> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.n8n.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.n8n.io/integrations/builtin/app-nodes/n8n-nodes-base.googledrive/file-operations.md).

# File operations

Documentation for the File operations in Google Drive node in n8n, a workflow automation platform. Includes details of operations and configuration, and links to examples and credentials information.

Use this operation to create, delete, change, and manage files in Google Drive. Refer to [Google Drive](/integrations/builtin/app-nodes/n8n-nodes-base.googledrive.md) for more information on the Google Drive node itself.

{% hint style="info" %}
**This node can be used as an AI tool**

This node can be used to enhance the capabilities of an AI agent. When used in this way, many parameters can be set automatically, or with information directed by AI - find out more in the [AI tool parameters documentation](/build/integrate-ai/ai-examples/use-ai-for-parameters.md).
{% endhint %}

## Copy a file <a href="#copy-a-file" id="copy-a-file"></a>

Use this operation to copy a file to a drive.

Enter these parameters:

* **Credential to connect with**: Create or select an existing [Google Drive credentials](/integrations/builtin/credentials/google.md).
* **Resource**: Select **File**.
* **Operation**: Select **Copy**.
* **File**: Choose a file you want to copy.
  * Select **From list** to choose the title from the dropdown list, **By URL** to enter the URL of the file, or **By ID** to enter the `fileId`.
  * You can find the `fileId` in a shareable Google Drive file URL: `https://docs.google.com/document/d/fileId/edit#gid=0`. In your Google Drive, select **Share > Copy link** to get the shareable file URL.
* **File Name**: The name to use for the new copy of the file.
* **Copy In The Same Folder**: Choose whether to copy the file to the same folder. If disabled, set the following:
  * **Parent Drive**: Select **From list** to choose the drive from the dropdown list, **By URL** to enter the URL of the drive, or **By ID** to enter the `driveId`.
  * **Parent Folder**: Select **From list** to choose the folder from the dropdown list, **By URL** to enter the URL of the folder, or **By ID** to enter the `folderId`.
  * You can find the `driveId` and `folderID` by visiting the shared drive or folder in your browser and copying the last URL component: `https://drive.google.com/drive/u/1/folders/driveId`.

### Options <a href="#options" id="options"></a>

* **Copy Requires Writer Permissions**: Select whether to enable readers and commenters to copy, print, or download the new file.
* **Description**: A short description of the file.

Refer to the [Method: files.copy | Google Drive](https://developers.google.com/drive/api/reference/rest/v2/files/copy) API documentation for more information.

## Create from text <a href="#create-from-text" id="create-from-text"></a>

Use this operation to create a new file in a drive from provided text.

Enter these parameters:

* **Credential to connect with**: Create or select an existing [Google Drive credentials](/integrations/builtin/credentials/google.md).
* **Resource**: Select **File**.
* **Operation**: Select **Create From Text**.
* **File Content**: Enter the file content to use to create the new file.
* **File Name**: The name to use for the new file.
* **Parent Drive**: Select **From list** to choose the drive from the dropdown list, **By URL** to enter the URL of the drive, or **By ID** to enter the `driveId`.
* **Parent Folder**: Select **From list** to choose the folder from the dropdown list, **By URL** to enter the URL of the folder, or **By ID** to enter the `folderId`.

You can find the `driveId` and `folderID` by visiting the shared drive or folder in your browser and copying the last URL component: `https://drive.google.com/drive/u/1/folders/driveId`.

### Options <a href="#options" id="options"></a>

* **APP Properties**: A bundle of arbitrary key-value pairs which are private to the requesting app.
* **Properties**: A bundle of arbitrary key-value pairs which are visible to all apps.
* **Keep Revision Forever**: Choose whether to set the `keepForever` field in the new head revision. This only applies to files with binary content. You can keep a maximum of 200 revisions, after which you must delete the pinned revisions.
* **OCR Language**: An [ISO 639-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_639-1) language code to help the OCR interpret the content during import.
* **Use Content As Indexable Text**: Choose whether to mark the uploaded content as indexable text.
* **Convert to Google Document**: Choose whether to create a Google Document instead of the default `.txt` format. You must enable the Google Docs API in the [Google API Console](https://console.cloud.google.com/apis/library/docs.googleapis.com) for this to work.

Refer to the [Method: files.insert | Google Drive](https://developers.google.com/drive/api/reference/rest/v2/files/insert) API documentation for more information.

## Delete a file <a href="#delete-a-file" id="delete-a-file"></a>

Use this operation to delete a file from a drive.

Enter these parameters:

* **Credential to connect with**: Create or select an existing [Google Drive credentials](/integrations/builtin/credentials/google.md).
* **Resource**: Select **File**.
* **Operation**: Select **Delete**.
* **File**: Choose a file you want to delete.
  * Select **From list** to choose the title from the dropdown list, **By URL** to enter the URL of the file, or **By ID** to enter the `fileId`.
  * You can find the `fileId` in a shareable Google Drive file URL: `https://docs.google.com/document/d/fileId/edit#gid=0`. In your Google Drive, select **Share > Copy link** to get the shareable file URL.

### Options <a href="#options" id="options"></a>

* **Delete Permanently**: Choose whether to delete the file now instead of moving it to the trash.

Refer to the [Method: files.delete | Google Drive](https://developers.google.com/drive/api/reference/rest/v2/files/delete) API documentation for more information.

## Download a file <a href="#download-a-file" id="download-a-file"></a>

Use this operation to download a file from a drive.

Enter these parameters:

* **Credential to connect with**: Create or select an existing [Google Drive credentials](/integrations/builtin/credentials/google.md).
* **Resource**: Select **File**.
* **Operation**: Select **Download**.
* **File**: Choose a file you want to download.
  * Select **From list** to choose the title from the dropdown list, **By URL** to enter the URL of the file, or **By ID** to enter the `fileId`.
  * You can find the `fileId` in a shareable Google Drive file URL: `https://docs.google.com/document/d/fileId/edit#gid=0`. In your Google Drive, select **Share > Copy link** to get the shareable file URL.

### Options <a href="#options" id="options"></a>

* **Put Output File in Field**: Choose the field name to place the binary file contents to make it available to following nodes.
* **Google File Conversion**: Choose the formats to export as when downloading Google Files:
  * **Google Docs**: Choose the export format to use when downloading Google Docs files: **HTML**, **MS Word Document**, **Open Office Document**, **PDF**, **Rich Text (rtf)**, or **Text (txt)**.
  * **Google Drawings**: Choose the export format to use when downloading Google Drawing files: **JPEG**, **PDF**, **PNG**, or **SVG**.
  * **Google Slides**: Choose the export format to use when downloading Google Slides files: **MS PowerPoint**, **OpenOffice Presentation**, or **PDF**.
  * **Google Sheets**: Choose the export format to use when downloading Google Sheets files: **CSV**, **MS Excel**, **Open Office Sheet**, or **PDF**.
* **File Name**: The name to use for the downloaded file.

Refer to the [Method: files.get | Google Drive](https://developers.google.com/drive/api/reference/rest/v2/files/get) API documentation for more information.

## Move a file <a href="#move-a-file" id="move-a-file"></a>

Use this operation to move a file to a different location in a drive.

Enter these parameters:

* **Credential to connect with**: Create or select an existing [Google Drive credentials](/integrations/builtin/credentials/google.md).
* **Resource**: Select **File**.
* **Operation**: Select **Move**.
* **File**: Choose a file you want to move.
  * Select **From list** to choose the title from the dropdown list, **By URL** to enter the URL of the file, or **By ID** to enter the `fileId`.
  * You can find the `fileId` in a shareable Google Drive file URL: `https://docs.google.com/document/d/fileId/edit#gid=0`. In your Google Drive, select **Share > Copy link** to get the shareable file URL.
* **Parent Drive**: Select **From list** to choose the drive from the dropdown list, **By URL** to enter the URL of the drive, or **By ID** to enter the `driveId`.
* **Parent Folder**: Select **From list** to choose the folder from the dropdown list, **By URL** to enter the URL of the folder, or **By ID** to enter the `folderId`.

You can find the `driveId` and `folderID` by visiting the shared drive or folder in your browser and copying the last URL component: `https://drive.google.com/drive/u/1/folders/driveId`.

Refer to the [Method: parents.insert | Google Drive](https://developers.google.com/drive/api/reference/rest/v2/parents/insert) API documentation for more information.

## Share a file <a href="#share-a-file" id="share-a-file"></a>

Use this operation to add sharing permissions to a file.

Enter these parameters:

* **Credential to connect with**: Create or select an existing [Google Drive credentials](/integrations/builtin/credentials/google.md).
* **Resource**: Select **File**.
* **Operation**: Select **Share**.
* **File**: Choose a file you want to share.
  * Select **From list** to choose the title from the dropdown list, **By URL** to enter the URL of the file, or **By ID** to enter the `fileId`.
  * You can find the `fileId` in a shareable Google Drive file URL: `https://docs.google.com/document/d/fileId/edit#gid=0`. In your Google Drive, select **Share > Copy link** to get the shareable file URL.
* **Permissions**: The permissions to add to the file:
  * **Role**: Select what users can do with the file. Can be one of **Commenter**, **File Organizer**, **Organizer**, **Owner**, **Reader**, **Writer**.
  * **Type**: Select the scope of the new permission:
    * **User**: Grant permission to a specific user, defined by entering their **Email Address**.
    * **Group**: Grant permission to a specific group, defined by entering its **Email Address**.
    * **Domain**: Grant permission to a complete domain, defined by the **Domain**.
    * **Anyone**: Grant permission to anyone. Can optionally **Allow File Discovery** to make the file discoverable through search.

### Options <a href="#options" id="options"></a>

* **Email Message**: A plain text custom message to include in the notification email.
* **Move to New Owners Root**: Available when trying to transfer ownership while sharing an item not in a shared drive. When enabled, moves the file to the new owner's My Drive root folder.
* **Send Notification Email**: Whether to send a notification email when sharing to users or groups.
* **Transfer Ownership**: Whether to transfer ownership to the specified user and downgrade the current owner to writer permissions.
* **Use Domain Admin Access**: Whether to perform the action as a domain administrator.

Refer to the [REST Resources: files | Google Drive](https://developers.google.com/drive/api/reference/rest/v2/files) API documentation for more information.

## Update a file <a href="#update-a-file" id="update-a-file"></a>

Use this operation to update a file.

Enter these parameters:

* **Credential to connect with**: Create or select an existing [Google Drive credentials](/integrations/builtin/credentials/google.md).
* **Resource**: Select **File**.
* **Operation**: Select **Update**.
* **File to Update**: Choose a file you want to update.
  * Select **From list** to choose the title from the dropdown list, **By URL** to enter the URL of the file, or **By ID** to enter the `fileId`.
  * You can find the `fileId` in a shareable Google Drive file URL: `https://docs.google.com/document/d/fileId/edit#gid=0`. In your Google Drive, select **Share > Copy link** to get the shareable file URL.
* **Change File Content**: Choose whether to send new binary data to replace the existing file content. If enabled, fill in the following:
  * **Input Data Field Name**: The name of the input field that contains the binary file data you wish to use.
* **New Updated File Name**: A new name for the file if you want to update the filename.

### Options <a href="#options" id="options"></a>

* **APP Properties**: A bundle of arbitrary key-value pairs which are private to the requesting app.
* **Properties**: A bundle of arbitrary key-value pairs which are visible to all apps.
* **Keep Revision Forever**: Choose whether to set the `keepForever` field in the new head revision. This only applies to files with binary content. You can keep a maximum of 200 revisions, after which you must delete the pinned revisions.
* **OCR Language**: An [ISO 639-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_639-1) language code to help the OCR interpret the content during import.
* **Use Content As Indexable Text**: Choose whether to mark the uploaded content as indexable text.
* **Move to Trash**: Whether to move the file to the trash. Only possible for the file owner.
* **Return Fields**: Return metadata fields about the file. Can be one or more of the following: **\[All]**, **explicitlyTrashed**, **exportLinks**, **hasThumbnail**, **iconLink**, **ID**, **Kind**, **mimeType**, **Name**, **Permissions**, **Shared**, **Spaces**, **Starred**, **thumbnailLink**, **Trashed**, **Version**, or **webViewLink**.

Refer to the [Method: files.update | Google Drive](https://developers.google.com/drive/api/reference/rest/v2/files/update) API documentation for more information.

## Upload a file <a href="#upload-a-file" id="upload-a-file"></a>

Use this operation to upload a file.

Enter these parameters:

* **Credential to connect with**: Create or select an existing [Google Drive credentials](/integrations/builtin/credentials/google.md).
* **Resource**: Select **File**.
* **Operation**: Select **Upload**.
* **Input Data Field Name**: The name of the input field that contains the binary file data you wish to use.
* **File Name**: The name to use for the new file.
* **Parent Drive**: Select **From list** to choose the drive from the dropdown list, **By URL** to enter the URL of the drive, or **By ID** to enter the `driveId`.
* **Parent Folder**: Select **From list** to choose the folder from the dropdown list, **By URL** to enter the URL of the folder, or **By ID** to enter the `folderId`.

You can find the `driveId` and `folderID` by visiting the shared drive or folder in your browser and copying the last URL component: `https://drive.google.com/drive/u/1/folders/driveId`.

### Options <a href="#options" id="options"></a>

* **APP Properties**: A bundle of arbitrary key-value pairs which are private to the requesting app.
* **Properties**: A bundle of arbitrary key-value pairs which are visible to all apps.
* **Keep Revision Forever**: Choose whether to set the `keepForever` field in the new head revision. This only applies to files with binary content. You can keep a maximum of 200 revisions, after which you must delete the pinned revisions.
* **OCR Language**: An [ISO 639-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_639-1) language code to help the OCR interpret the content during import.
* **Use Content As Indexable Text**: Choose whether to mark the uploaded content as indexable text.
* **Simplify Output**: Choose whether to return a simplified version of the response instead of including all fields.

Refer to the [Method: files.insert | Google Drive](https://developers.google.com/drive/api/reference/rest/v2/files/insert) API documentation for more information.