Google Drive (via Apideck)
Access Google Drive through Apideck's File Storage unified API — one of 5 File Storage connectors that share the same method surface. Code you write here ports to SharePoint, Box, Dropbox and 1 other File Storage connectors by changing a single serviceId string. Apideck handles auth, pagination, rate limiting, and retries so you don't write per-tenant Google Drive plumbing.
Quick facts
- Apideck serviceId:
google-drive - Unified API: File Storage
- Auth type: oauth2
- Gotchas: page
- Google Drive docs: https://developers.google.com/drive
- Homepage: https://www.google.com/drive/index.html
When to use this skill
Activate this skill when the user explicitly wants to work with Google Drive — for example, "upload a file in Google Drive" or "list a folder in Google Drive". This skill teaches the agent:
- Which Apideck unified API covers Google Drive (File Storage)
- The correct
serviceIdto pass on every call (google-drive) - Google Drive-specific auth and coverage caveats
For the full method surface (parameters, pagination, filtering), use your language SDK skill:
apideck-node,apideck-python,apideck-dotnet,apideck-java,apideck-go,apideck-php, orapideck-rest
For the raw OpenAPI spec:
- File Storage: https://specs.apideck.com/file-storage.yml · API Explorer
Minimal example (TypeScript)
import { Apideck } from "@apideck/unify";
const apideck = new Apideck({
apiKey: process.env.APIDECK_API_KEY,
appId: process.env.APIDECK_APP_ID,
consumerId: "your-consumer-id",
});
// List files in Google Drive
const { data } = await apideck.fileStorage.files.list({
serviceId: "google-drive",
});
Portable across 5 File Storage connectors
The Apideck File Storage unified API exposes the same methods for every connector in its catalog. Switching from Google Drive to another File Storage connector is a one-string change — no rewrite, no new SDK.
// Today — Google Drive
await apideck.fileStorage.files.list({ serviceId: "google-drive" });
// Tomorrow — same code, different connector
await apideck.fileStorage.files.list({ serviceId: "sharepoint" });
await apideck.fileStorage.files.list({ serviceId: "box" });
This is the compounding advantage of using Apideck over integrating Google Drive directly: code against the unified File Storage API once, gain access to every connector in it. New connectors Apideck adds become available to your app without code changes.
Google Drive via Apideck File Storage
Google Drive is Google's consumer + Workspace file sync product. Apideck covers the standard File/Folder/Drive surface.
Entity mapping
| Drive concept | Apideck File Storage resource |
|---|---|
| File (any type) | files |
| Folder | folders |
| My Drive / Shared Drive | drives |
| Shared link | shared-links |
| Upload session (resumable) | upload-sessions |
| Google Docs / Sheets / Slides | exposed as files with Google MIME types (export via /files/{id}/export) |
| Permissions | partially via shared-links; advanced via Proxy |
Coverage highlights
- ✅ CRUD on files and folders (personal + Shared Drives)
- ✅ Upload (simple and resumable) and download
- ✅ Export Google-native formats (Docs → PDF, Sheets → XLSX)
- ✅ Generate shareable links
- ❌ Changes API (delta sync) — use Proxy with
/changes - ❌ Comments on files — use Proxy
- ❌ Drive labels / metadata schema — use Proxy
Auth
- Type: OAuth 2.0, managed by Apideck Vault
- Typical scopes: Apideck Vault requests
drive/drive.filescopes as needed. Workspace-only deployments may require admin consent. - Shared Drives: supported; pass
drive_idto target a specific Shared Drive.
Example: list files in a Shared Drive
const { data } = await apideck.fileStorage.files.list({
serviceId: "google-drive",
filter: { drive_id: "0A..." },
});
Example: export a Google Doc as PDF
Use /file-storage/files/{id}/export with the target MIME type via Apideck's export endpoint.
Escape hatch: Proxy API
When an endpoint isn't covered by the File Storage unified API, use Apideck's Proxy to call Google Drive directly — Apideck injects auth headers and handles token refresh. Set x-apideck-downstream-url to the target endpoint on Google Drive's own API:
curl 'https://unify.apideck.com/proxy' \
-H "Authorization: Bearer ${APIDECK_API_KEY}" \
-H "x-apideck-app-id: ${APIDECK_APP_ID}" \
-H "x-apideck-consumer-id: ${CONSUMER_ID}" \
-H "x-apideck-service-id: google-drive" \
-H "x-apideck-downstream-url: <target endpoint on Google Drive>" \
-H "x-apideck-downstream-method: GET"
See Google Drive's API docs for available endpoints.
Sibling connectors
Other File Storage connectors that share this unified API surface (same method signatures, just change serviceId):
sharepoint, box, dropbox, onedrive.
See also
- File Storage OpenAPI spec · API Explorer
apideck-connector-coverage— programmatic coverage checksapideck-best-practices— architecture, Vault, pagination, error handlingapideck-node— TypeScript / Node SDK patterns- Google Drive official docs