How to Split a Single Google Workspace Account Into Multiple Separate Accounts

Quick and easy-to-follow guide for Google Workspace administrators

When to consider moving a secondary domain to a new Google Workspace account

  • When the domain alias and secondary domain options are too limiting for you
  • When users in a secondary domain work in a different organization than the users in the primary domain

How long does it take to move a secondary domain to a new Google Workspace account

  • Moving a domain to a separate Google Workspace account takes some time and preparation, depending on how many users are involved.
  • Generally speaking, migrating data between user accounts takes the longest. Several factors are in play, such as the number of users you’re migrating and the number and size of items being migrated. You may also consider the source server’s performance, the network’s data transfer rate, and any latency between Google and the source server.

Steps to take before you move secondary domains to a new Google Workspace account

  • It’s best to backup/export all data from the users you will migrate.
  • Decide when to start the migration by picking a time when Google Workspace will have the least possible usage. Plan for downtime – it may take up to 48 hours before users can switch to their new accounts.
  • Let all users involved in the migration know that they will be switching to new accounts soon so that they can prepare. For example, they may want to export data from apps connected to their account or link them to another email.

How to move a secondary domain to a new Google Workspace account: a step-by-step guide

Let’s say you have:

Account A, with domains A and B

You want to split them up, so you end up with:

Account A with domain A
Account B with domain B

Here’s how:

  1. Remove all email addresses at domain B to remove domain B from the account. ​To remove email addresses:
    -Change a user’s primary email
    -Remove a user’s alias
    -Change a Group’s email
    -Remove a Group alias
  2. Create a custom new OU for the users you want to migrate
  3. Move the users you want to migrate to the new OU
  4. Export a list of users in the migration OU
  5. Remove domain B.
  6. Create a new Google Workspace account, Account B, where domain B is the main domain
  7. Migrate data from the users on Account A to the users on Account B:
    1. To migrate emails, use the Data migration service.
    2. To migrate Drive files: have each user manually upload their previously exported files and folders to their new account.
    3. To migrate calendars: have each user manually upload the previously exported events to their new account.
    4. To migrate contacts: have each user manually upload their previously exported contacts to their new account.
  8. Delete all users in the migration OU in Account A.

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