Guide · Agent skill
How to use the Bulk Download Drive Folder agent skill
Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data
The Bulk Download Drive Folder skill is a set of instructions that teaches an AI agent how to copy every file in a Google Drive folder to your computer in one batch. It is aimed at people who want to back up or move a whole folder, and at developers who already use the gws command-line tool. After reading this guide you will know what the skill does, how to install it, how to ask for it in plain language, and what to check before you run it.
Bulk Download Drive Foldergoogleworkspace/cli · Apache-2.0 Download the skill Quick start
- 1Install gws. Install the gws command-line tool and connect it to your Google account.
- 2Install gws-drive. Add the gws-drive skill, which this recipe depends on.
- 3Install this skill. Download the ZIP from this page and unzip it into ~/.claude/skills/ or a project's .claude/skills/ folder, or upload it under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.
- 4Find the folder. Get the ID of the Google Drive folder you want to copy.
- 5Make the request. Ask the agent in plain language to download all files from that folder.
- 6Review the output. Check the downloaded files and confirm names and PDF exports look right.
What is an agent skill and what does this one do?
An agent skill is a folder containing a SKILL.md file, which gives an AI agent a written procedure for a specific task. When a request matches the skill, the agent follows the procedure instead of working it out from scratch.
This skill, recipe-bulk-download-folder, gives the agent a step-by-step recipe for copying all the files out of a Google Drive folder. The agent lists the folder's contents, downloads each file, and exports Google Docs as PDFs. It does this by running the gws command-line tool.
What you need before installing
The skill cannot work without its requirements. It needs the gws command-line tool installed and connected to your Google account, the companion gws-drive skill, which provides the underlying Drive commands, and a Google account with access to the Drive folder you want to copy. Authentication happens through gws.
- gws command-line tool, installed and authenticated
- gws-drive skill, loaded alongside this one
- Google account with access to the target Drive folder
How do you install the skill?
Download the ZIP file for the skill from this page and unzip it. To make it available in every project, place the unzipped folder in ~/.claude/skills/. To make it available only inside one project, place it in that project's .claude/skills/ folder.
If you use the Claude apps, you can instead upload the skill under Settings → Capabilities → Skills. Install gws-drive the same way, since this recipe depends on it.
- Personal (all projects): ~/.claude/skills/
- Single project: .claude/skills/ inside the project folder
- Claude apps: Settings → Capabilities → Skills
How do you trigger the skill with a request?
You do not need a special command. Describe what you want in ordinary language that mentions Google Drive, a folder, and downloading or backing up files. The agent should recognise the request and follow this recipe.
Be specific about the folder. The recipe works from a folder ID, so give the agent the folder's ID or a link it can resolve through gws.
- "Download every file in my Drive folder called Client Archive to this computer."
- "Back up the Drive folder with ID 1aBcD... to a local directory."
- "Save all the files from this Drive folder and export the Google Docs as PDFs."
What commands does the recipe run?
The recipe uses three gws Drive commands. The agent lists the files in the folder, downloads each regular file with the media option, and exports Google Docs as PDF. The examples below are copied from the skill and show the placeholders the agent fills in.
Each download is saved with the -o flag, which sets the output filename. The skill uses the placeholder filename.ext for downloads and document.pdf for exports.
- List files: the agent searches for files whose parent is FOLDER_ID and outputs JSON
- Download a file: uses the FILE_ID with alt set to media
- Export a Google Doc: uses the FILE_ID with mimeType application/pdf
gws drive files list --params '{"q": "'\''FOLDER_ID'\'' in parents"}' --format json
gws drive files get --params '{"fileId": "FILE_ID", "alt": "media"}' -o filename.ext
gws drive files export --params '{"fileId": "FILE_ID", "mimeType": "application/pdf"}' -o document.pdfWhat are the safety considerations?
This skill runs scripts and uses the network. It downloads every file the agent lists, so everything in the folder ends up on your computer. Review the folder's contents before you run it, especially if it holds sensitive or confidential material.
The recipe is a simple example. It does not handle pagination, errors, or name collisions. If two files share a name, or the folder is very large, check the results yourself.
- Look through the folder first and confirm you are comfortable copying all of it locally
- Keep an eye on file names, since the recipe does not resolve collisions
- For large folders, expect to add your own handling for pagination and errors
Tips for better results
Run the skill on a test folder with a few files first, so you can see how the output looks. Choose an empty destination directory so you can tell what was downloaded in this run.
Load gws-drive along with this skill, because the recipe will not work without it.
- Test on a small folder before a full backup
- Use a clean destination directory
- Confirm gws is authenticated before asking for a download
What people use it for
- Backing up a project folder from Google Drive to a local machine
- Moving files from one Drive folder to a local archive before cleanup
- Saving Google Docs as PDFs in one batch for offline reading
- Collecting a shared folder's contents for a developer's local workflow
Frequently asked questions
Is the Bulk Download Drive Folder skill free?
The skill is licensed under Apache-2.0, as listed for this item. The gws tool and your Google account are separate requirements, so check their terms as well.
What do I need to install before using this skill?
You need the gws command-line tool installed and authenticated with your Google account, plus the gws-drive skill. You also need access to the Drive folder you want to download.
How do I install an agent skill?
Download the ZIP from this page and unzip it into ~/.claude/skills/ for all projects, or into a project's .claude/skills/ folder for one project. In the Claude apps, you can upload it under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.
Does this skill download Google Docs as Word files?
No. The recipe exports Google Docs as PDF using the application/pdf mime type. The source does not describe other export formats.
Can this skill handle very large folders?
The source says the steps are simple examples and do not handle pagination, errors, or name collisions. For very large folders, plan to add your own handling or test carefully first.
What are the alternatives if this skill does not fit?
If you do not use gws or the agent route, you can download files from Google Drive manually or use the Drive commands directly. This page does not compare other tools, so choose based on your own needs.
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Our verdict
Use this skill if you already run the gws CLI and want a repeatable way to copy a whole Google Drive folder to your computer. Pick something else if you do not have gws or Drive access, if the folder holds sensitive files you have not reviewed, or if the folder is very large and needs robust error and pagination handling.
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