Google resource: drive files (2026-10-27)

Get started · Contract 2026-10-27

Operation	TypeScript	Python
Creates a copy of a file and applies any requested updates with patch semantics. For more information, see [Create and manage files](https://developers.google.com/workspace/drive/api/guides/create-file).	driveFiles.driveFilesCopy	drive_files.drive_files_copy
Creates a file. For more information, see [Create and manage files](https://developers.google.com/workspace/drive/api/guides/create-file). This method supports an /upload URI and accepts uploaded media with the following characteristics: - Maximum file size: 5,120 GB - Accepted Media MIME types: `/` (Specify a valid MIME type, rather than the literal `/` value. The literal `/` is only used to indicate that any valid MIME type can be uploaded. For more information, see [Google Workspace and Google Drive supported MIME types](https://developers.google.com/workspace/drive/api/guides/mime-types).) For more information on uploading files, see [Upload file data](https://developers.google.com/workspace/drive/api/guides/manage-uploads). Apps creating shortcuts with the `create` method must specify the MIME type `application/vnd.google-apps.shortcut`. Apps should specify a file extension in the `name` property when inserting files with the API. For example, an operation to insert a JPEG file should specify something like `“name”: “cat.jpg”` in the metadata. Subsequent `GET` requests include the read-only `fileExtension` property populated with the extension originally specified in the `name` property. When a Google Drive user requests to download a file, or when the file is downloaded through the sync client, Drive builds a full filename (with extension) based on the name. In cases where the extension is missing, Drive attempts to determine the extension based on the file’s MIME type.	driveFiles.driveFilesCreate	drive_files.drive_files_create
Upload file content and metadata. Creates a file. For more information, see [Create and manage files](https://developers.google.com/workspace/drive/api/guides/create-file). This method supports an /upload URI and accepts uploaded media with the following characteristics: - Maximum file size: 5,120 GB - Accepted Media MIME types: `/` (Specify a valid MIME type, rather than the literal `/` value. The literal `/` is only used to indicate that any valid MIME type can be uploaded. For more information, see [Google Workspace and Google Drive supported MIME types](https://developers.google.com/workspace/drive/api/guides/mime-types).) For more information on uploading files, see [Upload file data](https://developers.google.com/workspace/drive/api/guides/manage-uploads). Apps creating shortcuts with the `create` method must specify the MIME type `application/vnd.google-apps.shortcut`. Apps should specify a file extension in the `name` property when inserting files with the API. For example, an operation to insert a JPEG file should specify something like `“name”: “cat.jpg”` in the metadata. Subsequent `GET` requests include the read-only `fileExtension` property populated with the extension originally specified in the `name` property. When a Google Drive user requests to download a file, or when the file is downloaded through the sync client, Drive builds a full filename (with extension) based on the name. In cases where the extension is missing, Drive attempts to determine the extension based on the file’s MIME type.	driveFiles.driveFilesCreateUpload	drive_files.drive_files_create_upload
Permanently deletes a file owned by the user without moving it to the trash. For more information, see [Trash or delete files and folders](https://developers.google.com/workspace/drive/api/guides/delete). If the file belongs to a shared drive, the user must be an `organizer` on the parent folder. If the target is a folder, all descendants owned by the user are also deleted.	driveFiles.driveFilesDelete	drive_files.drive_files_delete
Downloads the content of a file. For more information, see [Download and export files](https://developers.google.com/workspace/drive/api/guides/manage-downloads). Operations are valid for 24 hours from the time of creation.	driveFiles.driveFilesDownload	drive_files.drive_files_download
Permanently deletes all of the user’s trashed files. For more information, see [Trash or delete files and folders](https://developers.google.com/workspace/drive/api/guides/delete).	driveFiles.driveFilesEmptyTrash	drive_files.drive_files_empty_trash
Exports a Google Workspace document to the requested MIME type and returns exported byte content. For more information, see [Download and export files](https://developers.google.com/workspace/drive/api/guides/manage-downloads). Note that the exported content is limited to 10 MB.	driveFiles.driveFilesExport	drive_files.drive_files_export
Generates a set of file IDs which can be provided in create or copy requests. For more information, see [Create and manage files](https://developers.google.com/workspace/drive/api/guides/create-file).	driveFiles.driveFilesGenerateIds	drive_files.drive_files_generate_ids
Gets a file’s metadata or content by ID. For more information, see [Search for files and folders](https://developers.google.com/workspace/drive/api/guides/search-files). If you provide the URL parameter `alt=media`, then the response includes the file contents in the response body. Downloading content with `alt=media` only works if the file is stored in Drive. To download Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides use [`files.export`](https://developers.google.com/workspace/drive/api/reference/rest/v3/files/export) instead. For more information, see [Download and export files](https://developers.google.com/workspace/drive/api/guides/manage-downloads).	driveFiles.driveFilesGet	drive_files.drive_files_get
Download file bytes with alt=media. Gets a file’s metadata or content by ID. For more information, see [Search for files and folders](https://developers.google.com/workspace/drive/api/guides/search-files). If you provide the URL parameter `alt=media`, then the response includes the file contents in the response body. Downloading content with `alt=media` only works if the file is stored in Drive. To download Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides use [`files.export`](https://developers.google.com/workspace/drive/api/reference/rest/v3/files/export) instead. For more information, see [Download and export files](https://developers.google.com/workspace/drive/api/guides/manage-downloads).	driveFiles.driveFilesGetMedia	drive_files.drive_files_get_media
Lists the user’s files. For more information, see [Search for files and folders](https://developers.google.com/workspace/drive/api/guides/search-files). This method accepts the `q` parameter, which is a search query combining one or more search terms. This method returns all files by default, including trashed files. If you don’t want trashed files to appear in the list, use the `trashed=false` query parameter to remove trashed files from the results.	driveFiles.driveFilesList	drive_files.drive_files_list
Lists the labels on a file. For more information, see [List labels on a file](https://developers.google.com/workspace/drive/api/guides/list-labels).	driveFiles.driveFilesListLabels	drive_files.drive_files_list_labels
Modifies the set of labels applied to a file. For more information, see [Set a label field on a file](https://developers.google.com/workspace/drive/api/guides/set-label). Returns a list of the labels that were added or modified.	driveFiles.driveFilesModifyLabels	drive_files.drive_files_modify_labels
Updates a file’s metadata, content, or both. When calling this method, only populate fields in the request that you want to modify. When updating fields, some fields might be changed automatically, such as `modifiedDate`. This method supports patch semantics. This method supports an /upload URI and accepts uploaded media with the following characteristics: - Maximum file size: 5,120 GB - Accepted Media MIME types: `/` (Specify a valid MIME type, rather than the literal `/` value. The literal `/` is only used to indicate that any valid MIME type can be uploaded. For more information, see [Google Workspace and Google Drive supported MIME types](https://developers.google.com/workspace/drive/api/guides/mime-types).) For more information on uploading files, see [Upload file data](https://developers.google.com/workspace/drive/api/guides/manage-uploads).	driveFiles.driveFilesUpdate	drive_files.drive_files_update
Upload file content and metadata. Updates a file’s metadata, content, or both. When calling this method, only populate fields in the request that you want to modify. When updating fields, some fields might be changed automatically, such as `modifiedDate`. This method supports patch semantics. This method supports an /upload URI and accepts uploaded media with the following characteristics: - Maximum file size: 5,120 GB - Accepted Media MIME types: `/` (Specify a valid MIME type, rather than the literal `/` value. The literal `/` is only used to indicate that any valid MIME type can be uploaded. For more information, see [Google Workspace and Google Drive supported MIME types](https://developers.google.com/workspace/drive/api/guides/mime-types).) For more information on uploading files, see [Upload file data](https://developers.google.com/workspace/drive/api/guides/manage-uploads).	driveFiles.driveFilesUpdateUpload	drive_files.drive_files_update_upload
Subscribes to changes to a file. For more information, see [Notifications for resource changes](https://developers.google.com/workspace/drive/api/guides/push).	driveFiles.driveFilesWatch	drive_files.drive_files_watch