Automate Gmail to Drive with Zapier

Using Zapier, you can automatically save Gmail emails and their attachments into Google Drive, so every important file is backed up and organized without manual downloads. This guide walks you through setting up the exact automation, step by step.

The instructions below are based on the workflow described in the original tutorial on the Zapier blog. You will learn how to copy Gmail attachments into a specific Google Drive folder and adjust the automation to fit your workflow.

What you need before you start with Zapier

Before creating the automation, make sure you have access to the tools required for this setup.

• An active Gmail account.
• A Google Drive account with enough storage space.
• A free or paid Zapier account.
• Basic familiarity with labels or filters in Gmail (optional but helpful).

Once you have these in place, you can build a workflow that saves email attachments into a Drive folder automatically.

How the Gmail to Drive workflow works in Zapier

The automation is called a Zap. Each Zap in Zapier has two core pieces:

1. Trigger: An event in Gmail that starts the workflow.
2. Action: An event in Google Drive that runs after the trigger.

In this case, the trigger will be a specific kind of Gmail message, and the action will save that email's attachments to a Google Drive folder.

The official tutorial for this workflow is available on the Zapier blog: Save Gmail emails to Google Drive. The steps below mirror that setup in a clear, how-to format.

Create the Gmail trigger in Zapier

First, you'll tell Zapier which Gmail messages should start the automation.

1. Start a new Zap in Zapier

1. Log in to your Zapier dashboard.
2. Click Create and choose New Zap.
3. In the trigger app search box, type Gmail and select it.

2. Choose the Gmail trigger event

From the trigger event list, you'll generally use something similar to the following:

• New Email – triggers when any new email arrives.
• New Email Matching Search – triggers when an email matches a Gmail search string (recommended).

Using a search-based trigger gives you more control over which messages Zapier reacts to.

3. Connect your Gmail account to Zapier

1. Click Sign in to Gmail when prompted.
2. Choose your Google account.
3. Allow Zapier to access Gmail so it can watch for new emails and read attachments.

Once connected, test the trigger so Zapier can pull in an example email. This sample helps you correctly map fields later.

4. Filter which emails should trigger

If you use the search trigger, set up a search query, for example:

• has:attachment – selects emails that include attachments.
• label:receipts has:attachment – only emails with the label "receipts" that also have attachments.
• from:client@example.com has:attachment – only attachments from a specific sender.

Use the same search syntax you normally use in Gmail. Zapier will only run when messages match this search.

Set up the Google Drive action in Zapier

Next, configure what happens in Google Drive when a matching Gmail message arrives.

5. Choose Google Drive as the action app

1. In your Zap editor, click Action.
2. Search for and select Google Drive.

Zapier will now ask which specific action you want to perform in Drive.

6. Select the appropriate Drive action

To save attachments from Gmail into Drive, you will typically use one of these actions:

• Upload File – uploads a single file to Drive.
• Upload File (from URL) – uploads a file using a direct file link.

The source tutorial uses a method that takes each Gmail attachment and copies it into a Drive folder, one file per run. Zapier uses the attachment data coming from Gmail as the file source.

7. Connect Google Drive to Zapier

1. Click Sign in to Google Drive when prompted.
2. Select the Google account that owns the target Drive.
3. Grant Zapier the access it needs to upload files into your Drive.

Once connected, you can choose the exact folder for your saved attachments.

8. Configure the upload details

In the action setup form, you'll see fields like:

• Drive – usually "My Google Drive" unless you work in a shared drive.
• Folder – the specific folder where attachments should be stored.
• File – this is where you map the attachment data from Gmail.
• File Name – optional custom naming pattern.

Use the field picker to choose the Gmail attachment as the File input. You can also include dynamic values – like the email subject or sender – in the file name for easier organization.

Test and turn on your Zapier automation

With both the Gmail trigger and Drive action configured, you should test everything from inside Zapier.

9. Run a test in Zapier

1. Click Test or Test step on the action.
2. Zapier will use the sample Gmail message pulled earlier.
3. Check your chosen Google Drive folder to confirm an attachment was uploaded.

If the test file appears and opens correctly, the core automation is working.

10. Turn the Zap on

1. Give your Zap a clear name such as "Save Gmail attachments to Drive".
2. Toggle the switch at the top of the editor to turn it On.

From now on, attachments that match your trigger conditions will be copied into the target Google Drive folder automatically.

Tips to optimize your Zapier Gmail workflow

Once the basic setup works, you can refine and extend it using additional Zapier features so the workflow better matches real-world processes.

Use Gmail labels with Zapier

Applying labels in Gmail is a simple way to control which emails get processed. You can:

• Create a dedicated label like “Save to Drive”.
• Use that label in your Gmail search trigger.
• Manually apply the label to any message whose attachments you want saved.

This prevents unimportant or personal attachments from cluttering your Drive.

Organize files into multiple Drive folders

You can build multiple Zaps in Zapier if you want different types of attachments to go to different folders. For example:

• One Zap for receipts into an "Expenses" folder.
• Another Zap for client documents into a "Clients" folder.
• A third Zap for HR files into a private folder.

Each Zap can use its own Gmail search filter to catch only the right messages.

Combine filters and paths in Zapier

To get more advanced, add extra Zapier steps:

• Filter – only continue if the subject or sender matches certain rules.
• Paths – route different types of emails to different folders, depending on conditions.

This lets a single automation handle many scenarios without cloning the Zap over and over.

Why automate Gmail and Drive with Zapier

Routing attachments from Gmail into Google Drive with Zapier removes repetitive manual work and reduces the risk of losing important files. Key benefits include:

• Automatic cloud backup of key documents.
• Centralized storage for invoices, contracts, and receipts.
• Less time spent downloading and organizing attachments.
• Consistent structure, so your team always knows where files live.

If you want additional help planning automations or broader workflow systems, you can also consult resources like Consultevo, which covers process and automation strategy.

By following the steps above and refining the trigger conditions, folder choices, and file naming patterns, you can build a reliable workflow in Zapier that keeps your Gmail attachments organized in Google Drive with no extra effort.

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