# General Translation Integrations: Connection
URL: https://generaltranslation.com/en-GB/docs/integrations/google-drive/reference/connection.mdx
Docs index: https://generaltranslation.com/llms.txt
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 a user can open.               |
| [Organisation shared drive](#shared-drive)   | Shared translation account managed by an Organisation 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.                  |

## Access modes [#access-modes]

| Mode                      | Identity                                       | Available files                                                                      |
| ------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| Personal account          | Each user authorises their own Google account. | Google Docs and Google Slides that user can open.                                    |
| Organisation shared drive | One Organisation translation account.          | Google Docs and Google Slides in shared drives that include the translation account. |

The Dashboard asks which mode to use only when the Organisation has a verified, active shared drive connection on a plan that includes shared drive access. Otherwise the project uses personal accounts.

## 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`

The full Drive scope lets the integration reach a document opened from the Google Docs or Google Slides add-on as well as files selected through the Dashboard. The integration translates only supported files you choose or explicitly open through those surfaces.

Connections created before this scope change can retain the narrower `https://www.googleapis.com/auth/drive.file` grant. They continue to work for files selected through the Dashboard, but the integration asks you to reconnect before it can translate another document opened from an add-on. A connection can be used only when Google returns a supported Drive scope along with a refresh token.

## Organisation shared drive [#shared-drive]

An Organisation 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                  |
| ------------------------------------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------- |
| Connect the project integration                  | `project:write`                                                                                                                                 | Starter or Enterprise |
| Connect or reconnect a personal Google account   | `translations:content:write` displays the Dashboard controls; `project:files:write` and `project:translations:enqueue` authorise the connection | Starter or Enterprise |
| Add, remove, or translate files in the Dashboard | `project:files:write` and `project:translations:enqueue`                                                                                        | Starter or Enterprise |
| Configure an Organisation shared drive           | `org:manage`                                                                                                                                    | Enterprise            |

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.

The [Google Drive MCP tools](/docs/integrations/google-drive/reference/mcp-tools) use project file and translation-queue permissions instead of the Dashboard translation-content permission.

## 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 Organisation connection removes the shared drive translation credentials. Projects using it lose access to Drive until an Organisation 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.

## Sitemap

See the full [sitemap](https://generaltranslation.com/sitemap.md) for all pages.