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ActionGoogle DriveUpdated June 2026

How do I search Google Drive by file name?

Short answer: You can search files in Google Drive by hand from its own interface, but it won’t repeat itself. On TinyCommand, add the Google Drive Search Files 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.

Search Files in Google Drive — start free All 8 Google Drive actions
Search Files in Google Drive — start free
Inputs

The fields this action accepts.

Every field can be mapped from an upstream trigger, AI step, table row, or hard-coded literal.

FieldTypeRequiredDescription
Search Query
query
stringOptionalSearch by file name
Limit
limit
numberOptionalMaximum results (max 50)
Sample request
{
  "query": "{{trigger.query}}",
  "limit": "{{trigger.limit}}"
}
Returns
{
  "files": [
    {
      "id": "1abc",
      "name": "My Document",
      "mimeType": "application/vnd.google-apps.document",
      "modifiedTime": "2026-04-19T10:00:00Z"
    }
  ]
}

Use these fields in downstream nodes for routing, logging, or error handling.

Triggered by

Apps that pair well as the trigger for Search Files.

Any of these apps can fire this action as part of a workflow.

Gmail → Google Drive
1 Gmail triggers
Slack → Google Drive
13 Slack triggers
Google Sheets → Google Drive
2 Google Sheets triggers
HubSpot → Google Drive
18 HubSpot triggers
FAQ

Questions about Search Files.

What does the Search Files action do in Google Drive?
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.
What inputs does Search Files require?
Search Files has no required inputs. Sensible defaults are applied if you leave fields blank.
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 workflow pauses on the failed node, the error message is captured in the run log, and you can retry the run with one click. Auto-retry policies are configurable per workflow with exponential backoff up to 5 attempts.
Does Search Files support batch operations?
Yes. Run Search Files inside a Loop node to process arrays. TinyCommand handles Google Drive's rate limits automatically so you don't have to throttle manually.
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.
Action
Create Folder
Creates a new folder in Google Drive, optionally inside a parent folder. Used in onboarding workflows that auto-provision a workspace per customer.
Action
Delete File
Permanently deletes a file or folder from Google Drive. Bypasses the trash; use Update File with trashed=true for the recoverable version.
Action
Get File
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.
Action
List 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.
Action
Move File
Moves a file or folder to a different parent in Google Drive. Implemented as add new parent + remove old parent under the hood.
Search Files in Google Drive — start free