How To Automatically Move Files Between Folders After 30 Days

Automation has become essential for managing digital workflows efficiently, especially when dealing with large files like videos. In this article, we'll explore a clever automated workflow built with Make.com that solves a common problem: managing Google Drive storage limits without losing important files.

The Challenge: Google Drive Storage Management

Many of us have experienced that dreaded notification: "Your Google Drive is 90% full." When regularly working with video files, storage can quickly become an issue. The traditional solution might be to manually delete old files, but this approach has drawbacks:

• It's easy to forget to delete files
• You might accidentally remove something important
• Manual cleanup is time-consuming

The Automated Solution

The automation workflow described here tackles this problem elegantly by:

1. Monitoring a folder where screen recordings are saved
2. Tracking these videos in Airtable
3. After 30 days, moving (not deleting) videos from a personal Google Drive to a business Google Drive
4. Sending a Slack notification when files are moved

This approach maintains organization while ensuring videos remain accessible if needed later.

Why This Workflow Works So Well

This automation is particularly effective because:

1. It Eliminates Manual Work

The creator mentions they would "never remember" to manually organize these files regularly. The automation handles everything in the background.

2. It Optimizes Existing Workflows

The workflow takes advantage of how the files are already being used. Since the personal Google Drive is synced to the creator's laptop, videos can be recorded directly to that location, then automatically processed and eventually moved to the business account.

3. It Preserves Content While Managing Space

Rather than simply deleting files after 30 days, this solution preserves them in a different storage location, balancing accessibility with storage management.

How to Implement a Similar System

To create your version of this workflow:

1. Set up Make.com (formerly Integromat) with connections to Google Drive and Airtable
2. Create a scenario that monitors your Airtable records for videos
3. Add logic to check if videos are older than your designated timeframe (30 days in this example)
4. Configure file movement between Google Drive accounts
5. Add notification steps to keep you informed

Applications Beyond Video Files

This type of automation isn't limited to video management. You could apply similar principles to:

• Document workflows between departments
• Photo libraries that need archiving
• Project files that should move through different stages
• Customer files that need to be retained but archived

The Benefits of "Set It and Forget It" Automation

Perhaps the most valuable aspect of this automation is that it runs silently in the background, maintaining organization without requiring ongoing attention. This "set it and forget it" approach ensures your digital workspace stays organized automatically.

By implementing similar automation in your workflow, you can reduce manual tasks, maintain better digital organization, and avoid storage-related headaches – all while ensuring important files remain accessible when needed.

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