# Google Drive connector

[Product](https://paperclip.ing/product/) / [Connectors](https://paperclip.ing/product/connectors/) / Google Drive

Search and read files and create or copy files.

Category: [Content](/product/connectors/?category=content)
Tools from: [Google Drive](https://developers.google.com/workspace/drive/api/reference/mcp)
Sign-in: Choose a supported connection method
Works as: Agent tool

List recorded: Sep 30, 2026

## Overview

Paperclip’s Google Drive MCP connector gives your AI agents tools to search and read files and create or copy files. Each tool can be Allowed, Ask first or Off.

Agents reach files the authorizing account can open, including shared-drive content it can access. Paperclip has no file or folder picker.

## What agents can do with Google Drive

- Find a file and inspect its metadata (`search_files`, `get_file_metadata`)
- Read a file and its sharing list (`read_file_content`, `get_file_permissions`)
- Review a file before copying it (`get_file_metadata`, `copy_file`)

## How to connect Google Drive

1. In Paperclip, open Connectors and select Google Drive.
2. On the Access step, choose the identity and which agents may use the connection.
3. Choose the capability group and Connect with Paperclip where offered or Use your own Google OAuth app with its client ID and secret. Complete Google’s consent screen.

[Setup guide](https://docs.paperclip.ing/connectors/google-setup/)

## Google Drive tools for agents (8)



### Read (6)

<div data-tool-name="download_file_content" data-tool-class="read">
<code>download_file_content</code>
<p class="c4-description-summary">Call this tool to download the content of a Drive file as a base64 encoded string.</p>
<details class="faq-item c4-tool-description">
<summary class="faq-header" aria-label="Full description for download_file_content">Full description</summary>

<pre class="faq-answer c4-description-text">Call this tool to download the content of a Drive file as a base64 encoded string.

If the file is a Google Drive first-party mime type, the `exportMimeType` field specifies the desired export mime type. When the field is unset, defaults to plain text types (e.g. `text/plain`, `text/csv`).

If the file is not found, try using other tools like `search_files` to find the file the user is requesting.

If the user wants a natural language representation of their Drive content, use the `read_file_content` tool (`read_file_content` should be smaller and easier to parse).</pre>
</details>
</div>

<div data-tool-name="get_file_metadata" data-tool-class="read">
<code>get_file_metadata</code>
<p class="c4-description-summary">Call this tool to find general metadata about a user's Drive file.</p>
<details class="faq-item c4-tool-description">
<summary class="faq-header" aria-label="Full description for get_file_metadata">Full description</summary>

<pre class="faq-answer c4-description-text">Call this tool to find general metadata about a user's Drive file.

Context window token management can be tuned via `snippetVerbosity` (default is `SnippetVerbosity.DETAILED`) or if only metadata is needed, use `excludeContentSnippets`.

If the file is not found, try using other tools like `search_files` to find the file the user is requesting.</pre>
</details>
</div>

<div data-tool-name="get_file_permissions" data-tool-class="read">
<code>get_file_permissions</code>
<p class="c4-description-summary">Call this tool to list the permissions of a Drive File.</p>
</div>

<div data-tool-name="list_recent_files" data-tool-class="read">
<code>list_recent_files</code>
<p class="c4-description-summary">Call this tool to find recent files for a user specified a sort order.</p>
<details class="faq-item c4-tool-description">
<summary class="faq-header" aria-label="Full description for list_recent_files">Full description</summary>

<pre class="faq-answer c4-description-text">Call this tool to find recent files for a user specified a sort order. Default sort order is `recency` if orderBy is not set or set to an unsupported value.

Context window token management can be tuned via `snippetVerbosity` (default is `SnippetVerbosity.DETAILED`) or if only metadata is needed, use `excludeContentSnippets`.

Supported sort orders are:

 - `recency`: The most recent timestamp from the file's date-time fields.
 - `lastModified`: The last time the file was modified by anyone.
 - `lastModifiedByMe`: The last time the file was modified by the user.

The default page size is 10. Utilize `next_page_token` to paginate through the results.</pre>
</details>
</div>

<div data-tool-name="read_file_content" data-tool-class="read">
<code>read_file_content</code>
<p class="c4-description-summary">Call this tool to fetch a natural language representation of a known Drive file, and if specified, its comments.</p>
<details class="faq-item c4-tool-description">
<summary class="faq-header" aria-label="Full description for read_file_content">Full description</summary>

<pre class="faq-answer c4-description-text">Call this tool to fetch a natural language representation of a known Drive file, and if specified, its comments.

REQUIREMENTS &amp; WORKFLOW:
 - `fileId` is required. You MUST pass an exact Drive file ID returned by a previous discovery tool (`search_files` or `list_recent_files`) or provided explicitly in the user prompt.
 - NEVER guess, invent, or hallucinate a `fileId` string from a file title or name.
 - If given a file title, name, or topic without an explicit `fileId`, you MUST FIRST call `search_files` to find the file and retrieve its `fileId` before invoking this tool.

The file content may be incomplete for very large files. The text representation will change over time, so don't make assumptions about the particular format of the text returned by this tool. If supported and specified, comment tags will be included in the content.

Supported Mime Types:

 - `application/vnd.google-apps.document` (supports comments)
 - `application/vnd.google-apps.presentation` (supports comments)
 - `application/vnd.google-apps.spreadsheet` (supports comments)
 - `application/pdf`&#32;
 - `application/msword`&#32;
 - `application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document`&#32;
 - `application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet`&#32;
 - `application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.presentationml.presentation`&#32;
 - `application/vnd.oasis.opendocument.spreadsheet`&#32;
 - `application/vnd.oasis.opendocument.presentation`&#32;
 - `application/x-vnd.oasis.opendocument.text`&#32;
 - `image/png`&#32;
 - `image/jpeg`&#32;
 - `image/jpg`&#32;

If the file is not found, try using other tools like `search_files` to find the file the user is requesting using keywords.</pre>
</details>
</div>

<div data-tool-name="search_files" data-tool-class="read">
<code>search_files</code>
<p class="c4-description-summary">Search for Drive files using a structured query (syntax: query_term operator values).</p>
<details class="faq-item c4-tool-description">
<summary class="faq-header" aria-label="Full description for search_files">Full description</summary>

<pre class="faq-answer c4-description-text">Search for Drive files using a structured query (syntax: `query_term operator values`). Only terms in this list are supported.
Combine clauses with `and`, `or`, `not`, and parentheses. String values must be single-quoted; escape embedded quotes as `\'`.
Context window token management can be tuned via `snippetVerbosity` (default is `SnippetVerbosity.DETAILED`) or if only metadata is needed, use `excludeContentSnippets`.

Do NOT include document type terms (e.g., 'presentation', 'slides', 'deck', 'document', 'doc', 'spreadsheet', 'sheet', 'pdf', 'folder') inside `title contains '...'` or `fullText contains '...'` clauses. Separate title keywords from file type terms. Instead map them to `mimeType` clauses in the query (e.g., 'slides' -&gt; `mimeType = 'application/vnd.google-apps.presentation'`).

Query terms &amp; operators:

 - `title` (ops: contains, =, !=) — file title
 - `fullText` (ops: contains) — title or body text
 - `mimeType` (ops: contains, =, !=) — MIME type
 - `modifiedTime`, `viewedByMeTime`, `createdTime` (ops: `&lt;=`, `&lt;`, `=`, `!=`, `&gt;`, `&gt;=`). Use RFC 3339 UTC, e.g., `2012-06-04T12:00:00-08:00`. Date types not comparable.
 - `parentId` (ops: `=`, `!=`). Use `'root'` for the user's &quot;My Drive&quot;.
 - `owner` (ops: `=`, `!=`). Use `'me'` for the requesting user.
 - `sharedWithMe` (ops: `=`, `!=`). Values: `true` or `false`.

Other operators: `and`, `or`, `not`.

Examples:

 - `title contains 'hello' and title contains 'goodbye'`
 - `modifiedTime &gt; '2024-01-01T00:00:00Z' and (mimeType contains 'image/' or mimeType contains 'video/')`
 - `parentId = '1234567'`
 - `fullText contains 'hello'`
 - `owner = 'test@example.org'`
 - `sharedWithMe = true`
 - `owner = 'me'` (for files owned by the user)

Use `next_page_token` to paginate. An empty response means no more results.</pre>
</details>
</div>

### Write (2)

<div data-tool-name="copy_file" data-tool-class="write">
<code>copy_file</code>
<p class="c4-description-summary">Call this tool to copy an existing File in Google Drive.</p>
<details class="faq-item c4-tool-description">
<summary class="faq-header" aria-label="Full description for copy_file">Full description</summary>

<pre class="faq-answer c4-description-text">Call this tool to copy an existing File in Google Drive.
The tool allows specifying a new title and a parent folder for the copy.
If the title is not specified, the copy title will be 'Copy of {original title}'.
If the parent folder is not specified, the copy will be created in the same folder as the original file, unless the requesting user does not have write access to that folder, in which case the copy will be created in the user's root folder.Returns the newly created File object upon successful copying.</pre>
</details>
</div>

<div data-tool-name="create_file" data-tool-class="write">
<code>create_file</code>
<p class="c4-description-summary">Call this tool to create or upload a File to Google Drive.</p>
<details class="faq-item c4-tool-description">
<summary class="faq-header" aria-label="Full description for create_file">Full description</summary>

<pre class="faq-answer c4-description-text">Call this tool to create or upload a File to Google Drive.

If uploading content, prefer `textContent` for text content. For non-UTF8 contents, use the `base64Content` field and base64 encode the data to set on that field.

Returns a single File object upon successful creation.

The following Google first-party mime types can be created without providing content:

 - `application/vnd.google-apps.document`&#32;
 - `application/vnd.google-apps.spreadsheet`&#32;
 - `application/vnd.google-apps.presentation`&#32;

Folders can be created by setting the mime type to `application/vnd.google-apps.folder`.

When uploading content, the `contentMimeType` field is required and should match the type of the content being uploaded.

By default, supported content will be converted to Google first-party mime types.

To disable conversions for first-party mime types, set `disableConversionToGoogleType` to true.</pre>
</details>
</div>

This list describes the reviewed tools. Your selected method, provider access and action permissions determine what agents can use.

These lists show actions from a connected account when the list was recorded. On this website, evidence that an action changes data or submits information elsewhere puts it in Write, even when the account originally grouped it as Read. The original account grouping is retained separately. Read describes the reviewed evidence; it does not guarantee that an action has no side effects. Account groupings and available actions can change.

Only actions active on the connected account when this list was recorded are shown. Disabled actions were unavailable, and actions held for review needed to be enabled. This list does not establish their current availability.



### Connection policies

Discovered actions follow the connection’s policies. Review their permissions and set actions to Ask first or Off as needed. Creating and copying require Read & create. Delete, move, rename and sharing changes are not exposed.

## Google Drive connector FAQ

### Can I require approval for actions?

Set an action to Ask first to require human approval of each call or Off to prevent calls. Allowed actions run without approval. Read and Write grouping is separate from these settings.

### What can agents reach in Google Drive?

Agents reach files the authorizing account can open, including shared-drive content it can access. Paperclip has no file or folder picker.

### What do I need before connecting?

Use a registered Google Workspace account. Google Workspace Developer Preview registration is required. Use Connect with Paperclip where offered or configure your own Google OAuth app using the setup guide.


Ways to connect

- Connect with Paperclip
  - Read only: Use Paperclip-managed OAuth for read-only Drive access.
  - Read & create: Use Paperclip-managed OAuth for Drive read and create access.
- Use your own Google OAuth app
  - Read only: Use your own Google OAuth app for read-only Drive access.
  - Read & create: Use your own Google OAuth app for Drive read and create access.

[Google Drive connector](https://docs.paperclip.ing/connectors/google-drive/)

[Set action permissions](https://docs.paperclip.ing/connectors/action-permissions/)

## Related connectors

- [Box](https://paperclip.ing/product/connectors/box/): Search files, read their content and add comments.
- [Cloudinary](https://paperclip.ing/product/connectors/cloudinary/): Find media assets and update their metadata and tags.
- [Google Docs](https://paperclip.ing/product/connectors/google-docs/): Read the text and structure of a known document.

## Give your agents Google Drive.

Join the Paperclip waitlist to connect Google Drive and choose what your agents can do.

[Join the waitlist](https://paperclip.ing/waitlist/)