How to connect Google Drive for CapturedIt library backups

CapturedIt is your primary knowledge hub — search, AI enrichment, and assistant integrations all live here. Google Drive is an optional backup and export destination: connect once, then export copies of individual items when you want files in Drive too.

What connecting Google Drive does

• Authorizes CapturedIt to write exported copies to your Google Drive
• Lets you export items from each library entry's Share or actions menu
• Does not replace CapturedIt as your source of truth — captures still live in your library first

For how CapturedIt compares to using Drive alone for research, see CapturedIt vs Google Drive.

Prerequisites

• CapturedIt Pro or Vault plan (cloud connections are not available on Starter)
• A Google account with Google Drive enabled
• Room within your plan's cloud connection limit (Pro: 1, Vault: up to 5)

Setup steps

1. Open Connections: Dashboard → Connections → Backups & exports.
2. Find Google Drive in the provider list and click Connect.
3. Sign in with Google and approve the requested permissions. CapturedIt requests access to create and manage files it exports — not your entire Drive.
4. Confirm connected status — the card shows Connected when OAuth completes.

Export items to Drive

1. Open any item in your library.
2. Use Share or the item actions menu.
3. Choose Export to Google Drive (or Save to Drive).
4. The exported copy appears in your Drive — typically as a document or file CapturedIt creates for that item.

Reconnect if exports fail

If you connected Drive before export support was enabled, you may see a reconnect prompt on the Connections page. Click Reconnect and approve the updated Google permissions so exports work.

Troubleshooting

• Access denied: You cancelled Google OAuth or your Google Workspace admin blocks third-party apps. Try again or ask your admin to allow CapturedIt.
• Connection limit reached: Pro allows one cloud connection. Disconnect an unused provider or upgrade to Vault for more slots.
• Export button missing: Confirm Drive shows Connected (not needs reconnect) on the Connections page.
• Google OAuth not configured: Rare server-side issue — contact support if the error persists.

Frequently asked questions

Does CapturedIt sync my whole library to Drive automatically?

No. Exports are per-item and intentional. Your library stays in CapturedIt; Drive receives copies only when you export.

Can I use Drive and still connect ChatGPT?

Yes. Drive is for file backups; AI assistants connect separately via the Context Hub API or MCP. See connecting to ChatGPT and Claude.