# General Translation Integrations: Managing translations
URL: https://generaltranslation.com/en-US/docs/integrations/google-drive/guides/managing-translations.mdx
---

title: Managing translations
description: "How to keep Google Drive translations up to date with General Translation: this guide covers applying source changes, forcing retranslation, reconnecting access, and unlinking files."
related:
  links:
    - /docs/integrations/google-drive/guides/translating-content

---

After the first translation, use the Google Drive integration to update the existing locale copies. General Translation reuses reviewed translations by default and offers **Force retranslate** when you need a clean pass.

## Apply source changes [#apply-changes]

When a source Google Doc or Google Slides file changes:

1. Open **Project > Integrations > Google Drive**.
2. Select the changed files.
3. Choose the target locales.
4. Click **Apply changes**.

General Translation reads the latest source and the existing target copy. It reuses existing translated content where possible, translates new or changed content, and updates that same target copy.

If the source and target structures have drifted, the integration applies content that still has a matching location. Review the copy after each update, especially when slides, tables, or other structural elements changed.

## Force retranslate [#force]

Use **Force retranslate** when you want to discard reusable translations and generate the selected file-locales again from scratch.

1. Select at least one file that has a translated version.
2. Check **Force retranslate**.
3. Click **Retranslate**.
4. Confirm **Force retranslate** in the warning dialog.

Force retranslation overwrites translated content and any layout changes in the target copy, and it incurs additional usage. The Dashboard asks for confirmation before every forced run. The checkbox remains selected for later runs until you clear it.

## Manage Drive access [#drive-access]

Access depends on the mode selected when the Project integration was connected:

- **Personal accounts:** each user connects a Google account. The integration can access files that the user selected and files it created. If access expires or the required permission is missing, click **Connect account** again.
- **Organization shared drives:** an Organization admin manages one shared drive connection under **Organization > Settings > Integrations**. The Project can only browse shared drives available to that connection.

The Google account or Organization connection must be able to edit an existing locale copy. If a copy cannot be edited, General Translation stops that file-locale instead of creating an unrelated duplicate.

## Unlink a source file [#unlink]

Open the file's menu and choose **Remove** to unlink it from the Project integration.

Unlinking does not delete the source file or any translated copies from Google Drive. You can add the source file again later.

## Next steps

- /docs/integrations/google-drive/guides/translating-content