Google Drive is a cloud-based file storage and synchronization service designed to integrate with most operating systems and devices, sync content in real-time across multiple devices, and act as a backup data repository for data.
Google Drive connector allows the downloading of source files and uploading of target files directly to/from personal and shared Google Drive repositories. Files shared by other users and present in the section are not supported. The connector uses the Google Drive API to implement the integration.
When a Google Drive connector is configured and authorized in Phrase TMS, the same connection is automatically available in other Phrase products that support external content browsing via Google Drive. Source files can be selected, content can be imported and translated files can be exported back to Google Drive without reauthentication wherever the connector appears in the interface.
Note
Due to continuous improvements, the user interface may not be exactly the same as presented in the video.
Google Docs Support
Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Google Slides use specialized file formats that Phrase does not support. The connector converts these file types to .docx, .xlsx, or .pptx, respectively, for processing. When a translation of those types of files is completed and uploaded back to Google Drive, they are automatically converted back into their native Google format.
Google Drive cannot export Google files (Docs, Sheets, Slides) over a certain size (approximately 10 MB) due to a limitation in the Google API. The error is triggered and the job will not be created. In this case, download the file and upload it to manually.
There are a number of use cases for the connector:
-
Project managers can add files directly to projects from an online repository.
-
Set up the submitter portal to allow Submitters to add files to requests directly from the online repository.
-
Use automated project creation (APC) to have new projects automatically created when a change in the last modified date is detected for monitored files or a folder.
-
This connector supports absolute path setting.
-
-
Set up continuous jobs to have selected files monitored for changes.
Google Drive Settings
No changes are required.
Important
If accessing from a custom domain (ex. mydomain.phrase.jp), open an incognito browser window and log in via cloud.memsource.com or us.cloud.memsource.com to apply the authentication required for the creation or saving of the connector. After saving, the connector can be accessed via the custom domain.
-
From the Settings
page, scroll down to the section.
-
Click on Connectors.
The page opens.
-
Click New connector.
The page opens.
-
Change the Type to Google Drive and provide a name for the connector.
-
Click Connect to Google Drive.
A Google authentication screen will appear where you can select your account.
-
Click on Allow.
A checkmark will appear in the connector setup if the connection was successful. A red exclamation point will appear if it wasn't. Hover over the icon to see additional details.
-
Click Save.
The connector is added to the list on the page.
Tip
Currently, only one connector per Google Drive account (including its personal and shared drives) may have valid authentication at a time.
To switch between connectors, or to add an additional Google connector to the same account and force its authentication, follow these steps:
-
Visit the Google Drive page.
-
Click on the account (top right corner)
-
Click Security on the left, and scroll down to Third-party apps with account access.
-
Click on Manage third-party access. If Memsource Connector is listed here, delete it.
-
Create a new connector to this Google Drive account with valid authentication.
To switch authentication between your existing connectors, go to the inactive connector's setup page and press Re-connect to Google Drive.
By using this service, you agree that Phrase can access your Google Drive, browse files and folders, access and download selected files, upload the translated versions back to your Google Drive, and access and download native Google documents in your Google Drive. Phrase use of Google user data is limited to the practices explicitly disclosed in this privacy policy.
Authentication or Internal Server error
If an authentication error or an appears when saving a new Google Drive connector, and the same Google account is already linked to an older connector created before February 20, 2026, the cause is likely a legacy limitation in how the original authorization was stored.
Test connection usually succeeds, but the connector fails when selecting Save.
Resolution
-
Reset the Google authorization in the Google account to disconnect all existing Google Drive connectors associated with that account.
-
Reconnect the Google Drive connectors in Phrase by opening each connector that used this account and completing the authentication again.
-
Once reauthenticated, a new Google Drive connector can be created and saved successfully using the same Google account.