3 Simple Steps to Move a Google My Map to Drive Folder

Embark on a Journey to Organize Your Maps with Google My Maps and Drive

Enhancing your digital workflow involves streamlining the organization of your valuable data. Among the array of productivity tools offered by Google, My Maps and Drive stand out as indispensable resources for managing your maps. However, navigating the process of moving a My Map to a Drive folder can seem like a daunting task. This comprehensive guide will lead you through a step-by-step process, empowering you to efficiently transfer your maps between these platforms.

Unveiling the Path to Move Your My Maps to Drive

To initiate the process of transferring your My Maps to a Drive folder, begin by opening the My Map you wish to move. Once the map is displayed, click on the "Share" button located in the upper right-hand corner of the screen. From the drop-down menu that appears, select the "Export to KML/KMZ" option. This action will download the map as a KML or KMZ file to your computer.

Integrating Your My Maps with Drive

After successfully downloading the KML or KMZ file, open your Google Drive account and locate the folder where you want to place the map. Once the destination folder is selected, click on the "New" button and choose the "File upload" option. In the file explorer window that opens, navigate to the location where the KML or KMZ file is saved, select it, and click on the "Open" button to upload the file to your Drive folder. By completing these steps, you have effectively moved your My Map to the desired Drive folder, consolidating your maps and enhancing your organizational efficiency.

Exporting the Google My Map to a KML File

Step-by-step Guide

To export your Google My Map to a KML file, follow these detailed steps:

Access the Map Menu: Open your Google My Map in a web browser. Click on the three horizontal lines in the top left corner to access the map menu.
Select Export: From the menu, choose the "Export" option. A drop-down menu will appear with various export formats.
Choose KML: Hover over the "Export" option and select "KML" from the drop-down menu. This will download a KML file containing the data from your Google My Map.

Understanding the File

A KML file (Keyhole Markup Language) is an XML-based format that stores geographic data. It allows you to display map features such as points, lines, and polygons on a map viewer like Google Earth or Google Maps.

When you export your Google My Map to a KML file, the following information is included:

Feature	Exported Data
Points	Placemarks for each location
Lines	Paths between points
Polygons	Areas or regions defined by multiple points
Metadata	Information about the map, such as its name and description

Opening the KML File in Google Drive

Once you have exported the KML file from Google My Maps, you can proceed to open and import it into Google Drive:

Step 1: Sign in to Google Drive

Visit the Google Drive website (drive.google.com) and sign in to your Google account if you haven’t already.

Step 2: Upload the KML File

Locate the KML file that you exported from Google My Maps on your computer. Drag and drop the file into the Google Drive window or click the “New” button and select “File upload.” Choose the KML file and click “Open.”

Step 3: View the KML File

After uploading the KML file, it will appear in your Google Drive. Double-click the file to open it in a new tab or window. You may need to provide permission for Google Drive to access your location data.

Step 4: Convert to Google Earth Format (Optional)

If you wish to edit the map further in Google Earth, you can convert the KML file to the Google Earth format (.kmz). Right-click the KML file in Google Drive and select “Get link.” In the pop-up window, click the “Shareable link” field and copy the URL.

In a new browser tab, visit the Google Earth website (earth.google.com) and click “Open.” Paste the copied URL into the search box and click “Open with Google Earth.” Your map will open in Google Earth, and you can save it as a .kmz file to your computer.

Step 5: Move the File to a Drive Folder

To organize your Google My Maps in Google Drive, you can move the KML file to a specific folder. Right-click the file and select “Move to.” Choose the desired folder from the list or create a new folder by clicking “New folder.” Your map will be moved to the selected location.

Action	Description
Drag and drop	Move the file directly to the desired folder.
Use the “Move to” option	Right-click the file and select “Move to,” then choose the destination folder.

Creating a Folder in Google Drive

To prepare for moving your Google My Map, it’s essential to create a folder in Google Drive. This folder will serve as the destination for your map.

Follow these steps to create a folder:

Open Google Drive in your browser.
Click on the “New” button in the top-left corner.
Select “Folder” from the drop-down menu.
Give your folder a name and click “Create”.

Keep this folder open, as you will need to drag and drop your Google My Map into it in the next step.

Importing the KML File into the Google Drive Folder

Now that you have saved your map as a KML file, it’s time to import it into your Google Drive folder. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you do that:

1. Open Google Drive

In your web browser, go to drive.google.com and sign in with your Google account.

2. Create a New Folder

If you haven’t already, create a new folder in Google Drive where you want to store your KML file. To do this, click the “New” button in the top left corner of the screen and select “Folder”. Name the folder appropriately, such as “My Maps”.

3. Upload the KML File

Click the “New” button again and select “File upload”. In the file picker window that opens, navigate to the location where you saved the KML file on your computer. Select the file and click “Open”.

4. Import the KML File into Google My Maps

Once the KML file is uploaded to your Google Drive folder, you can import it into Google My Maps. Here’s how:

In the Google Drive folder where you uploaded the KML file, right-click on the file and select “Open with” > “Google My Maps”.
If the Google My Maps app is not installed on your computer, you will be prompted to install it. Click “Install” and follow the on-screen instructions.
Once Google My Maps is installed and opened, you will see your KML file imported as a new map layer.
You can now customize the map layer by adding new markers, lines, or shapes, or by changing the style of the existing features.

Selecting and Moving the File to the Folder

Once you’ve identified the My Map you want to move to Drive, follow these steps:

Step 1: Open the My Map

In Google My Maps, click the map you want to move.

Step 2: Click the "Edit" Button

On the map’s toolbar, click the "Edit" button.

Step 3: Select the "File" Menu

From the menu bar, select the "File" menu.

Step 4: Choose "Save As…"

In the "File" menu, click the "Save As…" option.

Step 5: Choose "Drive Folder"

In the "Save As" dialog box, you have three options:
- My Drive: Saves the map to your own personal Drive account.
- Shared Drive: Saves the map to a Drive folder that you have sharing permissions to.
- New Folder: Creates a new Drive folder to store the map.
Select the desired option, ensuring that the map is saved to the correct location.

Step 6: Click "Save"

Once you’ve selected the destination, click the "Save" button to complete the move.

The My Map will now be stored in the specified Drive folder. You can access it from the Drive homepage or the corresponding folder.

Confirming the File Location in Google Drive

To ensure seamless transfer, it’s crucial to verify the location of your Google My Map within your Google Drive. Follow these detailed steps:

Accessing Google Drive:

Begin by navigating to Google Drive via your web browser or the mobile application. Sign in with your Google account to access your personal storage space.

Locating the File:

Within Google Drive, locate the file named “My Maps.” This folder typically contains all the Google My Maps you’ve created or accessed.

Tip: Use the search functionality or browse through your folders to find the specific file you intend to move.

Confirming File Type:

Once you’ve located the file, right-click on it and select “Properties.” In the “File Type” section, verify that the file is a “KMZ file.” This file format is used for Google My Maps and is compatible with Google Drive.

Note: If the file type is not KMZ, it may not be a Google My Map. Double-check the name and location to confirm the correct selection.

Checking for Ownership:

In the “Ownership” section of the Properties dialog box, check that you have “Owner” permissions for the KMZ file. This ensures that you have the necessary rights to move the file to a different folder in your Google Drive.

Verifying the Import Status in Google My Maps

7. Checking the Import Progress and Results

Once you initiate the import, Google will begin processing your My Map data. The import status can be tracked in the “My Maps” section of your Google Drive account. Here’s a detailed breakdown of what to expect:

Status	Description
Queued	Your My Map data is awaiting import. The progress bar will display a percentage indicating how much of the data has been processed.
In Progress	The import process is actively transferring your My Map data into your Drive folder.
Completed	The import process has finished successfully. Your My Map data is now available in the specified Drive folder.
Failed	An error occurred during the import process. Check the error message for details and try again.

You can also use the import status link provided in the My Maps notification to view the progress. Once the import is complete, a confirmation message will appear under the progress bar.

Step 8: Convert Map to Google Drive Folder (continued)

a) Open the Destination Folder in Google Drive

In another tab or window, open Google Drive. Ensure you’re signed in to the same account associated with your My Map. Locate and open the destination folder where you want to move the map.

b) Drag and Drop the My Map Link

Go back to the My Maps tab. Right-click or long-press on the name of the map you want to move. Select “Copy link to map.” Return to the Google Drive tab. Click inside the destination folder and press “Ctrl+V” (Windows) or “Cmd+V” (Mac) to paste the link.

c) Select the Shared Content Option

A preview of the map will appear in the folder. Click the ellipsis icon (…) in the preview and choose “Add to My Drive.” In the menu that appears, ensure the “Shared with me” option is selected. Click “Add.”

d) Manage Shared Map Permissions

Navigate to the destination folder in Google Drive. Right-click or long-press on the shared map and select “Manage collaborators.” Review the permissions granted to the shared map and adjust them if necessary. You can remove the owner of the original map if you desire.

e) Check Map Ownership

After transferring the map, ensure you have ownership by viewing the map. If it prompts you to request access, you have successfully transferred ownership.

Controlling Access to the File in Google Drive (Optional)

Once the map has been moved to Drive, you can control who has access to it by adjusting the file’s sharing permissions.

To do this, right-click on the file in Drive and select “Share”. You can then add individual users or groups to the sharing list and set their permission level (e.g., viewer, editor, or owner).

You can also use the “Get shareable link” option to create a link that can be shared with others. The link can be set to allow anyone with the link to view or edit the file, or it can be set to only allow specific users with the link to access the file.

Unfold the Map Sidebar

Begin by opening the Google My Map and locating the sidebar icon in the upper left-hand corner. Click on the icon to reveal the sidebar menu.

Navigate to the Menu Options

Once the sidebar is open, scroll down to find the “More” button at the bottom. Click on it to view additional options.

Locate the “Export” Option

In the expanded menu, locate the “Export” option and click on it.

Choose the “Google Drive” Format

A pop-up window will appear with various file format options. Select the “Google Drive” format by clicking on it.

Authorize Google Drive Access

If prompted, authorize Google Drive to access your Google account. This allows the transfer of your map to your Drive folder.

Select the Destination Folder

A “Save to Drive” window will open. Choose the destination folder where you want to save your map.

Provide a File Name

Enter a custom file name for your map or leave the default name. Click on the “Save” button to initiate the transfer.

Monitor the Transfer Progress

The transfer process will be indicated by a progress bar in the sidebar. Once complete, the map will be stored in the selected Drive folder.

Access Your Map in Google Drive

Open Google Drive and navigate to the destination folder. Your Google My Map will be listed as a file that you can open and view.

Additional Tips for File Management in Google Drive

Sharing with Others

To share your Google My Map with others, right-click on it in your Drive folder and select “Share.” Enter the email addresses of the people you want to share it with and adjust the access permissions accordingly.

Duplicating Files

If you want to create a copy of your map, right-click on it and select “Make a copy.” The copy will be saved in the same folder.

Renaming Files

To rename your map, right-click on it and select “Rename.” Enter the new name and click “OK.”

Moving Files between Folders

To move your map to a different folder, drag and drop it into the desired folder in your Google Drive.

Organizing with Subfolders

Create subfolders within your Drive to organize your maps into specific categories. Right-click on the main folder and select “New folder” to create a subfolder.

Using Drive Desktop App

Install the Google Drive desktop app to access and manage your files offline. The app syncs with your online Drive account, allowing you to access your maps from your computer.

Searching for Files

Use the search bar in Google Drive to quickly find specific maps or keywords within your file names.

Version History

Google Drive maintains a version history for your files. Right-click on a map and select “Version history” to view previous versions and revert to an earlier one if needed.

File Recovery

If you accidentally delete your map, go to the “Trash” folder in Google Drive. Right-click on the deleted map and select “Restore” to recover it.

Drive Storage Management

Monitor your Drive storage space by clicking on the “Storage” tab. Consider purging unnecessary files or upgrading your storage plan if needed.

How To Move A Google My Map To Drive Folder

To move a Google My Map to a Drive folder, follow these steps:

Open Google My Maps.
Click on the map you want to move.
Click on the “Share” button.
In the “Share” dialog box, click on the “Move to Drive” button.
Select the Drive folder you want to move the map to.
Click on the “Move” button.