What is the Claude Google Drive connector? Connecting Drive, supported files, pricing and security

You connect Drive with your Google account from Customize › Connectors; Claude then searches your Drive and reads and summarizes documents, spreadsheets, presentations and PDFs. You can also add a file you pick to a chat or a private project. It is an official connection; Claude works only when you ask for something and only within your own Drive permissions. Creating, uploading, sharing and trashing files are also in the directory listing. Anthropic's pages contradict each other on which plans include it and whether it reads Docs comments; this guide shows both versions clearly.

What it does: Lets Claude search your Drive and read documents
Type: Official connector (remote MCP)
Reads: Docs, Sheets, Slides, PDF, images, Office files
Writes: Create, upload, share, trash (with approval)
Where: Claude web, desktop, mobile; Claude Code
Turkish: No connector-specific commitment
Price: Plan requirement unclear

ClaudeIllustrative view

XLSXq3-budget · Google SheetsRead the Q3 budget spreadsheet in my Drive; which line items are over plan?

I read the spreadsheet:

Ad spend is over plan.
Software subscriptions are under plan.
Travel is within plan.

Searching and reading Drive files is the connector's core job.

What does Claude's Google Drive connector do?

The connector is an official connection that gives Claude access to your Google Drive account. Once connected, you can have Claude search your Drive for a document whose exact name you don't remember, read it and summarize it; you can add the files you pick to a chat or a project. In the Claude directory the connector's maker is Google and it carries the "Anthropic verified" label. Google's remote MCP server runs behind it (MCP is the standard AI programs use to connect to outside services).

YouYou ask about a file

AssistantClaude web, desktop, mobile; Claude Code

Google Drive connectorRemote MCP, with your Google account

Your DriveDocs, Sheets, Slides, PDF, images, Office

Write actions (create, upload, share, trash) require approval.

Search and summarize Drive filesWhat you get: An answer with links to the source filesNeeds a connection Add a Drive file to a chatWhat you get: A chat that uses the file's current contentNeeds a connection Create and save files to DriveWhat you get: A new file or folder in DriveNeeds a connection

In its answer, Claude states which files it drew on and links to the originals when possible.

Who it helps: anyone whose Drive has piled up with documents, proposals, spreadsheets and presentations: consultants, business owners, teachers, team leads.

How do you connect Google Drive to Claude?

You connect once, and the browser asks you to sign in with your Google account. The steps come from Claude's help pages.

Open claude.ai or Claude Desktop and go to Customize then Connectors.
Find Google Drive and click Connect; sign in with your Google account and approve the permissions.
Once connected, the Connect button turns into Disconnect. In a chat, check that the Google Drive toggle is on under + › Connectors.

First connect Drive on claude.ai (Customize then Connectors).
In Claude Code, sign in with your Claude account (/login); the connectors come over automatically. List them with /mcp.

In sessions running on an API key or a cloud provider sign-in, claude.ai connectors are not loaded; check the active sign-in with /status.

First try"Find the three most recent documents in my Drive that contain the word "proposal" and list the amount and delivery date for each."

Which files can Claude read from Drive?

DOCXWord filesXLSXExcel filesPPTXPowerPoint filesPDFPDFPNGImage files

The Help Center says the connector can search and retrieve Google Docs and can read Sheets, Slides, PDFs, images and Microsoft Office files. The cases below show the limits.

Document textYes	Claude extracts text from the Drive file.
Images embedded in a documentNo	Claude does not process images inside a document. An image file (such as PNG or JPG) can be read on its own.
Docs comments and suggested editsUnclear	The Help Center says Claude can see comments and suggestions; the Drive page in Claude Docs says it cannot read them. Not certain: paste an important comment into the chat yourself.
Very large filesPartly	Claude Docs notes that for a very large file, the content Claude receives may be incomplete. Splitting the file or adding just the relevant section helps.
Shared drivesUnclear	The official pages don't mention shared drives at all. If a file on a shared drive isn't found, try copying it to your own drive.

Can Claude create, share or delete files in Drive?

The Help Center and the connector directory also list write actions. By default, Claude asks for your approval before doing them; on Team and Enterprise, owners decide whether members can run them without approval.

Action	What the sources say
Creating and uploading files	Any file type can be uploaded and, if you want, converted to Google format. Folders can be created.
Saving a file Claude generated to Drive	Available if code execution and file creation are turned on.
Updating and copying files	In the directory's tool list (update_file, copy_file).
Sharing and moving	Available; by default asks for approval before each one.
Moving to trash	Available (trash_file); asks for approval by default. No permanent-delete tool appears.
Checking permissions and listing recent changes	Available.

Check the tools on your account. See which tools are defined under Customize then Connectors then Google Drive then Tool permissions.
Turn off what you don't want. Set the sharing, moving and move-to-trash tools to "Needs approval" or "Blocked".

Sharing opens access to a Drive file to other people. Read the recipient and permission type Claude proposes before you approve.

Google's own reference page lists 8 tools for Drive and does not include the update, share or move-to-trash tools; the Claude directory lists 11 tools. The two lists describe different routes.

Where does the Drive connector work?

In Claude (web, desktop, mobile)Have Claude search and read your Drive files in a chat, or add them to a chat or project.Web, Desktop, Mobile · Google account; plan requirement unclear; on team accounts an admin enables it first · details

Claude CodeUse the connectors you connected on Claude.ai inside a Claude Code session.Terminal, Code editor · Sign in with your Claude account; not loaded when you sign in with an API key or a cloud provider · details

Google's own MCP server (Developer Preview)Instead of the ready-made connector, connect manually to Google's Drive MCP server with your own Google Cloud project.Web, Desktop, Terminal, Code editor · Developer route: Developer Preview membership, a Google Cloud project, your own OAuth client · details

Places named in the official documentation: Claude (web), Claude Desktop, the mobile app (after connecting on web or desktop), Cowork and Claude Code (if you signed in with your claude.ai account). This page says nothing about assistants other than Claude (ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot); their Drive connections are covered on their own help pages.

What can Claude see and change in my Drive?

Reads

The content of files you search for or add to a chat
File details, permission lists and recent changes
Only files your own Drive permissions cover

Writes and deletes

Creating, uploading, updating, copying, sharing, moving and trashing files are in the directory listing. By default it asks for approval before write actions; no permanent-delete tool appears.

Which account, which permissions

Claude accesses only the Drive data of the Google account you connected and cannot go beyond your existing permissions in Google. It works only when you ask for something and with the minimum information needed.

Per-tool permissions

Under Customize then Connectors then Google Drive then Tool permissions you can set each tool or tool group to "Always allow", "Needs approval" or "Blocked".

A file you lose access to

If you lose access to a file, you can no longer see its content in the chats you added it to; the preview disappears but the chat history stays.

Both Anthropic and Google warn that an AI session can be steered by instructions hidden inside untrusted files (prompt injection). When you have Claude read files shared by people you don't know, keep the write and share tools on approval. The "Verified" label is not a security audit.

Is the Google Drive connector free?

No official page lists a separate charge for the connector. Which Claude plans include it is unclear across the sources. A Google account is required.

Source	What it says
Claude Help Center (Google Workspace connectors)	The Gmail, Calendar and Drive connectors are for "all users" on Claude and Claude Desktop
Claude Docs: Google Drive page	Does not list plans
Claude Docs: Gmail and Calendar pages	Say Pro, Max, Team and Enterprise plans (no such sentence for Drive)
Claude pricing page	The "Connectors" row says "Yes" for Free, Pro and Max; the row is general, not specific to Drive
Google's own MCP route (manual setup)	Requires an Enterprise, Pro, Max or Team plan on the Claude side

Open the Customize then Connectors list on your account and look for Google Drive.
If you see a Connect button, try connecting.
On Team and Enterprise, if Drive is not in the list, the Owner or Primary Owner has not enabled the connector for the organization.

This guide does not say whether the Drive connector is or isn't on the free plan; the sources don't make it clear.

Does the Drive connector work with Turkish documents?

Reading and summarizing Turkish documentsUnclear	The official sources make no connector-specific commitment for Turkish. Claude's help page says in general that it replies in the language you write in.
Claude's interface languageUnclear	Claude's official language page (August 6, 2026) does not list Turkish; the Claude guide notes that a Turkish menu was seen in the settings of a paid account on October 14, 2026.
Access from TurkeyYes	Turkey is on Anthropic's list of supported regions (page dated May 12, 2026). The official pages show no connector-specific restriction for Turkey.

Does Claude support Turkish? (Claude guide)

What happens to my Drive data? Training, retention

Model training

Anthropic states that it does not train its models on Gmail, Drive and Calendar connector data. Exception: if you allowed model improvement on a consumer plan, content you copy from the connector and paste into a chat may be used for training.

Retention and deletion

Data retrieved through the connector is stored, encrypted, on Anthropic's servers together with the related chat. Deleting the chat also deletes the retrieved data.

Where the data goes

Connected services process data on their own infrastructure under their own terms; this may be outside the United States. Transfers are encrypted.

One Google account

Reported by users Users report that connecting a second Google account replaces the first. The official page says "the Google account you connect" and does not state a limit explicitly.

For documents that belong to clients or other people, first check your organization's data rules and your obligations under data protection law (in Turkey, KVKK, the Personal Data Protection Law). This is not legal advice.

Common problems and fixes

What happens	What to do
I connected it, but Claude doesn't use Drive	In each chat, check that the Google Drive toggle is on under + › Connectors. On a team account, the Owner must have added the connector. Reported by users Users report the connector not appearing in unattended tasks and scheduled jobs.
"You may need to reconnect with your Google Drive account" error	Customize then Connectors then Google Drive then Disconnect (Disconnect again in the confirmation). Google will ask you to sign in again next time. If that doesn't fix it, find Claude at myaccount.google.com/connections and choose "Delete all connections".
"Access blocked: your institution's admin needs to review Claude for Google Drive"	The Google Workspace admin must mark Claude as "Trusted" (admin.google.com › Security › Access and data control › API controls › Manage third-party app access); wait about 15 minutes.
Drive isn't in the list on a team account	The Owner must add Drive to the organization under Organization settings then Connectors; then each member connects their own account.
"Add from Google Drive" is grayed out in a shared project	A Drive file can be added only to a private (unshared) project.
A very large file's content comes through incomplete	Splitting the file, or adding the relevant section separately and asking about it, may solve it.
Claude doesn't see the images in a document	Expected behavior: the connector extracts text from document files and does not process embedded images.
Drive doesn't show up in Claude Code	Connect Drive on claude.ai, sign in to Claude Code with your Claude account via `/login`, and confirm with `/status` that the active sign-in is your claude.ai subscription.
The Docs, Sheets or Slides live-editing pane won't open	This feature is in beta and works through three separate connectors; the pane works in Claude on the web in Chrome and in Claude Desktop with its built-in browser turned on. If not, open the file in your normal browser with "Open in Google" on the file card.

How do you disconnect Drive?

Disconnect in Claude. Customize then Connectors then Google Drive then Disconnect; click Disconnect again in the confirmation window.
To turn it off in just one chat, switch off the Google Drive toggle under + › Connectors in that chat.
Revoke the permission on the Google side. Find the Claude connection at myaccount.google.com/connections, open its settings and choose "Delete all connections".

Once you disconnect, Claude loses access to Drive; your files stay in Drive. The retrieved content of Drive files you added to chats is stored with those chats, so if you want it deleted, delete the related chats too.

What can it do? Feature map

The list below shows each task separately. Because the plan requirement is unclear in the official sources, the price lines say "Plan requirement unclear"; each line shows how to check on your own account.

Find and read

Find a document in your Drive whose exact name you don't remember, then have Claude read and summarize itRequires a connectionPlan terms not clearAn answer with links to the source files · Plan requirement is unclear in the official sources; the Help Center says all usersWhat you can do: In Claude, find Google Drive in the Customize then Connectors list; if you see a Connect button, try connecting. On Team and Enterprise, if it is not in the list, an admin has not enabled the connector
Add the Drive files you pick to a chat or to a project's knowledge, and use their latest version as they changeRequires a connectionPlan terms not clearA chat that uses the file's current content · Can be added to projects only in private (unshared) projects; the files must fit in the chat's context windowWhat you can do: In Claude, find Google Drive in the Customize then Connectors list; if you see a Connect button, try connecting. On Team and Enterprise, if it is not in the list, an admin has not enabled the connector

Create

Have Claude create a new file in Drive, upload a file, or save a file Claude generated to DriveRequires a connectionPlan terms not clearA new file or folder in Drive · To save a file Claude generated, code execution and file creation must be turned onWhat you can do: In Claude, find Google Drive in the Customize then Connectors list; if you see a Connect button, try connecting. On Team and Enterprise, if it is not in the list, an admin has not enabled the connector

Sharing and deleting

Have Claude check who a file is shared with, share a file with people, or move itRequires a connectionPlan terms not clearA permission list or a shared file · Help Center: by default, Claude asks for approval first before sharing or movingWhat you can do: In Claude, find Google Drive in the Customize then Connectors list; if you see a Connect button, try connecting. On Team and Enterprise, if it is not in the list, an admin has not enabled the connector
Have Claude move a file to the trashRequires a connectionPlan terms not clearA file moved to the trash · The directory listing includes a move-to-trash tool; no permanent-delete tool appears; asks for approval by defaultWhat you can do: Look for the move-to-trash tool (trash_file) under Customize then Connectors then Google Drive then Tool permissions; set it to "Blocked" if you don't want it

Labels: "Requires a connection" means linking another account or app; "Requires separate setup" means installing a separate program. Pricing is listed per feature; a product having a free plan doesn't mean every feature is free. Compiled from official sources on October 14, 2026.

Often confused: the Docs, Sheets and Slides connectors, Google's own Drive MCP, ChatGPT

What	What it does
Claude's Google Drive connector (this page)	Search, read, upload and share in Drive; add a file to a chat or project.
Docs, Sheets and Slides connectors (beta)	Three connectors separate from the Drive connector: you edit a Google file together with Claude in a pane next to the chat. Drive keeps handling search, upload and sharing. You turn these connectors on under + › Connectors in the chat.
Claude for Google Docs, Sheets, Slides add-on	A beta add-on installed from the Google Workspace Marketplace that opens inside the file; Claude's help page describes it separately from the Drive connector.
Google's own Drive MCP server (Developer Preview)	Developer route: set up manually as a custom connector with Developer Preview Program membership, a Google Cloud project and your own OAuth client. Google's documentation requires an Enterprise, Pro, Max or Team plan on the Claude side.

Drive connections in ChatGPT, Gemini and other assistants are not the topic of this page; each one's terms are on its own help page. Don't confuse them with Claude's.

ChatGPT guide

Frequently asked questions

What is Claude's Google Drive connector and what does it do?

An official connection that lets Claude search your Drive and read and summarize documents, spreadsheets, presentations and PDFs. You connect it with your Google account from Customize > Connectors, and it works only within your own Drive permissions.

Can I connect Drive to ChatGPT or another assistant too?

This connector belongs to Claude. Drive connections in assistants such as ChatGPT and Gemini are separate products, and their terms are on their own help pages. Claude Code uses the same connection if you signed in with your claude.ai account.

How do I connect Google Drive to Claude?

Open Customize > Connectors, find Google Drive, click Connect, sign in with your Google account and approve the permissions. On a team account, the Owner first adds Drive to the organization from Organization settings > Connectors.

The Drive connector isn't working. What should I do?

First check that Drive is turned on under + > Connectors in the chat. For a "Reconnect" error, disconnect via Customize > Connectors > Google Drive > Disconnect and connect again. For an "Access blocked" error, the Google Workspace admin must mark Claude as Trusted.

Which Drive files can Claude read?

The Help Center says it can search and retrieve Google Docs and read Sheets, Slides, PDFs, images and Microsoft Office files. It extracts text from documents; it does not process images embedded in a document. With a very large file the content may come through incomplete.

Is it safe to give Claude access to my Drive, and what does it see?

Claude accesses only the Drive data of the Google account you connected, works only when you ask for something, and does not go beyond your permissions in Google. Anthropic and Google warn about hidden instructions in untrusted files (prompt injection); this is not a security certification.

Does Claude change or delete files in Drive?

The directory listing includes tools for creating, uploading, updating, copying, sharing, moving and trashing files; by default it asks for approval before write actions. No permanent-delete tool appears. Set any tool you don't want to Blocked in the Tool permissions list.

How do I disconnect Drive?

Customize > Connectors > Google Drive > Disconnect. On the Google side, finding Claude at myaccount.google.com/connections and choosing Delete all connections fully revokes the permission. Your files stay in Drive.

Is the Google Drive connector free?

There is no separate charge for the connector. Which plans include it is unclear: the Help Center says all users, the Drive page lists no plans, and the Gmail and Calendar pages say Pro and above. If you can see Drive in the Customize > Connectors list on your account and connect it, you can use it.

How do I add a Drive file to a chat or project?

In a chat, + > Add from Google Drive; in a project, Files > + > Drive. You search for the file by name, pick it from recent files or paste its URL. Files can be added to projects only in private (unshared) projects.

If my Drive file changes, does Claude see the latest version?

Yes. A Google file added to a chat or project syncs from Drive; changes you make in Drive later are reflected in Claude too.

Does Claude see comments and images in documents?

It does not see embedded images. Anthropic's pages contradict each other on Docs comments: the Help Center says it can see them, Claude Docs says it cannot read them. Paste an important comment into the chat yourself.

Are my Drive files used to train Claude?

Anthropic states that it does not train models on Gmail, Drive and Calendar connector data. Exception: if you allowed training on a consumer plan, content you copy from the connector and paste into a chat may be used.

Who turns on Drive for a team account?

On Team and Enterprise, an Owner or Primary Owner adds Drive to the organization under Organization settings > Connectors. Each member then signs in with their own Google account. The Owner can also limit tool permissions across the organization.

Can I access Drive in Claude Code?

If you connect Drive on claude.ai and sign in to Claude Code with your Claude account, the connectors come over automatically. They are not loaded in sessions running on an API key or a cloud provider sign-in.

Will Claude read Turkish documents from Drive and reply in Turkish?

The official sources make no connector-specific commitment for Turkish. Claude's help page says in general that it replies in the language you write in; with Turkish documents, test the results on a few files first.

Can Claude edit a Google Docs, Sheets or Slides file at the same time as me?

Yes, but the separate Docs, Sheets and Slides connectors (beta) do this, not the Drive connector. The file opens in a pane next to the chat; the pane works in Claude on the web in Chrome and in Claude Desktop with its built-in browser turned on.

Related guides

Sources

Not clear in the official sources: Which Claude plans include the Drive connector (the sources are unclear) · whether it reads Docs comments and suggestions (the Help Center and Claude Docs contradict each other) · whether it sees files on shared drives (no official source says) · how well it works with Turkish documents. Each is covered in the relevant section along with what you can do.

You can do it yourself; if you’d like support

The guide is free and needs no sign-up; you can follow the steps here yourself. If you’d like professional support at some point, choose the option that fits your needs. This doesn’t affect the rankings in the guide.