4 Easy Ways to Transfer Files from iCloud Drive to OneDrive (2025)

Method 1: Transfer via Web Browsers

Begin by heading to the official iCloud Drive page and signing in with your Apple ID credentials. Once logged in, browse through your folders to find the files you want to migrate. You can select multiple items by holding down the Command (Mac) or Ctrl (Windows) key while clicking.

To download, simply click the cloud-shaped download icon in the top bar. If you’re downloading an entire folder, iCloud will package it as a ZIP file. After downloading, don’t forget to unzip the file on your computer so it’s ready for upload.

Now go to OneDrive and log in with your Microsoft account. Once you're in, click the "Upload" button at the top or drag files and folders directly into the web interface. You can choose either Files or Folder, depending on what you're uploading.

Make sure everything is organized as you want it—OneDrive allows you to create new folders, rename files, and even move items after upload for better structure.

This browser-based method is straightforward and doesn’t require any extra tools—perfect for light users or occasional transfers. But if you're dealing with large files or multiple folder structures, the manual download-and-upload cycle can become time-consuming and prone to error. For those situations, you might want to consider using automated tools or cloud-to-cloud services.

Method 2: Transfer with iPhone

On your iPhone, open the OneDrive app and log in with your Microsoft account. Tap the “+” icon, usually located at the top or bottom of the screen depending on your version. From the menu, select “Upload”, then tap “Browse” to open the iOS file system.

You’ll now see the familiar Files app interface. Head to the “iCloud Drive” section to locate the files or folders you'd like to upload. iOS may take a moment to download any files that aren’t already stored locally on your device. Once they're ready, OneDrive will begin uploading them to your cloud storage.

This method is particularly convenient for iPhone users who want to transfer files without needing a computer. It’s ideal for quick, on-the-go uploads—whether you're saving documents, photos, or PDFs from iCloud Drive into OneDrive. Just keep in mind that large transfers or complex folder structures might require more time and repeated actions.

Method 3: Command-Line Transfer with Rclone

For users who are comfortable using the terminal, Rclone offers a robust way to move files from iCloud Drive to OneDrive with efficiency and precision. Start by installing Rclone on your macOS, Windows, or Linux machine.

Once installed, launch the interactive setup by running: rclone config. You'll be asked to configure both the source and destination remotes:

• iCloud Drive (Local Sync Folder): Typically located at ~/Library/Mobile Documents/com~apple~CloudDocs on macOS.
• OneDrive: Select OneDrive from Rclone's remote options and follow the OAuth login instructions in your browser to authorize access.

Once both remotes are configured, you're ready to move your data. Use a command like this to begin copying files:

rclone copy "~/Library/Mobile Documents/com~apple~CloudDocs" onedrive:MyBackup --progress

This command will copy all contents from your local iCloud Drive folder to the MyBackup directory in OneDrive. Want to test things first? Add --dry-run to simulate the transfer without moving any files.

Rclone is an excellent choice for users who want full control over their transfer process. You can schedule recurring syncs, exclude certain files, or integrate with automation scripts. It does, however, require basic knowledge of command-line operations and some initial configuration effort.

Method Four: Cloud Transfer via Cloudslinker

Visit app.cloudslinker.com and log into your Cloudslinker account. On the left sidebar, click “Add Cloud” to connect your drives. First, choose OneDrive and follow the on-screen OAuth prompts to grant access. Your login credentials are never stored—only authorized tokens are used.

Unlike most services, a single Microsoft account might contain access to multiple OneDrive cloud disks (such as personal and business drives). Once authenticated, Cloudslinker will display all available drives linked to your account—you simply choose which one to add.

Next, select iCloud Drive from the list and log in using your Apple ID and password. If two-factor authentication is enabled, you’ll be prompted to enter the 6-digit code sent to your Apple device. After verification, your iCloud Drive will be successfully linked.

Open the Transfer tab. Select iCloud Drive as your source and choose the folder or files you wish to move. Then, select your preferred OneDrive target location. You can preview both drives before initiating the migration.

Need more control? You can apply filters based on file extensions, size, or modified date. For example, exclude .DS_Store files or skip videos over 2 GB. These options are available under “Advanced Settings.”

For recurring needs, you can schedule transfers daily, weekly, or at custom intervals. This is especially useful for ongoing sync between workspaces. Learn more in our scheduling tutorial.

Once the transfer begins, monitor status in the Task List. Here you’ll see real-time progress, estimated completion time, and logs. Tasks can be paused or retried at any point. Partial failures (e.g. due to unsupported formats) are automatically recorded for manual follow-up.

After the process finishes, you'll receive a completion message along with a report of what was transferred and what may have failed. Your iCloud Drive data is now safely housed in OneDrive.