On mobile browsers, Google Drive also forces zipping for folders. But you can avoid it by using the and a file manager.
Google’s official app syncs your Drive content directly to your computer’s file system. It bypasses the browser entirely, so no zipping occurs.
✅ The entire folder downloads recursively, preserving structure, without zipping. how to download from google drive without zipping
This approach allows you to copy files directly from a virtual drive on your computer, completely skipping the zipping phase.
✅ A direct, unzipped copy of the folder. On mobile browsers, Google Drive also forces zipping
⚠️ If you select a folder plus files, Google Drive will still zip everything. Also, selecting more than a few hundred files may trigger automatic zipping.
| Scenario | Recommended Method | | :--- | :--- | | | Google Drive Desktop App | | Downloading a few photos/docs | Individual Download | | Moving files to another account | Shift + Z Shortcut | It bypasses the browser entirely, so no zipping occurs
This is the most reliable way to download large folders or multiple files in their original format.