Back up your Runnels Google data

Before you begin

• Use a desktop or laptop computer, not a phone.
• Sign in to the correct @runnels.org account.
• For Option 1, have a personal Google Account ready. Option 2 lets you save an archive to your own computer.
• Check that the destination account or computer has enough free space.

Do not move the only copy of official school records to a personal account. If you are unsure whether information is personal or institutional, leave the original in place and ask before deleting or moving it.

Option 1

Copy Gmail and Drive to a personal Google Account

If available, this copies Gmail and files you own in My Drive. The originals stay in the Runnels account. Google may also offer a Google Photos option; check the choices shown for your account.

1. 1

   While signed in to your Runnels account, open Google Transfer your content.

2. 2

   Enter the address of your personal Google Account and select Get code.

3. 3

   Open the confirmation email in the personal account and select Get confirmation code.

4. 4

   Return to the school account, enter the code, and select Verify.

5. 5

   Choose the content you want to copy, then select Start transfer.

6. 6

   Wait for the completion email. Sign in to the personal account and open several messages and files to confirm they arrived.

If Google says this feature is unavailable, use Option 2. Contacts, Calendar, chats, tasks, and some shared files need separate attention. This is not a backup of every Google service. Shared drives and official school records are handled through the school’s preservation process.

Option 2

Download an archive with Google Takeout

Use this option for a general backup or for Calendar, Contacts, and other Google data that is not included in the account-to-account transfer.

1. 1

   While signed in to the Runnels account, open Google Takeout.

2. 2

   Select only the products you need. For a simpler export, start with one product at a time, such as Calendar or Contacts.

3. 3

   Select Next step. Choose a one-time export and ZIP files. Very large accounts may produce several ZIP files.

4. 4

   Choose Send download link via email. Google sends a link to the Runnels account being exported, not a ZIP attachment. This option has no field for another email address.

5. 5

   Select Create export. Open the completion email in your Runnels inbox and follow its link. Download every ZIP promptly; Google’s archive links expire after about seven days. Save the files on your own computer or in personal storage outside the Runnels account.

6. 6

   Extract (unzip) the ZIP files. Open the extracted folders for your selected products, usually inside Takeout. If archive_browser.html is present, it may help explain the files; if it is absent, continue with the product folders. Open or import the exported files and check that the expected data is present. Keep the original ZIP files private.

How to use the downloaded files

Google Takeout is an export, not a one-click restoration of an entire account. Different types of data must be opened or imported separately.

Final check before shutdown

• Sign out of the Runnels account and sign in to the destination account.
• Open several important files, email messages, calendar events, and contacts.
• Confirm that anything important is stored somewhere other than the Runnels account.
• If you keep using the Runnels account, save any later messages or changes before access ends.
• Keep downloaded archives private; they may contain personal messages and files.

Official Google help

• Copy content from a school account
• Download your Google data
• Export Google Calendar events
• Import Google Calendar events
• Export Google Contacts
• Import Google Contacts
• Upload files and folders to Google Drive

Support limits

These instructions are intended for self-service backup. Individual assistance is limited to current school-business users, designated institutional or administrative accounts, and exceptions approved by the Board. Access to dormant accounts is not guaranteed.