How to download a whole Google Drive folder (and large files)

By dedigger · October 30, 2026

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Downloading one file from Google Drive is easy. Downloading a folder with hundreds of files, or a single file of several gigabytes, is where things get confusing: split ZIP files, a warning about viruses, "zipping" that never finishes. Here is how each case works.

Download a folder on a computer

Open the folder link in your browser. You don't need to sign in if the folder is shared with "Anyone with the link".
Click the Download button at the top of the folder, or right-click the folder name and choose Download.
Drive shows "Preparing download" or "Zipping files" while it builds a ZIP. Keep the tab open until it finishes.
Unzip the file on your computer.

To download only part of a folder, select the files you want (hold Ctrl, or Cmd on a Mac) and choose Download. Drive zips just those.

Why you got several ZIP files

Big folders are split into several archives of up to about 2 GB each, named like drive-download-…-001.zip, drive-download-…-002.zip and so on. Each one is a complete ZIP with part of the files, not a piece of a single archive, so unzip all of them into the same place.

What happens to Google Docs, Sheets and Slides

Native Google files don't exist as normal files, so Drive converts them when you download: Docs become Word (.docx), Sheets become Excel (.xlsx) and Slides become PowerPoint (.pptx). Formatting usually survives, but complex spreadsheets with Google-only functions may need fixing.

Download on a phone

The Google Drive app downloads files, not folders. On Android, open the folder, press and hold a file to start selecting, select the others and tap Download. On iPhone, open each file's menu and use Open in, then Save to Files.

For a whole folder as a ZIP, open the link in your phone's browser instead of the app, switch the browser to "Desktop site" and use the Download button as you would on a computer. On a slow or metered connection, start with the files you really need.

Large files and the virus-scan warning

Google Drive scans files for viruses, but not very large ones. For those, it shows a page saying that it can't scan the file and asks whether you want to Download anyway. The warning does not mean the file is infected; it means nobody checked.

Before you click it, ask yourself whether you know who shared the file and what it should contain. A large video or a dataset is one thing; an unknown program or an archive full of executables is another. If in doubt, don't run anything you download from it.

When the download fails or gets stuck

"Zipping" never ends. Split the folder: select half of the files and download them, then the other half. Very large selections are the usual cause.
Only the first ZIP arrives. Your browser may be blocking multiple downloads from the same site. Look for a blocked-download icon in the address bar and allow it.
"Download quota exceeded". Too many people downloaded the same files recently. See what to do about the download quota error.
"You need access". The folder is not public, or the owner removed access. Request access or ask the owner for a new link.
The Download option is missing. The owner turned off downloading for viewers. Only they can change that.

For folders you download often: Google Drive for desktop

If a shared folder updates regularly, add it to your Drive (right-click, then "Add shortcut to Drive") and install Google Drive for desktop. The folder then appears on your computer like a normal folder, and you can mark it as available offline instead of downloading ZIPs again and again.

Where to keep what you download

Shared folders disappear when their owners delete them or change the access, so keep your own copy of anything you rely on. If your computer or Drive is running out of room, a second cloud such as pCloud or an external disk is a simple home for archives. Our guide to backing up Google Drive covers the options.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a size limit for downloading a folder?

Drive splits big folders into several ZIP files instead of refusing them, so in practice the limits are your disk space, your connection and your patience.

Can I download a Drive folder without a Google account?

Yes, if it's shared with "Anyone with the link" and the owner allows downloads.

How do I find more public folders like this?

Use dedigger, or the Google operators in our guide on searching public Google Drive files.