Google Drive MCP Server is an official implementation of the Model Context Protocol that creates a secure bridge between AI assistants and Google Drive cloud storage. Developed by the Model Context Protocol team, this server empowers AI models to interact with Google Drive files through natural language, providing capabilities for listing, reading, and searching files stored in Google Drive.
The server intelligently handles different file formats, automatically converting Google Workspace files (like Docs, Sheets, and Presentations) into formats that are easily processable by AI models. This capability significantly enhances AI assistants' ability to work with cloud-stored documents without requiring users to download or convert files manually.
As part of the broader Model Context Protocol infrastructure, this server exemplifies how AI capabilities can be extended to interact with popular cloud services, creating powerful workflows that combine AI intelligence with cloud-based document management.
Features
Powerful file search functionality with customizable queries
Direct file content reading from Google Drive by file ID
File listing and directory navigation
Automatic file format conversion for Google Workspace files:
Google Docs → Markdown
Google Sheets → CSV
Google Presentations → Plain text
Google Drawings → PNG
Native format support for other file types
Text and JSON file rendering as UTF-8 text
File metadata retrieval (name, type, ID, modification time, size)
Enhanced implementations offering Google Sheets read/write capabilities
Secure OAuth 2.0 authentication
Read-only access by default (for security)
Use cases
Document research and analysis across large Google Drive repositories
Generating summaries of multiple documents stored in the cloud
Extracting and analyzing data from Google Sheets without manual downloads
Assisting with file organization and management in Google Drive
Building knowledge bases from cloud-stored documentation
Creating automated reports from Google Drive content
Enabling natural language queries against document libraries
Supporting research workflows with direct access to reference materials
Facilitating data analysis projects with access to cloud-stored datasets
Enhancing productivity tools with AI-powered document interaction
Tools
search - Search for files in Google Drive with customizable queries
Resource access to Google Drive files via gdrive:/// format
Automatic file conversion for supported Google Workspace formats
Integration complexity
3/5 - Requires setup of Google Cloud project and OAuth configuration, but well-documented with clear steps for different deployment options.
Setup Guide
Prerequisites
Google account with access to Google Drive
Node.js (v16 or higher) installed on your system
Basic familiarity with command line operations
Claude Desktop, Cursor, or other MCP-compatible host application
Google Cloud Project Setup
Create a Google Cloud Project
Visit the Google Cloud Console
Click "New Project"
Enter a project name (e.g., "MCP GDrive Server")
Click "Create" and wait for the project to be created
Enable the Google Drive API
In your Google Cloud project, go to the API Library
Search for "Google Drive API"
Click on "Google Drive API" in the results
Click "Enable" and wait for activation
Configure OAuth Consent Screen
Navigate to "OAuth consent screen" in the left sidebar
Select User Type ("Internal" for Google Workspace users, "External" for personal accounts)
