---
id: data-transfers.copy-a-whole-cloud-account-to-a-drive
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/data-transfers/copy-a-whole-cloud-account-to-a-drive
category: "Data Transfers"
subcategory: "Data Transfers basics"
question: "How do I download everything from a cloud account to my external drive?"
alt_questions:
  - "back up Google Drive to external hard drive"
  - "download entire Dropbox to external SSD"
  - "copy all OneDrive files to a drive"
  - "save a local copy of my cloud storage"
  - "export cloud account to external drive mac"
  - "sync Google Drive to external drive automatically"
short_answer: "Create a Copy with the cloud account's root as the Source and a folder on your external drive as the Destination. Add a schedule to keep it topped up; only new or changed files are fetched each time."
tags: ["cloud", "external drive", "download all"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/data-transfers/use-the-root-of-an-account", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/data-transfers/data-transfers-vs-data-backup", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/data-transfers/schedule-a-recurring-transfer"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

# How do I download everything from a cloud account to my external drive?

Use a **Copy** from the account to a folder on your external drive:

1. **New Transfer** → **Copy**.
2. **Source**: cloud button → **Use … root** for the account (or Browse to a folder).
3. **Destination**: folder button → a new folder on your external drive.
4. Start it. Files come straight to the drive, not your Mac's internal disk.

Add a **Daily** or **Weekly** schedule to keep the drive copy topped up — each run only fetches what's new or changed. Choose **Sync (one-way)** instead if you want the drive copy to also drop files you've deleted in the cloud.

Related: [Use … root](https://storagestudio.us/faq/data-transfers/use-the-root-of-an-account) · [Is a transfer a backup?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/data-transfers/data-transfers-vs-data-backup)