Why Switch to pCloud?
More and more people are switching from Google Drive to pCloud. Below you can read why this might be a good choice:
Better protection of your privacy: pCloud is based in Switzerland, where strict laws protect your personal data.
No data mining: Unlike Google Drive, pCloud does not use your files for advertising or AI training.
One-time payment option for premium: Instead of paying every month or year as with Google Drive, pCloud offers a one-time payment for lifetime access.
Longer file history: If you accidentally make changes to a document, pCloud allows you to find previous versions going back up to a year (with paid subscription).
Important: pCloud does not support document collaboration, such as shared editing of texts, spreadsheets, or presentations.
What You Need
- A Google Drive account that you already use
- A computer with internet
- About 60 minutes of time
1Creating a pCloud Account
- Go to www.pcloud.com
- Look for the large blue "Sign Up" or "Register" button and click on it
- You can choose between a free account or a paid account:
- Free account: Gives you 10GB storage space at no cost
- Paid account: Offers more space for your files
- Enter your email address and choose a password that you can remember
- You will receive an email to confirm your account. Open this email and click on the confirmation link
- Congratulations! You now have a pCloud account
2Transferring your files
There are two ways to transfer your files from Google Drive to pCloud:
- Manually: Download the files to your computer and upload them to pCloud.
- Automatically: Use a tool like MultCloud to transfer the files directly.
Manual transfer
Step 1: Downloading files from Google Drive
- Go to Google Drive and log in to your account.
- Select all files and folders you want to transfer.
- Right-click on the selection and choose "Download".
- The files will be downloaded as a ZIP file to your computer.
- Extract the ZIP file to a desired location on your computer.
Step 2: Uploading files to pCloud
- Go to pCloud and log in to your account.
- Click on the "Upload" button or drag the extracted files and folders to the pCloud window.
- Wait for the upload process to complete. The progress will be displayed in the interface.
Important to know: Google Docs, Spreadsheets, and Presentations are automatically converted to docx, xlsx, and pptx format when you download them.
3Transferring your files via multcloud
Automatic transfer
Below is a brief step-by-step plan to use MultCloud to migrate your files directly from Google Drive to pCloud, without having to download them first:
Important: You can transfer 5GB for free per month. If you want to transfer more, you'll need to pay for this.
Step 1: Create a MultCloud account
- Go to multcloud.com and create a free account.
- Log in to your MultCloud account.
Step 2: Add Google Drive and pCloud
- Click on "Add Cloud" and choose Google Drive.
- Log in to your Google account and grant permission.
- Click on "Add Cloud" again and choose pCloud.
- Log in to your pCloud account and grant permission.
Step 3: Start the migration from Google Drive to pCloud
- Click on "Cloud Transfer" on the left.
- Select Google Drive as the source and pCloud as the destination.
- Click on "Transfer Now" to start the migration.
Step 4: Check the progress and completion
- MultCloud shows the progress of the transfer.
- You will receive a notification once the process is complete.
Important to know: Google Docs, Spreadsheets, and Presentations are automatically converted to docx, xlsx, and pptx format when you download them.
4Installing pCloud on Your Phone and Computer (Optional)
It's convenient to install pCloud directly on your computer and phone:
On your computer:
- Click on the button for your computer type (Windows or Mac)
- Wait for the program to download
- Open the downloaded file (usually in your "Downloads" folder)
- Follow the on-screen instructions to install it
- Launch the program and log in with your pCloud email and password
On your phone or tablet:
- Open the "App Store" (iPhone/iPad) or "Google Play Store" (Android)
- Search for "pCloud"
- Tap "Install" or "Download"
- Wait for the app to install
- Open the app and log in with your pCloud email and password
5Safe Transition Period (Optional)
It's advisable to keep both your Google Drive and pCloud accounts for at least 2-3 months. This helps because:
- You might have forgotten to transfer certain files
- Some programs or websites may still try to use your Google Drive
- You have time to get familiar with how pCloud works
Check your Google Drive weekly to see if there are any new files that you need to transfer.
Troubleshooting
Common Problems And Solutions
The transfer takes a very long time: With large amounts of files, the transfer can take several hours or even days. This is normal. Keep your computer on until it's finished.
Some files are not being transferred: Check if the file is not too large for your pCloud account (the free version has limitations). Try transferring large files separately.
Shared files no longer work: If you shared files with others via Google Drive, you need to share them again from pCloud. The sharing links from Google Drive will not work in pCloud.
Where Can You Get Help?
If you have problems during the transfer:
- Visit the pCloud Help page
- Send an email to support@pCloud.com
- Call a family member or friend who is good with computers
Conclusion
Congratulations! You have transferred your files from Google Drive to pCloud. Your personal data is now better protected.
Continue to check your Google Drive regularly in the coming months to make sure you haven't missed anything.
pCloud not only offers better privacy but also the option to pay once instead of every month or year. This gives you more control over your digital life and your costs.
