A Guide to Transferring Data Between Google Accounts

In today’s digital world, it’s not uncommon for people to want to migrate their data from one Google account to another. Whether it’s due to an old account created in childhood or a desire for a more professional email presence, the process can often feel overwhelming. In this article, we’ll discuss how to effectively transfer your data, including YouTube history, photos, and more, to a new Google account.

Why Transfer Accounts?

Many users, like myself, find themselves needing to switch their Google account due to various reasons. In my case, I created my Gmail account as a child, and now, as an adult, I want to adopt a more suitable email identity. While services like Outlook allow you to create aliases easily, Google doesn’t provide the same flexibility in changing your primary email address. Instead, it often necessitates the creation of a new account and the data migration process.

Steps to Successfully Transfer Your Data

Getting started with the migration process can be daunting, especially if you’re unfamiliar with where to begin. Here’s a concise guide on how to handle your data transfer:

Transfer Contacts: This is critical for maintaining your communication network. Google provides a straightforward method for exporting contacts from your old account and importing them into your new one.
Adjust Your Settings on Your Devices: Make sure to update your Google account on all your devices, including smartphones, tablets, and any other linked services.
Share Your Apps with Family: If you have purchased apps or services linked to your old account, consider adding your new account to your family group. This way, you can still enjoy access to your apps without starting from scratch.
Transferring Photos and Videos: While Google Photos does not have a direct transfer feature, you can download your data from the old account and then upload it to your new account. Use Google Takeout for a full export of your data.
YouTube History and Subscriptions: For YouTube, transferring your watch history and subscriptions is less intuitive. Although there isn’t a direct service transfer function, consider saving your favorite links and manually subscribing to channels on your new account.
Other Minor Data Transfers: Don’t forget to check other Google services you might use, such as Google Drive, Calendar, and Keep. Make sure to copy any essential documents or notes from your old account to your new one.