Templates / Google Drive Folder Auto-Backup to Dropbox

Google Drive Folder Auto-Backup to Dropbox

Beginner   Apps: Google Drive, Dropbox  ·  Setup: 10 minutes

One cloud provider is one point of failure: an account lockout, a sync bug, or a fat-fingered folder delete and your contracts folder is gone. Sync tools that bridge Drive and Dropbox cost monthly money for what is: watch folder, copy file. This workflow mirrors every new file in a chosen Drive folder to Dropbox - different provider, different account, real redundancy.

Download workflow JSON (free) Setup guide

What this workflow does

  1. A Google Drive Trigger fires when a file is created in your chosen folder.
  2. A Google Drive node downloads the file's binary content.
  3. A Dropbox node uploads it to your backup folder, keeping the original filename.

Setup guide

  1. Import the JSON into n8n (Workflows > Import from File).
  2. Connect Google Drive and pick the folder to watch in the trigger node.
  3. Connect Dropbox (create an app at dropbox.com/developers with files.content.write scope) and set the destination path.
  4. Activate, then drop a test file into the Drive folder and check Dropbox a minute later.

Want this running 24/7?

Self-host n8n on a cheap VPS and this workflow runs around the clock for less than a coffee a month.

Get an n8n VPS from $5/month

FAQ

Does it copy changed files too, or only new ones?The trigger watches for created files. Add a second trigger set to fileUpdated pointing at the same download node to mirror edits as well - Dropbox versioning keeps the history.
Does it handle Google Docs and Sheets?Native Google formats have no binary; the download node converts them (Docs to PDF, Sheets to XLSX) via its conversion options - enable them in the node settings.
Can it go the other direction, Dropbox to Drive?Mirror image: Dropbox Trigger, Dropbox download, Google Drive upload. Run both workflows for two-way redundancy - they won't loop as long as each watches a different folder.

Want the workflows this one is a warm-up for?

The Mega Bundle packs both WorkflowForge Pro volumes — 32 production-grade workflows: automations (cart recovery, lead scoring, invoice extraction) and AI agents (support agent, calendar assistant, research agent), each with a setup guide. $39 for both, instant download.

Get the Mega Bundle →

Need it customized for your exact process?

I build custom n8n automations and AI agents professionally: your tools, your edge cases, tested and documented.

Hire me on Fiverr →