Use the Google Drive app for Google Chat

You can use the Google Drive app to get notifications in Google Chat about activity in Drive.

Learn about Google Drive notifications in Chat

If you have the Google Drive app for Google Chat installed, you get direct messages about Google Drive events, such as:

• A new file or folder that’s shared with you.
• A new comment in a file you own, a comment, or an action item that mentions you or is assigned to you.
  • New mentions also show up in Chat’s Mentions shortcut.
  • You can reply to comments directly from the Google Drive app for Google Chat. For example, to mention a colleague, type “@” followed by their name or email address.
• An access request to a file you own.
  • To share the file, select the access level you want to provide, such as:
    • Editor
    • Viewer
    • Commenter
  • Select an option:
    • Click Share.
    • Decline access.

The notifications from the Google Drive app for Chat have a few limitations compared to Drive notifications that you get through email, browser, or mobile apps. These limitations include:

• To reduce notification volume, email notifications are delayed and grouped together. Notifications in Google Chat are sent immediately and not grouped together.
• If a user edits a comment after they post it, the notification doesn’t update. To find the updated comment, you need to access the original document through the link in the notification.
• You don’t receive notifications when tasks are assigned to you in documents.
• You don’t receive notifications when there are edits or suggestions in documents you own.
• You don’t receive notifications for emoji reactions to comments. You can’t provide emoji reactions from the Google Drive app.

Before you begin

If the app isn't installed, add the app to Chat. Learn how to use apps in Chat.

Manage Google Drive notifications in Chat or Gmail

1. On your computer, open Google Chat.
2. On the left, under “Direct messages,” click Google Drive.
3. Click More options Notifications.
4. Select All or None.
5. Optional: To prevent Google Drive from being bolded and moved to the top of your conversation list, select the box next to "Mute conversation."

Uninstall the Google Drive app

Important: For work or school accounts, you can’t uninstall apps your admin installs.

1. On your computer, open Google Chat or Gmail.
2. On the left, under “Direct messages,” click Google Drive.
3. Click the app name Uninstall.

Block a sender or report a specific file

Important: This option is only available on a shared file owned by a user outside your organization.

1. On your computer, open Google Chat or Gmail.
2. On the left, under “Direct messages,” click Google Drive.
3. At the bottom of the relevant notification card, click Block sender or report.