Connect Google Drive and Gmail

Most Drive files end up in an email: a contract for a client, a report for a manager, a design for approval. FlowMattic sends that email from Gmail when the file appears, shares it with the right person first and can export a Doc to PDF on the way. For agencies, accountants and teams that deliver work through shared folders.

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4 triggers 46 actions 7 example workflows 1 ready-made template Unlimited runs

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When this happens in Google Drive4 triggers

Do this in Gmail18 actions

1. TriggerNew File in Folder

2. ActionSend Email

When Google Drive fires New File in Folder, FlowMattic runs Send Email in Gmail with the data from that event.

You build this in the FlowMattic workflow builder on your own site. See the setup steps

Google Drive and Gmail workflows you can build

Each one uses only triggers and actions the two integrations ship today, plus FlowMattic's own tools. Where the library has a ready-made template, import it instead of building from scratch.

Email the team when a file is added to a shared folder

Uploading a report or design to a project folder sends a Gmail message with the file name and link, so nobody waits for a separate heads-up.

New File in FolderSend Email

Share a deliverable with the client and email them the link

Share File gives the client's email access to the new file, then Gmail sends them a short note with the link, so the link works the first time they click it.

New File in FolderShare FileSend Email

Prepare a Gmail draft for each new contract

Contracts deserve a human check. The workflow writes a draft to the client in your Gmail with the file link, and you read it and press send yourself.

New File in FolderCreate Draft

Tell approvers when a policy document changes

Editing a file in the policies folder emails the approvers with the file name and who changed it, which keeps sign-off on handbook and pricing documents.

Updated FileSend Email

Welcome new clients with a shared folder and template email

Creating a client folder shares it with the client and sends your onboarding template from Gmail, with the folder link and what to upload first.

New FolderShare FolderSend Template Email

Send the finished document as a PDF link

Export File to PDF turns a Google Doc into a PDF before Gmail sends the link, so clients get a fixed version that cannot be edited by mistake.

New File in FolderExport File to PDFSend Email

Email a Friday list of what was added to a folder

A Schedule runs List Files in Folder at the end of the week, and one email lists the files, which suits managers who want a summary instead of an alert each time.

ScheduleList Files in FolderData TransformerSend Email

Set up: upload alerts by Gmail

By the end, each file added to the Drive folder you pick sends an email from your Gmail account.

Connect Google Drive
Under Connects in FlowMattic, add a Google Drive connection with the account that can see the folder.
Connect Gmail
Add a Gmail connection with the address the emails should come from. It can be the same Google account or another one.
Watch the folder
Create a workflow with Google Drive New File in Folder, choose the folder and upload a test file so FlowMattic captures its details.
Write the email
Add Gmail Send Email, enter the recipients, and use the file name in the subject and the file link in the body. Test it and switch the workflow on.

Gmail app icon — Built on the FlowMattic canvas. Test each step with real data, then switch the workflow on.

From Google Drive	To Gmail
File name	Subject
File link	Body link
Owner name	Body: uploaded by
Created time	Body: date

Triggers and actions in this pair

A trigger starts a workflow. An action is something FlowMattic does in the app as a step.

Good to know

A Drive link only opens for people who can access the file. Add Share File or Share Folder before the email when the recipient is outside your Google account.
These workflows send email through Gmail, so an incoming email does not save its attachment to Drive by itself. Use another trigger and Upload a File for that.
New File in Folder also fires for files moved into the folder, so moving old files in sends emails for them too.

Google Drive

Integration page

Triggers (4)

New FileTriggers when any new file is added (inside of any folder)
New FolderTriggers when a new folder is added directly to a specific folder
New File in FolderTriggers when a new file is created, moved, or uploaded to a specific folder
Updated FileTriggers when a file is updated in a specific folder

Actions (28)

Upload a FileUpload file to your Google Drive selected folder
Create a FolderCreate a new folder in your Google Drive
Create a Sub FolderCreate an empty sub folder
Share FolderShare the folder by its ID to an email
Share Folder with AnyoneGenerates the link to share with anyone on the internet
Share FileShare any file by its ID to an email
Share File with AnyoneGenerates the link to share with anyone on the internet
Find FileSearch for a specific file by name
Find FolderSearch for a specific folder by name
Find Multiple FilesSearch for multiple files by name or within a specific folder
Retrieve File or Folder by IDGet a file or folder by its ID
Create File From TextCreate a new file from plain text
Create ShortcutCreate a shortcut to a file
Copy FileCreate a copy of the specified file
Move FileMove a file from one folder to another
Update File/Folder NameUpdate the name of file or folder
Delete FileDelete the file
Create Shared DriveCreate a new shared drive in your Google Drive
Export File to PDFExport a document or file to PDF format
Download File to Media LibraryDownload a file from Google Drive and add it to WordPress media library
List Files in FolderList all files in a specific Google Drive folder
Update File ContentReplace the content of an existing file
Trash File/FolderMove a file or folder to the trash
Restore File from TrashRestore a previously trashed file or folder
Empty TrashPermanently delete all files in the trash
Add Comment to FileAdd a comment to a file in Google Drive
List Comments on FileRetrieve all comments on a file
Transfer OwnershipTransfer file ownership to another Google account

Gmail

Integration page

Actions (18)

Send EmailSend an email to the recipient
Send Template EmailSend an email using the FlowMattic email template
Find EmailFind an email in Gmail
Find Multiple EmailsFind multiple emails in Gmail
Mark Email as ReadMarks the email as read by the thread ID
Get Email DetailsGet the details of specific email from Gmail
Reply to EmailReply to the email
Create DraftCreate a draft of the email
Send DraftSend the draft of the email
Delete DraftDelete the draft of the email
Create Draft ReplyCreate a draft reply of the email
Send Draft ReplySend the draft reply of the email
Delete Draft ReplyDelete the draft reply of the email
List All LabelsList all labels in Gmail
Create LabelCreate a label in Gmail
Delete LabelDelete a label in Gmail
Add Label to EmailAdd a label to the email
Remove Label from EmailRemove a label from the email

Why run this pair with FlowMattic

Google Drive and Gmail connect through FlowMattic on your own site, with no separate automation account in the middle and no charge per run.

Files stay in your Google account

FlowMattic only passes the file details and links between Drive and Gmail from your own WordPress server; the files stay in Drive.

No limit on emails sent

Runs are unlimited, so a folder that receives many uploads a day costs nothing extra beyond Gmail's own sending limits.

Share and send in one step

Sharing the file, exporting it and writing the email happen in one workflow, so you never send a link the client cannot open.

Common questions

Can I get a Gmail notification when a file is added to Google Drive?

Yes. Start a workflow with Google Drive New File in Folder or New File and add Gmail Send Email to your address. Each new file sends one email with its name and link.

Can the email go to a different person for each folder?

Build one workflow per folder, or use a Lookup Table that maps each folder to a recipient and use its result in the To field.

Can I send a copy that does not depend on Drive sharing?

Download File to Media Library saves a copy of the file on your WordPress site. Put that link in the Gmail message when the recipient cannot sign in to Google or the file should outlive the Drive share.

Can I check emails before they go out?

Use Create Draft instead of Send Email. The draft waits in your Gmail drafts folder until you review and send it.

Did not find your answer? You can browse the help center or ask us directly.

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Reviewed 27 Oct 2026. The example workflows are written with AI from the real triggers and actions of both integrations and checked against them. Google Drive integration 3.0.0, Gmail integration 1.2.0.