My Google Drive had gotten messy — duplicate folders, random uploads, files mislabeled, and years’ worth of assets scattered everywhere. And with limited local storage and very specific permission needs, the usual “Sync & Mirror” option didn’t work for me.

So I created my own one-off cleanup method, and after hours of experimenting, it finally worked.

In this episode, I break down exactly what I did:

✔️ Downloaded everything using the Google Drive desktop app
✔️ Copied the full Drive to an external hard drive as a safety net
✔️ Used two Finder windows to reorganize folders manually
✔️ Added missing files from my local drive that never made it to GDrive
✔️ Created clean new folders and moved everything into the correct structure
✔️ Archived the original Google Drive folders so nothing was lost
✔️ Uploaded the clean, organized version back to GDrive
✔️ Kept archive copies on the external drive “just in case”

This was a one-time reset designed for people who:

• don’t have enough hard drive space for a full mirror
• need complicated folder permissions
• have years of clutter
• want to rebuild their GDrive structure from scratch without losing files
• need a safe and reversible solution

If your Google Drive feels like a digital junk drawer, this method might save you hours — and your sanity.