Alex Ruben
How To Download Multiple Files From Google Drive Simultaneously
Trying to get a big chunk of your Google Drive data without clicking each file? Yeah, it’s possible to do this without messing with weird third-party apps or extensions. Google Takeout is surprisingly reliable — if you know the right steps. Of course, it’s not perfect, and sometimes it takes a while, but it’s way better than the alternative of manually downloading everything.
Step 1: Open Google Drive
First thing’s first, open your browser and head over to Google Drive. Log in to the account you wanna back up, obviously. Make sure you’re in the right account because, sometimes, you’re logged into several and get confused.
Step 2: Launch Google Takeout
Then, just go straight to takeout.google.com. That’s Google’s official data export tool. No need to hunt through menus or settings—just type the URL, and you’re in.
Note: Some folks have said that on certain browsers or after cache cleanup, the redirect isn’t perfect, but just popping open that URL usually works.
Step 3: Deselect All
Once on the Google Takeout page, you’ll see a long list of all the Google services you’ve used. The default is all selected, which is overkill. Click on the Deselect all button to clear everything out fast — because you only want Google Drive files, not your Google Photos or Gmail emails this time.
Step 4: Select Google Drive
Scroll down and find Google Drive. Check the box next to it. If you want everything, leave it checked. If you want specific folders or files, you’ll need to go into Drive and select those first — but for full backups, just check the box. Easy.
Step 5: Proceed to the Next Step
Click on the blue Next step button at the bottom. This takes you to the export settings. Sometimes, on some machines, this button doesn’t work on the first try or needs a refresh, so don’t get frustrated if it acts up.
Step 6: Choose Export Options
Select how you want to get your files—mail or download link. For backups, probably easiest to go with the download link. Also, set the export frequency to Export once. If you try to do this repeatedly without changing settings, Google will complain.
“WHY it helps”: This setup ensures you’re only exporting what you need without cluttering your mailbox or creating multiple archives.
When it applies: When you want a one-time snapshot of your Drive data, especially before major changes or just for a backup.
What to expect: Google will prepare your archive, which could take anywhere from minutes to hours depending on your data size.
“On some setups this failed the first time; I had to re-try a couple of times, but on the third it worked.”
Step 7: Set File Type and Size
Here, you can choose the archive format (zip or tgz). ZIP is the default and most compatible. Decide on a max size; if your files are huge, Google will split them into multiple parts. A common limit is 2 GB, but you can leave it as is. After that, hit Create export.
Why it helps: You get a manageable archive, and splitting large files prevents download failures.
When it applies: If you have lots of files or large videos, and don’t want corrupt downloads.
What to expect: Google starts crunching your data — seriously, it’s working at this point, so don’t close your browser.
“On a slow connection, it can take a couple of hours, so patience is key.”
Step 8: Wait & Receive Email
Once Google finishes, you’ll get an email with a link to download the archive. This can sometimes take a while if your Drive is huge. Keep an eye out—Google doesn’t always notify right away, especially if you set up multiple exports.
Note: Sometimes, the email lands in spam or promotions folders. Because of course, Google has to make it harder than necessary.
Step 9: Download & Save
Click that link, and your files will start downloading. Remember, these are zipped archives, so make sure you have space and a decent extractor. Because nothing’s worse than hitting the download limit and ending up with broken files.
Extra Tips & Common Issues
Here’s a couple of extra bits:
- Make sure your internet is sturdy — interruptions here mean corrupted archives.
- If you’re not getting the email, double-check the spam folder or revisit Google Takeout to see if the export is done or stuck.
- Sometimes, this process gets wonky if you have a ton of files or slow server response. Just be patient or try again later.
Summary
- Use Google Takeout to grab everything in one shot — no juggling individual downloads.
- Deselect everything first, then check Google Drive. Saves time and hassle.
- Stick to ZIP archives, especially for big sets of data, to keep things simple.
- Expect some waiting — Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither is a massive Google Drive backup.
Hopefully this shaves off a few hours for someone. If it gets one update moving, mission accomplished. Just something that worked on multiple machines.