Overview
When migrating from Google Drive to OneDrive or SharePoint Online, native Google files undergo automatic format conversion. Google's proprietary document formats (Docs, Sheets, Slides) don't exist as physical files—they're cloud-native formats that must be converted to their Microsoft Office equivalents.
Automatic Conversion
Cloudiway automatically handles format conversion during migration. No manual intervention is required—files are converted on-the-fly as they transfer to the target.
File Format Conversion
The following table shows how native Google formats are converted when migrating to Microsoft 365:
| Google Format | Microsoft Format | Status |
|---|---|---|
| | .docx | Converted |
| | .xlsx | Converted |
| | .pptx | Converted |
| | .png | Image Export |
Google Drawings
Files Not Migrated
Some Google-native formats cannot be migrated due to their unique nature or lack of Microsoft equivalents:
Interactive forms cannot be converted. Recreate in Microsoft Forms.
Custom map files cannot be migrated to Microsoft services.
Custom scripts require manual recreation in Office equivalents (VBA, Power Automate).
Important
Google to Google Migration
When migrating between Google Drive accounts (Google-to-Google), the behavior is different:
No Conversion Required
When migrating between Google Drive accounts, native Google documents remain in their original Google format. There's no conversion to Microsoft Office formats—files transfer as-is.
Best Practices
Test Complex Documents
Run pilot migrations with complex Sheets (formulas, charts) and Slides (animations, transitions) to verify conversion quality.
Communicate Format Changes
Inform users that their Google Docs will become Word documents, etc. Prepare training on Microsoft Office if needed.
Plan for Non-Migratable Content
Create an inventory of Forms, Scripts, and My Maps. Assign owners to recreate these in Microsoft 365.
Check Drawings After Migration
Since Drawings become PNG images, verify that important diagrams retain sufficient quality for their intended use.