ActionGoogle DriveUpdated September 2026
How do I fetch Google Drive file metadata?
Short answer: You can get file in Google Drive by hand from its own interface, but it won’t repeat itself. On TinyCommand, add the Google Drive Get File action to a workflow, map its 2 inputs from any upstream app, and it runs automatically every time the trigger fires. No code, and a free tier to start.
Inputs
The fields this action accepts.
Every field can be mapped from an upstream trigger, AI step, table row, or hard-coded literal.
| Field | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
File ID file_id | string | Required | The unique identifier of the file |
Fields fields | string | Optional | Specific fields to return in the response |
Sample request
{"file_id": "e.g. 1BxiMVs0XRA5nFMdKvBdBZjgmUUqptlbs74OgVE2upms","fields": "e.g. id,name,mimeType,size,webViewLink,modifiedTime,parents"}
Returns
{"id": "1BxiMVs0XRA5nFMdKvBdBZjgmUUqptlbs74OgVE2upms","name": "Q1 Sales Report.pdf","size": "245890","owners": [{"displayName": "John Doe","emailAddress": "john@example.com"}],"parents": ["folder123"],"mimeType": "application/pdf","createdTime": "2025-01-10T09:00:00.000Z","webViewLink": "https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BxiMVs0XRA5nFMdKvBdBZjgmUUqptlbs74OgVE2upms/view","modifiedTime": "2025-01-15T14:30:00.000Z","webContentLink": "https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1BxiMVs0XRA5nFMdKvBdBZjgmUUqptlbs74OgVE2upms&export=download"}
Use these fields in downstream nodes for routing, logging, or error handling.
Triggered by
Apps that pair well as the trigger for Get File.
Any of these apps can fire this action as part of a workflow.
FAQ
Questions about Get File.
What does the Get File action do in Google Drive?
Returns metadata for a specific Google Drive file or folder by ID: name, mimeType, parents, modifiedTime, size, and webViewLink. The standard read after a trigger fires with an ID.
What inputs does Get File require?
Required: File ID. Every input accepts a static value or a variable from any upstream node in your workflow.
Can I use dynamic inputs from earlier workflow nodes?
Yes. Any field on this action can pull values from upstream nodes, whether that's a form response, a trigger payload, an AI output, or a lookup result.
What happens if Google Drive returns an error?
The run history shows the failed step with its input and the error message Google Drive returned, so you can fix the input and run the workflow again. Automatic retries are built into HTTP steps only, where you can also set your own retry count and delay.
Does Get File support batch operations?
Run Get File inside a loop to process each item in an array. TinyCommand does not throttle calls for you, so for large arrays add a Delay step if you need to stay within Google Drive's rate limits.
More actions
Other Google Drive actions.
Action
Copy File
Creates a copy of a file in Google Drive, optionally into a different folder and with a new name. Standard pattern for template-doc-per-customer flows.
ActionCreate Folder
Creates a new folder in Google Drive, optionally inside a parent folder. Used in onboarding workflows that auto-provision a workspace per customer.
ActionDelete File
Permanently deletes a file or folder from Google Drive. Bypasses the trash; use Update File with trashed=true for the recoverable version.
ActionList Files
Lists files and folders from Google Drive with optional Drive query (q parameter). Use to enumerate everything in a folder or to find files by name/mimeType.
ActionMove File
Moves a file or folder to a different parent in Google Drive. Implemented as add new parent + remove old parent under the hood.
ActionSearch Files
Searches files and folders in Google Drive by name (uses a contains-match on the name field). For advanced queries, use List Files with a custom Drive q parameter.