Copy Google Drive files out of Finder without moving the originals

Hold Option to copy out of Drive

If you have already dragged a file out and it disappeared from Drive, keep the local file. Use the deleted-file recovery guide to find the cloud original before making further moves.

Check whether your Mac uses File Provider

Open Drive for desktop's preferences and settings and look at the streaming-folder location. A message saying that macOS controls the folder location identifies the File Provider setup.

Google's Drive for desktop on macOS guide describes this behavior and the Option-drag method. If your setup does not use File Provider, follow the instructions for that setup rather than assuming the same drag behavior.

Copy one file, then check both locations

Start with a small file you own so you can check the result before copying a large project.

1. Choose the destination in Finder. If you need a purely local copy, check that the folder is not inside another syncing service.
2. Hold Option and drag the file from Drive to that folder.
3. Wait for copying to finish, then open the destination file.
4. Open Drive on the web with the same account. Check that the original is still in its original location and opens.

Once both copies are usable, copy the remaining files. Stop if the original disappears, the transfer is incomplete, or a permission error appears.

Decide which copy will receive future edits

The separate local copy is a new working version. Edits there do not automatically become edits to the shared original. Keep collaborators working from the intended master rather than letting two similarly named files develop independently.

If the purpose is to work while traveling, you may need offline availability instead of a separate copy. See Drive files that are missing offline.

For unexpected move or copy behavior, use the help options in Google's macOS guide and identify the source and destination folders.