use the upload button on iCloud Drive to save the files.
More data transfer tips: