Why this matters
Half of office work is looking things up: the latest price sheet in Drive, what a customer said three emails ago, how full next week is. Each one means another tab, another search and another copy and paste into Claude.
Connectors let Claude look in Google Drive, Gmail and Google Calendar for you, using your own Google sign-in. It only reaches what your account can open, and it asks before it does anything.
In this module you connect all three, ask three quick questions in one chat, approve each tool as Claude asks, and learn where to change those choices later.
What you’ll build
For Bright Path Landscaping, a made-up landscaping company: Google Drive, Gmail and Google Calendar connected from Customize, Connectors.
One chat that finds the price sheet in Drive, sums up a customer’s email thread and flags your busiest day this week, with you approving each tool, and Calendar set to ask before anything changes.
What you need
- Nothing to start the practiceClaude, the Google sign-in and your Drive, inbox and calendar are practice copies. Nothing is connected for real.
- A Claude account, to do it for realclaude.ai. Anthropic’s help center lists the Google connectors for every plan; on Team and Enterprise an Owner turns them on first.
- A Google accountThe Google Workspace or Gmail account that holds your work files, email and calendar. Check your company allows connecting it.
Concepts
3 ideas you’ll use in the practice.
Connect once, with your own sign-in
In Customize, Connectors, find Google Drive, Gmail and Google Calendar and click Connect. You sign in with Google and read what Claude is asking to see before you allow it.
Claude can only reach what your Google account can already open. It does not get anyone else’s files or mail.
Ask in plain words, approve each tool
In a chat, check the connector switches under + so the ones you need are on. Then just ask: "find our 2026 price sheet", "sum up Dana’s emails about the patio".
The first time Claude uses a tool, it asks. Read what it wants to do, then allow it once or always. Afterwards you can see exactly what it searched.
You stay in control
By default Claude asks before it sends email, shares files or changes events. Keep it that way for anything that leaves your account.
Change any tool’s permission, or disconnect, under Customize, Connectors at any time. Reading the calendar can be "always allow"; changing it can stay "ask me first".
Practice
Do every step yourself in a practice copy of the real tool. It checks your work, and “Do it for me” finishes any step you get stuck on.
Do it for real
Now repeat it in your own account. Tick each step as you go.
Quick check
3 questions to check you’ve got it.
1. What can Claude reach once Google Drive is connected?
- Every file in your company
- Only what your own Google account can open
- Only files you upload again
Show the answer
Only what your own Google account can open. Connectors use your sign-in, so Claude sees what you can see, and nothing more.
2. Claude asks to search your Gmail. What should you do first?
- Always click allow without reading
- Read what it wants to do, then allow it once or always
- Disconnect Gmail
Show the answer
Read what it wants to do, then allow it once or always. Each tool request says what Claude is about to do. Reading it first keeps you in control.
3. Where do you change what a connector is allowed to do?
- In each chat’s menu
- Customize, Connectors, then the connector’s tool permissions
- In your Google account only
Show the answer
Customize, Connectors, then the connector’s tool permissions. Each connector’s tool permissions, and Disconnect, live in Customize, Connectors.
Onboard New Clients Without the Back-and-Forth using Airia
Claude can reach only what you connected. Next, give an assistant one hard rule it must never break, and test the risky question before anyone else sees it.
Start module 6 →