Cloud Storage & File Sharing — entry 008 of 18
Google Drive
Google Drive's API lets applications create, read, update, and share files and folders stored in a user's Drive, with fine-grained OAuth scopes for personal or Workspace accounts. A live GET against the real gateway, www.googleapis.com/drive/v3/files, returned a 403 without a token, reconfirming OAuth 2.0 auth over HTTPS, and a follow-up OPTIONS preflight echoed the request Origin in Access-Control-Allow-Origin, resolving cors from unknown to yes. The url was updated to Google's current Workspace documentation hub, which the old /drive/ path now permanently redirects to. Personal accounts get 15GB free, with paid Google One and Workspace plans raising the storage cap.
AuthenticationOAuthRequires an OAuth flow; expect app registration.
HTTPSSupportedTraffic is encrypted in transit.
CORSEnabledCallable directly from browser JavaScript.
PricingFreemiumA usable free tier exists, with paid plans for more volume.
FormatsJSONResponses can be requested as JSON.
GreatAPIs Score
Score74
Authentication8/25OAuth flow required
Pricing17/20Freemium tier available
Docs20/20Machine-readable spec file bundled
Formats9/15Single response format
Freshness20/20Verified within 6 months
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<a href="https://greatapis.com/api/google-drive/"><img src="https://greatapis.com/badge/google-drive.svg" alt="Scored 74 on greatapis.com"></a>Auth quickstart
- Register an app / run the OAuth flow to obtain a bearer token.
- Send it as an Authorization header
Authorization: Bearer <token>
Stored keyNo key stored
Your key is stored only in this browser (localStorage) and sent directly to the API — never to greatapis.
Endpoints
about1
GET/about
Responses
| Status | Description | Schema |
|---|---|---|
200 | Successful response | About |
changes3
GET/changes
Parameters
| Name | In | Required | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
pageToken | query | yes | string |
driveId | query | no | string |
includeCorpusRemovals | query | no | boolean |
includeItemsFromAllDrives | query | no | boolean |
includeLabels | query | no | string |
includePermissionsForView | query | no | string |
includeRemoved | query | no | boolean |
includeTeamDriveItems | query | no | boolean |
pageSize | query | no | integer |
restrictToMyDrive | query | no | boolean |
spaces | query | no | string |
supportsAllDrives | query | no | boolean |
supportsTeamDrives | query | no | boolean |
teamDriveId | query | no | string |
Responses
| Status | Description | Schema |
|---|---|---|
200 | Successful response | ChangeList |
GET/changes/startPageToken
Parameters
| Name | In | Required | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
driveId | query | no | string |
supportsAllDrives | query | no | boolean |
supportsTeamDrives | query | no | boolean |
teamDriveId | query | no | string |
Responses
| Status | Description | Schema |
|---|---|---|
200 | Successful response | StartPageToken |
POST/changes/watch
Parameters
| Name | In | Required | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
pageToken | query | yes | string |
driveId | query | no | string |
includeCorpusRemovals | query | no | boolean |
includeItemsFromAllDrives | query | no | boolean |
includeLabels | query | no | string |
includePermissionsForView | query | no | string |
includeRemoved | query | no | boolean |
includeTeamDriveItems | query | no | boolean |
pageSize | query | no | integer |
restrictToMyDrive | query | no | boolean |
spaces | query | no | string |
supportsAllDrives | query | no | boolean |
supportsTeamDrives | query | no | boolean |
teamDriveId | query | no | string |
Request body
application/json — Channel
Responses
| Status | Description | Schema |
|---|---|---|
200 | Successful response | Channel |
channels1
POST/channels/stop
Request body
application/json — Channel
Responses
| Status | Description | Schema |
|---|---|---|
200 | Successful response | — |
comments5
GET/files/{fileId}/comments
Parameters
| Name | In | Required | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
fileId | path | yes | string |
includeDeleted | query | no | boolean |
pageSize | query | no | integer |
pageToken | query | no | string |
startModifiedTime | query | no | string |
Responses
| Status | Description | Schema |
|---|---|---|
200 | Successful response | CommentList |
POST/files/{fileId}/comments
Parameters
| Name | In | Required | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
fileId | path | yes | string |
Request body
application/json — Comment
Responses
| Status | Description | Schema |
|---|---|---|
200 | Successful response | Comment |
GET/files/{fileId}/comments/{commentId}
Parameters
| Name | In | Required | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
fileId | path | yes | string |
commentId | path | yes | string |
includeDeleted | query | no | boolean |
Responses
| Status | Description | Schema |
|---|---|---|
200 | Successful response | Comment |
PATCH/files/{fileId}/comments/{commentId}
Parameters
| Name | In | Required | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
fileId | path | yes | string |
commentId | path | yes | string |
Request body
application/json — Comment
Responses
| Status | Description | Schema |
|---|---|---|
200 | Successful response | Comment |
DELETE/files/{fileId}/comments/{commentId}
Parameters
| Name | In | Required | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
fileId | path | yes | string |
commentId | path | yes | string |
Responses
| Status | Description | Schema |
|---|---|---|
200 | Successful response | — |
drives7
GET/drives
Parameters
| Name | In | Required | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
pageSize | query | no | integer |
pageToken | query | no | string |
q | query | no | string |
useDomainAdminAccess | query | no | boolean |
Responses
| Status | Description | Schema |
|---|---|---|
200 | Successful response | DriveList |
POST/drives
Parameters
| Name | In | Required | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
requestId | query | yes | string |
Request body
application/json — Drive
Responses
| Status | Description | Schema |
|---|---|---|
200 | Successful response | Drive |
GET/drives/{driveId}
Parameters
| Name | In | Required | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
driveId | path | yes | string |
useDomainAdminAccess | query | no | boolean |
Responses
| Status | Description | Schema |
|---|---|---|
200 | Successful response | Drive |
PATCH/drives/{driveId}
Parameters
| Name | In | Required | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
driveId | path | yes | string |
useDomainAdminAccess | query | no | boolean |
Request body
application/json — Drive
Responses
| Status | Description | Schema |
|---|---|---|
200 | Successful response | Drive |
DELETE/drives/{driveId}
Parameters
| Name | In | Required | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
driveId | path | yes | string |
allowItemDeletion | query | no | boolean |
useDomainAdminAccess | query | no | boolean |
Responses
| Status | Description | Schema |
|---|---|---|
200 | Successful response | — |
POST/drives/{driveId}/hide
Parameters
| Name | In | Required | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
driveId | path | yes | string |
Responses
| Status | Description | Schema |
|---|---|---|
200 | Successful response | Drive |
POST/drives/{driveId}/unhide
Parameters
| Name | In | Required | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
driveId | path | yes | string |
Responses
| Status | Description | Schema |
|---|---|---|
200 | Successful response | Drive |
files12
GET/files
Parameters
| Name | In | Required | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
corpora | query | no | string |
corpus | query | no | string |
driveId | query | no | string |
includeItemsFromAllDrives | query | no | boolean |
includeLabels | query | no | string |
includePermissionsForView | query | no | string |
includeTeamDriveItems | query | no | boolean |
orderBy | query | no | string |
pageSize | query | no | integer |
pageToken | query | no | string |
q | query | no | string |
spaces | query | no | string |
supportsAllDrives | query | no | boolean |
supportsTeamDrives | query | no | boolean |
teamDriveId | query | no | string |
Responses
| Status | Description | Schema |
|---|---|---|
200 | Successful response | FileList |
POST/files
Parameters
| Name | In | Required | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
enforceSingleParent | query | no | boolean |
ignoreDefaultVisibility | query | no | boolean |
includeLabels | query | no | string |
includePermissionsForView | query | no | string |
keepRevisionForever | query | no | boolean |
ocrLanguage | query | no | string |
supportsAllDrives | query | no | boolean |
supportsTeamDrives | query | no | boolean |
useContentAsIndexableText | query | no | boolean |
Request body
application/octet-stream — File
Responses
| Status | Description | Schema |
|---|---|---|
200 | Successful response | File |
GET/files/generateIds
Parameters
| Name | In | Required | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
count | query | no | integer |
space | query | no | string |
type | query | no | string |
Responses
| Status | Description | Schema |
|---|---|---|
200 | Successful response | GeneratedIds |
DELETE/files/trash
Parameters
| Name | In | Required | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
driveId | query | no | string |
enforceSingleParent | query | no | boolean |
Responses
| Status | Description | Schema |
|---|---|---|
200 | Successful response | — |
GET/files/{fileId}
Parameters
| Name | In | Required | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
fileId | path | yes | string |
acknowledgeAbuse | query | no | boolean |
includeLabels | query | no | string |
includePermissionsForView | query | no | string |
supportsAllDrives | query | no | boolean |
supportsTeamDrives | query | no | boolean |
Responses
| Status | Description | Schema |
|---|---|---|
200 | Successful response | File |
PATCH/files/{fileId}
Parameters
| Name | In | Required | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
fileId | path | yes | string |
addParents | query | no | string |
enforceSingleParent | query | no | boolean |
includeLabels | query | no | string |
includePermissionsForView | query | no | string |
keepRevisionForever | query | no | boolean |
ocrLanguage | query | no | string |
removeParents | query | no | string |
supportsAllDrives | query | no | boolean |
supportsTeamDrives | query | no | boolean |
useContentAsIndexableText | query | no | boolean |
Request body
application/octet-stream — File
Responses
| Status | Description | Schema |
|---|---|---|
200 | Successful response | File |
DELETE/files/{fileId}
Parameters
| Name | In | Required | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
fileId | path | yes | string |
enforceSingleParent | query | no | boolean |
supportsAllDrives | query | no | boolean |
supportsTeamDrives | query | no | boolean |
Responses
| Status | Description | Schema |
|---|---|---|
200 | Successful response | — |
POST/files/{fileId}/copy
Parameters
| Name | In | Required | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
fileId | path | yes | string |
enforceSingleParent | query | no | boolean |
ignoreDefaultVisibility | query | no | boolean |
includeLabels | query | no | string |
includePermissionsForView | query | no | string |
keepRevisionForever | query | no | boolean |
ocrLanguage | query | no | string |
supportsAllDrives | query | no | boolean |
supportsTeamDrives | query | no | boolean |
Request body
application/json — File
Responses
| Status | Description | Schema |
|---|---|---|
200 | Successful response | File |
GET/files/{fileId}/export
Parameters
| Name | In | Required | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
fileId | path | yes | string |
mimeType | query | yes | string |
Responses
| Status | Description | Schema |
|---|---|---|
200 | Successful response | — |
GET/files/{fileId}/listLabels
Parameters
| Name | In | Required | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
fileId | path | yes | string |
maxResults | query | no | integer |
pageToken | query | no | string |
Responses
| Status | Description | Schema |
|---|---|---|
200 | Successful response | LabelList |
POST/files/{fileId}/modifyLabels
Parameters
| Name | In | Required | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
fileId | path | yes | string |
Request body
application/json — ModifyLabelsRequest
Responses
| Status | Description | Schema |
|---|---|---|
200 | Successful response | ModifyLabelsResponse |
POST/files/{fileId}/watch
Parameters
| Name | In | Required | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
fileId | path | yes | string |
acknowledgeAbuse | query | no | boolean |
includeLabels | query | no | string |
includePermissionsForView | query | no | string |
supportsAllDrives | query | no | boolean |
supportsTeamDrives | query | no | boolean |
Request body
application/json — Channel
Responses
| Status | Description | Schema |
|---|---|---|
200 | Successful response | Channel |
permissions5
GET/files/{fileId}/permissions
Parameters
| Name | In | Required | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
fileId | path | yes | string |
includePermissionsForView | query | no | string |
pageSize | query | no | integer |
pageToken | query | no | string |
supportsAllDrives | query | no | boolean |
supportsTeamDrives | query | no | boolean |
useDomainAdminAccess | query | no | boolean |
Responses
| Status | Description | Schema |
|---|---|---|
200 | Successful response | PermissionList |
POST/files/{fileId}/permissions
Parameters
| Name | In | Required | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
fileId | path | yes | string |
emailMessage | query | no | string |
enforceSingleParent | query | no | boolean |
moveToNewOwnersRoot | query | no | boolean |
sendNotificationEmail | query | no | boolean |
supportsAllDrives | query | no | boolean |
supportsTeamDrives | query | no | boolean |
transferOwnership | query | no | boolean |
useDomainAdminAccess | query | no | boolean |
Request body
application/json — Permission
Responses
| Status | Description | Schema |
|---|---|---|
200 | Successful response | Permission |
GET/files/{fileId}/permissions/{permissionId}
Parameters
| Name | In | Required | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
fileId | path | yes | string |
permissionId | path | yes | string |
supportsAllDrives | query | no | boolean |
supportsTeamDrives | query | no | boolean |
useDomainAdminAccess | query | no | boolean |
Responses
| Status | Description | Schema |
|---|---|---|
200 | Successful response | Permission |
PATCH/files/{fileId}/permissions/{permissionId}
Parameters
| Name | In | Required | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
fileId | path | yes | string |
permissionId | path | yes | string |
removeExpiration | query | no | boolean |
supportsAllDrives | query | no | boolean |
supportsTeamDrives | query | no | boolean |
transferOwnership | query | no | boolean |
useDomainAdminAccess | query | no | boolean |
Request body
application/json — Permission
Responses
| Status | Description | Schema |
|---|---|---|
200 | Successful response | Permission |
DELETE/files/{fileId}/permissions/{permissionId}
Parameters
| Name | In | Required | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
fileId | path | yes | string |
permissionId | path | yes | string |
supportsAllDrives | query | no | boolean |
supportsTeamDrives | query | no | boolean |
useDomainAdminAccess | query | no | boolean |
Responses
| Status | Description | Schema |
|---|---|---|
200 | Successful response | — |
replies5
GET/files/{fileId}/comments/{commentId}/replies
Parameters
| Name | In | Required | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
fileId | path | yes | string |
commentId | path | yes | string |
includeDeleted | query | no | boolean |
pageSize | query | no | integer |
pageToken | query | no | string |
Responses
| Status | Description | Schema |
|---|---|---|
200 | Successful response | ReplyList |
POST/files/{fileId}/comments/{commentId}/replies
Parameters
| Name | In | Required | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
fileId | path | yes | string |
commentId | path | yes | string |
Request body
application/json — Reply
Responses
| Status | Description | Schema |
|---|---|---|
200 | Successful response | Reply |
GET/files/{fileId}/comments/{commentId}/replies/{replyId}
Parameters
| Name | In | Required | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
fileId | path | yes | string |
commentId | path | yes | string |
replyId | path | yes | string |
includeDeleted | query | no | boolean |
Responses
| Status | Description | Schema |
|---|---|---|
200 | Successful response | Reply |
PATCH/files/{fileId}/comments/{commentId}/replies/{replyId}
Parameters
| Name | In | Required | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
fileId | path | yes | string |
commentId | path | yes | string |
replyId | path | yes | string |
Request body
application/json — Reply
Responses
| Status | Description | Schema |
|---|---|---|
200 | Successful response | Reply |
DELETE/files/{fileId}/comments/{commentId}/replies/{replyId}
Parameters
| Name | In | Required | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
fileId | path | yes | string |
commentId | path | yes | string |
replyId | path | yes | string |
Responses
| Status | Description | Schema |
|---|---|---|
200 | Successful response | — |
revisions4
GET/files/{fileId}/revisions
Parameters
| Name | In | Required | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
fileId | path | yes | string |
pageSize | query | no | integer |
pageToken | query | no | string |
Responses
| Status | Description | Schema |
|---|---|---|
200 | Successful response | RevisionList |
GET/files/{fileId}/revisions/{revisionId}
Parameters
| Name | In | Required | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
fileId | path | yes | string |
revisionId | path | yes | string |
acknowledgeAbuse | query | no | boolean |
Responses
| Status | Description | Schema |
|---|---|---|
200 | Successful response | Revision |
PATCH/files/{fileId}/revisions/{revisionId}
Parameters
| Name | In | Required | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
fileId | path | yes | string |
revisionId | path | yes | string |
Request body
application/json — Revision
Responses
| Status | Description | Schema |
|---|---|---|
200 | Successful response | Revision |
DELETE/files/{fileId}/revisions/{revisionId}
Parameters
| Name | In | Required | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
fileId | path | yes | string |
revisionId | path | yes | string |
Responses
| Status | Description | Schema |
|---|---|---|
200 | Successful response | — |
teamdrives5
GET/teamdrives
Parameters
| Name | In | Required | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
pageSize | query | no | integer |
pageToken | query | no | string |
q | query | no | string |
useDomainAdminAccess | query | no | boolean |
Responses
| Status | Description | Schema |
|---|---|---|
200 | Successful response | TeamDriveList |
POST/teamdrives
Parameters
| Name | In | Required | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
requestId | query | yes | string |
Request body
application/json — TeamDrive
Responses
| Status | Description | Schema |
|---|---|---|
200 | Successful response | TeamDrive |
GET/teamdrives/{teamDriveId}
Parameters
| Name | In | Required | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
teamDriveId | path | yes | string |
useDomainAdminAccess | query | no | boolean |
Responses
| Status | Description | Schema |
|---|---|---|
200 | Successful response | TeamDrive |
PATCH/teamdrives/{teamDriveId}
Parameters
| Name | In | Required | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
teamDriveId | path | yes | string |
useDomainAdminAccess | query | no | boolean |
Request body
application/json — TeamDrive
Responses
| Status | Description | Schema |
|---|---|---|
200 | Successful response | TeamDrive |
DELETE/teamdrives/{teamDriveId}
Parameters
| Name | In | Required | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
teamDriveId | path | yes | string |
Responses
| Status | Description | Schema |
|---|---|---|
200 | Successful response | — |
Try it
Developer reference
Base URL
https://www.googleapis.com/drive/v3Rate limit
Google's Drive API usage-limits docs (developers.google.com/workspace/drive/api/guides/limits) publish a quota-unit system rather than a flat request count: a default of 1,000,000 quota units/minute/project and 325,000 quota units/minute/user, with per-method costs of 5 units for a read (e.g. files.get), 100 units for a list, 200 units for a download, and 50 units for an edit -- so a simple files.get call costs far less against the ceiling than a files.list or download. There's also a 400,000,000 quota-units/day billing threshold and a 750GB/day upload cap for Workspace users.
Key endpoints
- GET/files
- GET/files/{fileId}
- POST/files
- POST/files/{fileId}/permissions
- GET/changes