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Bulk Download Drive Folder

Lists and downloads every file in a Google Drive folder using the gws CLI.

Source Download skill
Repository
googleworkspace/cli
Stars
32,059
Licence
Apache-2.0
Files
1 file

What it does

This skill gives an AI agent a step-by-step recipe for copying all the files out of a Google Drive folder to your computer. 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, which must already be installed and connected to your Google account, and it relies on the companion gws-drive skill for the underlying Drive commands.

Great for

  • People who want to back up or move a whole Google Drive folder to their computer
  • Users who need many Drive files saved locally in one batch instead of clicking each one
  • Developers already using the gws CLI who want a repeatable download workflow

Skip it if

  • Users who do not have the gws CLI installed or no Google Drive access, since the skill cannot work without them
  • Folders with sensitive or confidential files where you have not reviewed what will be copied locally, because the agent will download everything listed
  • Very large folders, since the steps are simple examples and do not handle pagination, errors, or name collisions

Try asking

  • “Download all files from my Drive folder called Q3 Reports to my Downloads folder”
  • “List everything in the shared project folder and save the files locally”
  • “Export all the Google Docs in this Drive folder as PDFs”
Step-by-step guide: how to use Bulk Download Drive FolderInstall, first run, examples, tips and FAQs

Install in 3 steps

  1. 1

    Download the skill

    The ZIP contains the 1 original files, the Apache-2.0 licence and an attribution note.

    recipe-bulk-download-folder.zip
  2. 2

    Add it to your agent

    Claude Code (all projects)

    mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills && unzip recipe-bulk-download-folder.zip -d ~/.claude/skills/

    Claude Code / Agent SDK (this project only)

    mkdir -p .claude/skills && unzip recipe-bulk-download-folder.zip -d .claude/skills/

    Claude apps (web/desktop): Settings → Capabilities → Skills → Upload skill, and choose the ZIP.

  3. 3

    Ask for the task

    No special command needed — the agent reads the skill's description and loads it when your request matches. Try one of the prompts above.

Get better results

  • Give the agent the exact folder ID so it does not guess the wrong folder, and check the file list it prints before downloads start.
  • Make sure the destination directory is the one you want, since files are written to the current working directory with the names the agent chooses.
  • Note that the steps use placeholder IDs and simple commands, so ask the agent to handle filenames and nested subfolders explicitly if you need them.

What's inside

  • SKILL.md

Redistributed unmodified from googleworkspace/cli under the Apache-2.0 licence. The assessment was drafted with AI from the skill's files on 2026-10-29. Skills can instruct your agent to run code — read SKILL.md and any scripts before installing.