# General Translation Integrations: Connection
URL: https://generaltranslation.com/en-GB/docs/integrations/google-drive/reference/connection.mdx
---
title: Connection
description: Connect a Project to Google Drive with a personal Google account or an Organisation shared drive. Reference for Google Drive connection modes, scopes and permissions.

---

The connection mode determines which identity the integration uses, which files it can browse and who must authorise it. Both modes can be connected from **Project > Integrations > Catalogue**.

## Overview [#overview]

| Topic                                        | Description                                                  |
| -------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------ |
| [Access modes](#access-modes)                | Personal account and Organisation shared drive connections.  |
| [Personal account](#personal-account)        | OAuth authorisation for files selected by a user.            |
| [Organisation shared drive](#shared-drive)   | Shared translation account managed by an Organization admin. |
| [Required Drive capabilities](#capabilities) | What the active identity must be able to do in Drive.        |
| [Plan and permissions](#gating)              | Requirements for connecting and translating.                 |
| [Switching modes](#switching)                | When a Project can change its connection mode.               |
| [Disconnecting](#disconnecting)              | What remains after credentials are removed.                  |

## Modes d’accès [#access-modes]

| Mode                            | Identité                                              | Fichiers disponibles                                                                                         |
| ------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| Compte personnel                | Chaque utilisateur autorise son propre compte Google. | Les Google Docs et Google Slides sélectionnés par l’utilisateur via le Google Picker.                     |
| Organisation shared drive | Un translation account de l’organisation.            | Les Google Docs et Google Slides présents dans les shared drives auxquels le translation account a accès. |

Le Dashboard demande quel mode utiliser uniquement lorsque l’organisation dispose d’une connexion vérifiée et active à un shared drive, dans le cadre d’un plan incluant l’accès aux shared drives. Sinon, le projet utilise des comptes personnels.

## Personal account [#personal-account]

Each user clicks **Connect account** on the integration's management page and completes Google authorisation. The integration requests:

* `openid`
* `https://www.googleapis.com/auth/drive.file`

The `drive.file` scope limits access to files selected through the Google Picker and to translated copies created by the integration, rather than the account's entire Drive. The connection can be used only once Google returns that scope along with a refresh token.

## Organisation shared drive [#shared-drive]

An Organization admin sets up this connection once from **Organization > Connections**: click **Add connection**, then **Set up** for Google Drive. The Dashboard provisions a translation account and displays its email address. Add that email address to each permitted shared drive as a **Content manager**, then return to the Dashboard and click **Verify access**.

The translation account uses the `https://www.googleapis.com/auth/drive` scope to browse its configured shared drives. A Project can select this mode only while the connection is **Active**.

Files added in this mode must be stored in a shared drive. Files in **My Drive** are rejected.

## Required Drive capabilities [#capabilities]

Whichever identity is active must be able to:

* Read and copy each source Google Doc or Google Slides presentation.
* Create the translated copy alongside the source file.
* Edit that copy on later runs.

If the source cannot be copied, that file and language fail while the rest continue. A translated copy that is readable but not editable also fails, because the integration stops rather than creating an unrelated duplicate. If the recorded copy has been deleted or moved to the bin, the integration treats it as stale and creates a replacement on the next run.

## Plan and permissions [#gating]

| Action                                 | Permission                   | Plan feature         |
| -------------------------------------- | ---------------------------- | -------------------- |
| Connect the Project integration        | `project:write`              | Project integrations |
| Add, remove, or translate files        | `translations:content:write` | Project integrations |
| Configure an Organisation shared drive | `org:manage`                 | Google shared drives |

Without the Project integrations feature, the catalogue displays an upgrade prompt instead of the connection controls. Without the required permission, the corresponding action is unavailable.

## Switching modes [#switching]

A Project cannot switch from an Organisation shared drive to personal accounts while shared drive files are still linked. Remove those files first, then reconnect the integration with personal access.

## Disconnecting [#disconnecting]

* **Disconnect account** removes one user's stored Google credentials. The Project keeps its linked files, but that user cannot translate them until they reconnect. Other members retain access through their own accounts.
* **Disconnect** on the Organization connection removes the shared drive translation credentials. Projects using it lose access to Drive until an Organization admin configures it again.

Neither action deletes source files or translated copies from Google Drive. Removing a linked file from the integration also leaves both untouched in Drive.