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What is the Difference Between Google My Drive and Google Team Drives

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1.0 - Created on 2017-11-02 Authored by Ben Allen

Question: What is the difference between Google My Drive and Google Team Drives?

Context: Google Drive, Google Team Drives

Answer: The My Drive space is individual to the user, including the organization of files and folders. Each file and folder has a specific owner.

In a Team Drive, all members of the Team Drive have the same organization of files and folders. Each file and folder is owned by the file space.

My Drive and Team Drives functionality are the same, except for the following:

  Team DrivesMy Drive
What types of files can I add? All file types* All file types
Who owns files and folders? The team The individual who created the file or folder
Can I move files and folders? Users can only move files. Administrators can move folders Yes
Can I sync files to my computer? No** Yes
Sharing All team members see the same file set Different users might see different files in a folder, depending on their access to individual files
How long do files I delete stay in Trash?
  • Each Team Drive has its own trash
  • Files and folders in the Trash are deleted forever after 30 days
  • Members can delete specific files sooner
Files or folders in the Trash remain there until the user selects Delete Forever
 Can I restore files? Yes, if you have edit access or full access Yes, if you created it.

*Except Google Maps and existing documents with attached Apps Scripts

**Users can soon access their Team Drives on a PC and Mac using the new Google File Stream.