Google Drive Integration
Connect your Google Drive account and join our beta program to get early access to AI-powered automatic file renaming. No more messy filenames - just share folders and watch the magic happen.
Beta Program
Google Drive integration is currently in beta. By connecting your account, you'll join our beta program and get early access to automated file renaming features. After connecting, we'll verify your access and notify you when features become available—typically within a day.
What to expect: Early access to features, direct feedback channels, and the opportunity to shape the future of Google Drive integration.
How It Works
Are your Google Drive folders filled with files like scan_2025_10_07.pdf or invoice1.pdf? Our Google Drive integration works in the background to analyze, rename, and organize your PDF documents based on their content.
The process is simple:
- 1Connect your Google account and join the beta program
- 2Share folders with auto@renamed.to service account
- 3Create watched folders and configure their settings
- 4Drop PDF files into shared folders or use "Sync Now" to process existing files
- 5Find your perfectly renamed files automatically organized
Why Use This Integration
Save Time
Eliminate manual file renaming
Stay Organized
Consistent naming across all documents
Find Files Faster
Searchable, descriptive filenames
Secure by Design
Only folders you share are accessible
Getting Started
Connect Your Google Account
- Log in to your Renamed.to account
- Go to Settings → Integrations
- Find the Google Drive integration and click Connect Google Drive
- Sign in with your Google account
- Review and approve the permissions (we only request access to files you explicitly share)
- You'll be redirected back with a success message
Note: We use OAuth 2.0 with scoped permissions (drive.file scope). Your Google credentials are never shared with us—authentication happens directly with Google. Your files remain in your Google Drive account. Files are downloaded directly from Google Drive, processed in temporary local storage, and immediately deleted after processing. Files are never stored in external cloud storage.
Share Folders
After connecting, you need to share folders with our service account (auto@renamed.to). This gives us access only to the folders you explicitly share.
- Open Google Drive in your browser (drive.google.com)
- Create folders for your PDFs (e.g., "Invoices", "Receipts", "Contracts")
- Right-click each folder → Share
- Enter
auto@renamed.toin the share dialog - Set permission to Editor (allows us to rename files)
- Click Send
Security: We can only access folders you explicitly share with auto@renamed.to. Your other Google Drive files remain completely private. This is different from OneDrive integration, which uses OAuth for direct account access.
Create Watched Folders
Once your folders are shared, you can create watched folders in Renamed.to that will monitor them for new PDFs:
- Go to Settings → Integrations → Google Drive
- Click Create Watched Folder
- Select one of your shared folders from the dropdown
- Configure folder settings:
- Organization Strategy: How files are organized in subfolders (see below for details)
- Filename Template: Choose from predefined templates or use Auto mode
- Destination Mode: In-place rename or move to a destination folder. When using "Move to Renamed", you must select a custom destination folder where renamed files will be moved. If no destination folder is selected, files will remain in their original location (same as in-place mode).
- Output Language: Language for generated filenames
- Custom Prompt: Optional instructions to influence naming
- Active toggle: Enable or pause processing for this folder
- Click Save Configuration to apply settings
Tip: You can create multiple watched folders, each with different settings. For example, create separate folders for invoices, receipts, and contracts with different organization strategies.
Subfolder Monitoring: Watched folders automatically monitor all subfolders recursively. This means you can organize files in a folder structure like /Invoices/2024/January and all PDFs will be processed, regardless of their depth in the folder hierarchy.
Process Your Files
Once your watched folders are set up, you can process files in two ways:
Automatic Processing
- Drop PDF files into your shared folders in Google Drive (including any subfolders)
- Files are automatically detected and processed
- Wait 30-60 seconds for processing to complete
- Files are renamed (and optionally moved) based on your folder settings
Note: Watched folders monitor all subfolders recursively, so files placed anywhere within a watched folder structure will be processed.
Manual Sync
- Click the "Sync Now" button in Settings → Integrations → Google Drive
- This processes all PDF files currently in your watched folders (including all subfolders)
- Useful for processing existing files or after changing folder settings
Processing: Files are analyzed using AI to extract content, then renamed according to your folder's configuration. With "In-place" mode, files stay in the same folder but get renamed (and optionally organized into subfolders). With "Move to Renamed" mode, files are moved to your selected destination folder with organized subfolders based on your organization strategy.
File Types: Currently, only PDF files are processed. Other file types in watched folders will be ignored.
Credits: Each file processed consumes 1 credit from your account. Processing will pause if you run out of credits.
Processing Time: Files are processed asynchronously in a queue. Most files are processed within 30-60 seconds, but complex documents may take longer.
Security & Privacy
OAuth 2.0 Authentication
We use Google's OAuth 2.0 for secure authentication. Your Google credentials are never shared with us—authentication happens directly with Google.
Scoped Access Only
We use the drive.file scope, which only gives us access to files and folders you explicitly share with our service account. We cannot access any other files in your Google Drive.
Service Account Sharing
You control exactly which folders we can access by sharing them with auto@renamed.to. Your files remain in your Google Drive account. Files are downloaded directly from Google Drive, processed in temporary local storage, and immediately deleted after processing. Files are never stored in external cloud storage.
Token Encryption
All access tokens are encrypted at rest in our database. Tokens are automatically refreshed before expiration to ensure continuous operation.
You Control Access
You can disconnect the integration at any time from your settings. Disconnecting immediately revokes all access permissions. You can also stop sharing folders with our service account at any time in Google Drive.
Organization Strategies
When using "Move to Renamed" destination mode, you can choose how files are organized into subfolders. You can use predefined organization strategies or create custom structures using prompt-driven organization. This only applies when files are moved; in-place renaming keeps files in the same location.
Simple Organization
- Root (Flat Structure)
- All files are placed directly in the destination folder with no subfolders.
- By Date
- Files are organized by year extracted from the document.
- By Issuer
- Files are grouped by the company or organization that issued the document.
- By Type
- Files are grouped by document type (Invoice, Receipt, Contract, etc.).
Combined Organization
- By Date & Issuer
- Files are organized first by year, then by company.
- By Date & Type
- Files are organized first by year, then by document type.
- By Issuer & Type
- Files are organized first by company, then by document type.
- By All (Date, Issuer, Type)
- Files are organized by year, then company, then document type. Best for large document collections that need maximum organization.
Prompt-Driven Organization
Beyond the predefined strategies, you can use a custom prompt to create completely custom folder structures. The AI will interpret your instructions and organize files according to your specific needs—perfect for unique workflows, project-based organization, or department-specific structures.
How It Works
When you provide a custom prompt in the folder settings, the AI uses it to determine both the folder structure and filename. The most effective approach is to provide a path template showing the desired folder structure, or include concrete examples of the folder paths you want.
Method 1: Path Template (Recommended)
Provide a template using placeholders that show the folder structure:
Custom Prompt:
Use folder structure: /{department}/{Year}/Q{quarter}/Results in:
Custom Prompt:
Organize as: /{ProjectCode}/{DocumentType}/Results in:
Method 2: Examples
Provide concrete examples showing the folder paths you want:
Custom Prompt:
Organize by client, then year and document type. Examples: /AcmeCorp/2025/Invoices/, /TechCorp/2025/Contracts/Results in:
Method 3: Natural Language with Examples
Combine descriptive instructions with examples for best results:
Custom Prompt:
Group by department (HR, Finance, Legal), then year and document type. Example: /HR/2025/Offer_Letter.pdf or /Finance/2025/Invoice.pdfResults in:
Best Practices:
- •Use path templates with
{placeholder}notation for clear structure - •Include examples of desired folder paths to guide the AI
- •Specify fallbacks for missing data (e.g., "Use 'Unknown' if project code not found")
How Files Are Named
Renamed.to uses intelligent AI to create professional, organized filenames that make your documents easy to find and sort. You can use Auto mode, predefined templates, or custom prompts to control exactly how your files are named. We also offer Dropbox integration and OneDrive integration with similar automated file organization features.
Auto Mode (Recommended)
AI intelligently analyzes your document and creates professional filenames using enterprise-grade naming standards. No configuration needed—just works. Learn more about Auto mode →
- Smart Date Detection
- Includes dates (YYYY-MM-DD format) only for transactional documents like invoices, receipts, statements, and periodic documents. Omits dates for resumes, contracts, and other documents where dates aren't the primary sorting factor.
- Document Type Recognition
- Uses standardized document types from a controlled vocabulary (Invoice, Receipt, Contract, Bank Statement, Utility Bill, Payslip, etc.). Common synonyms are automatically mapped to standardized names.
- Business Context Awareness
- Detects department context (accounting, HR, legal, finance) and adapts naming patterns accordingly. For example, HR documents might include department codes, while invoices focus on company and reference numbers.
- Cross-Platform Safe Formatting
- Uses underscores as delimiters, no spaces or special characters. Filenames work on Windows, macOS, Linux, and all cloud storage services.
Filename Formatting Rules
All generated filenames follow these standardized rules to ensure consistency and compatibility:
- Character Format
- Single underscores as the only delimiter between segments. No spaces, no special characters like
/ : * ? " < > |. Uses Title Case for English (e.g.,AcmeCorp), native casing for other languages. - Date Format
- ISO 8601 format (YYYY-MM-DD) when included. Placed at the beginning for natural sorting. Example:
2025-03-15_Invoice_AcmeCorp.pdf - Length Limits
- Filenames are kept concise (ideally under 60 characters) while remaining informative. Company names are sanitized and shortened if needed to stay within limits.
- Document Type Standards
- Uses full, standardized document type names from a controlled vocabulary. Never abbreviates (e.g., "Travel Itinerary" not "Itinerary"). Maps common synonyms automatically (e.g., "Pay Stub" → "Payslip", "CV" → "Resume").
- Missing Information Handling
- When information is missing, uses descriptive alternatives or omits that segment. Never includes placeholder values like "UnknownID" or generic fallbacks. Avoids word duplication.
Predefined Templates
Choose from predefined templates optimized for different use cases. Each template follows the same formatting rules but structures information differently. See all available templates →
- Complete
Date_Type_Company_Number— Example:2025-03-15_Invoice_AcmeCorp_INV-001.pdf- Date First
Date_Type_Company— Example:2025-03-15_Invoice_AcmeCorp.pdf- Company Focused
Date_Company_Type_Number— Example:2025-03-15_AcmeCorp_Invoice_INV-001.pdf- Simple
Date_Type— Example:2025-03-15_Invoice.pdf- Comprehensive
Date_Company_Type_Number— Example:2025-03-15_AcmeCorp_Invoice_INV-001.pdf- Business Smart
- Auto-detects your department context (accounting, HR, legal, finance) and creates appropriate business naming patterns. Example:
2025-03-15_Accounting_AcmeCorp_Invoice_INV-001.pdf
Custom Prompts for Filenames
You can use custom prompts to control exactly how filenames are generated. This works similarly to prompt-driven folder organization—provide instructions, examples, or patterns in natural language.
Method 1: Natural Language Instructions
Describe how you want filenames structured:
Include date at the start, then document type, then company name in all caps, then any reference number. For invoices, always include the invoice number even if it's just INV-001.Example result:
Method 2: Filename Examples
Provide concrete examples of the filenames you want:
Examples: 2025-03-15_ACME_Invoice_12345.pdf, 2025-03-20_TECH_Corp_Receipt.pdfAI learns the pattern and applies it:
Method 3: Conditional Rules
Specify conditional logic for different document types:
For invoices over $1000, prefix with "LARGE_". For receipts, include the amount. For contracts, include the expiration date if present.Results in conditional formatting:
Real Examples
Here are some examples of how AI transforms messy filenames into professional ones. For comprehensive examples across different industries and document types, explore our use case gallery →
Original filename
scan_2025_10_07.pdfAI-generated filename
2025-10-07_AcmeCorp_Invoice_INV-12345.pdfOriginal filename
receipt1.pdfAI-generated filename
2025-09-15_Starbucks_Receipt.pdfOriginal filename
document.pdfAI-generated filename
2025-03-15_TechCorp_Contract_2024-05.pdfCommon Questions
How long until I get beta access?
Most users receive beta access within 24 hours of connecting their Google Drive account. You'll receive an email notification when access is ready.
What permissions are required?
We use OAuth 2.0 with the drive.file scope, which only gives us access to files and folders you explicitly share with our service account (auto@renamed.to). This is different from OneDrive integration, which uses broader OAuth permissions. Your files remain in your Google Drive account. Files are downloaded directly from Google Drive, processed in temporary local storage, and immediately deleted after processing.
Is my data secure?
Yes. We use OAuth 2.0 for secure authentication with Google. All tokens are encrypted at rest. Files are downloaded directly from Google Drive, processed in temporary local storage, and immediately deleted after processing. The integration only accesses folders you explicitly share, and you can disconnect anytime.
Can I disconnect my Google Drive account?
Yes. You can disconnect your Google Drive integration at any time from Settings → Integrations. Disconnecting immediately revokes all access permissions. You can also stop sharing folders with our service account directly in Google Drive.
How do watched folders work?
Watched folders are shared folders in your Google Drive that you've shared with auto@renamed.to. Each folder can have its own configuration for how files are renamed and organized. PDF files dropped into watched folders are automatically processed and renamed according to the folder's settings.
Important: Watched folders monitor all subfolders recursively. If you watch a folder like /Documents/Invoices, PDF files in /Documents/Invoices/2024 or /Documents/Invoices/2024/January will also be automatically processed. This allows you to organize files in subfolders while still maintaining automation.
What's the difference between in-place rename and move to Renamed?
In-place rename: Files stay in the same folder but get renamed with AI-generated filenames. Optionally, files can be organized into subfolders within the watched folder based on your organization strategy. Move to Renamed: Files are moved to your selected destination folder and organized into subfolders based on your organization strategy (by date, issuer, type, etc.). You must select a destination folder when using this mode.
Can I customize how files are named?
Yes! For each watched folder, you can choose from predefined filename templates or use Auto mode. You can also provide a custom prompt to influence how the AI generates filenames. Additionally, you can configure the output language and organization strategy to control how files are organized.
Can I select a custom destination folder when moving files?
Yes! When using "Move to Renamed" destination mode, you must select a destination folder from your Google Drive. Click "Select Destination Folder" to browse and choose where renamed files should be moved. If no destination folder is selected, files will remain in their original location (same behavior as in-place mode).
What's the difference from OneDrive integration?
Google Drive integration uses shared folders with our service account (auto@renamed.to), while OneDrive integration connects directly to your Microsoft account via OAuth. Both provide the same AI-powered renaming features but with different authentication methods. Google Drive's shared folder approach gives you more granular control over which folders are accessible.
Can I see a history of renamed files?
Yes! The Settings page includes a "Recent Activity" section that shows the last 10 successful renames from the past 10 minutes. This helps you verify that files are being processed correctly and see the original and new filenames.
Can I create custom folder structures beyond the predefined strategies?
Yes! Using prompt-driven organization, you can write natural language instructions in the Custom Prompt field to create completely custom folder structures. The AI will interpret your instructions and organize files accordingly. For example, you could organize by project codes, departments, clients, or any other criteria extracted from your documents.
What file types are supported?
Currently, only PDF files are processed. PDFs dropped into watched folders will be automatically renamed. Other file types will be ignored.
Do I need credits to use this integration?
Yes, each file processed consumes 1 credit from your account. You can purchase credits from your account settings. Processing will automatically pause if you run out of credits.
Can I pause or activate watched folders?
Yes! Each watched folder has an "Active" toggle. When paused, files in that folder won't be processed. This is useful if you want to temporarily stop processing for a specific folder without deleting it.
Can I reconnect or refresh my Google Drive connection?
Yes! You can reconnect your Google Drive account anytime using the "Manage Connection" dropdown menu. This is useful if you've changed your Google account password or need to refresh the connection permissions.
What happens if a PDF is password-protected?
Encrypted PDFs can't be processed. They will remain in the shared folder unchanged. Export an unencrypted copy and try again.
What happens after the beta program?
Beta participants will automatically have access to the full Google Drive integration when it's released. We'll notify all beta users about the general availability release.
Related Documentation
Using the AI File Renamer
Learn the fundamentals of AI-powered file renaming, including Auto mode, templates, and custom prompts.
Dropbox Integration
Set up automatic file renaming for your Dropbox account with similar features to Google Drive integration.
OneDrive Integration
Learn about OneDrive integration which uses OAuth for direct account access, compared to Google Drive's shared folder approach.
Use Case Examples
Explore real-world examples of how AI transforms messy filenames across different industries and workflows.
All Documentation
Browse our complete documentation library for integrations, API reference, and more.
Ready to Join the Beta Program?
Connect your Google Drive account and get early access to automated file renaming. Your files will be perfectly organized with AI-powered naming.