Claude can now work across Gmail and Google Drive: Here’s how to use the new tools

Anthropic is expanding what Claude can do with Google Workspace, allowing users to connect services such as Gmail and Google Drive and work with their emails and files directly through an AI conversation.

The integration means users can ask Claude to find information in their inbox, search documents stored in Drive, summarise files and, where supported, take actions such as drafting emails or organising files.

What Claude can do with Gmail

After connecting Gmail, users can ask Claude to search their inbox using ordinary language rather than manually going through emails.

For example, you could ask:

“Find all unread emails from this week that need a response.”

Claude can then identify relevant messages and summarise them.

Users can also ask Claude to:

Summarise lengthy email threads

Find emails from a particular person

Locate messages containing specific information

Draft replies

Organise emails with labels

Send or forward emails, where the feature is available

For actions that have consequences, such as sending an email, Claude can request confirmation before proceeding.

Google Drive can also be searched

The Google Drive connection allows Claude to find information across files stored in the account.

Users can ask it to locate documents, summarise their contents or compare information between files.

The integration can work with formats including Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, PDFs and Microsoft Office files, according to Anthropic's documentation.

Claude can also perform certain file-management actions, including moving, sharing and trashing files, with confirmation required for actions that could significantly change your files.

How to connect Google Drive and Gmail

To get started:

1. Open Claude

Sign into your Claude account on the web or desktop app.

2. Open Settings

Go to the Connectors section.

3. Choose Google Workspace

Select the Google Workspace connection and follow the prompts.

4. Sign into Google

Choose the Google account you want Claude to access.

5. Review permissions

Google will show you the permissions Claude is requesting. Review them carefully before approving.

6. Start using the connection

Once connected, return to Claude and ask it to search or work with information in your Gmail or Drive.

What can you ask Claude?

“Search my Gmail for messages from this week about upcoming assignments and list the deadlines.”

You could also ask:

“Find my latest CV in Drive and use it to draft a cover letter for this job description.”

The advantage is that you don't necessarily have to download the document and upload it to Claude first.

The integration pushes Claude further from being simply a chatbot that answers questions towards an assistant that can work with information stored in other services.

Instead of switching between Gmail, Drive and Claude, users can bring much of that workflow into one conversation.

However, users should be careful when connecting accounts containing sensitive information. Check the permissions before approving the connection and only connect the Google account you are comfortable giving Claude access to.

Anthropic's documentation says the integrations operate according to the permissions of the connected Google account, meaning Claude's access is limited by what that account can access.