Google Drive provides extensive cloud storage and collaboration capabilities, but its versatility expands significantly when connected to third-party web applications. From PDF annotators like Kami and DocuSign to online diagramming tools such as Lucidchart and diagrams.net, integrating web tools allows you to view, edit, and convert non-native files directly inside your browser. However, over time, accumulative OAuth permissions, redundant integrations, and conflicting file-association handlers can clutter your Google Drive interface and expose sensitive cloud assets to third-party data access. Auditing and managing connected apps ensures your cloud storage remains secure and functional.
Understanding Connected Apps and Handlers in Google Drive
When you connect an application from the Google Workspace Marketplace to Google Drive, the service is granted specific cloud privileges. These permissions can range from simply reading files opened with the tool to broader read, create, and delete permissions across your entire cloud storage repository.
Additionally, Google Drive maintains a registry of default file handlers. When you double-click a file type—such as a .pdf, .csv, or .drawio document—Drive routes the file to its assigned default application. If multiple tools register for the same extension, conflicting or sluggish applications can disrupt your daily workflow.
How to View and Manage Connected Apps in Google Drive
You can inspect all integrated cloud applications, view their assigned permissions, and configure their default behaviours directly from Drive settings on the web.
- Open your web browser and navigate to Google Drive (
drive.google.com). - Click the Settings gear icon in the top-right corner and select Settings.
- In the settings modal sidebar, click Manage Apps.
- A list of all currently connected Google Workspace Marketplace applications and third-party tools will populate on the screen.
Configuring Default File Handlers
Beside supported applications in the Manage Apps menu, you will see a checkbox labelled Use by default. This setting determines which software launches when you double-click matching file types in your file view.
- Enabling Default Handling: Check Use by default next to your preferred application (e.g., DocHub or Kami for PDF documents) to make it the primary handler.
- Disabling Default Handling: Uncheck Use by default if you prefer Google Drive’s native browser previewer to open first when clicking files.
- Contextual Selection: Even with a default set, you can always open files with an alternative tool by right-clicking the file in Google Drive, selecting Open with, and choosing an installed alternative or browsing for new Marketplace add-ons.
Disconnecting and Revoking Third-Party Apps
If you no longer use a service or want to eliminate third-party access to your files, you should disconnect it immediately from your Drive console.
- In the Manage Apps settings tab, locate the application you want to remove.
- Click the Options button next to the application entry.
- Select Disconnect from Drive.
- Confirm the prompt by clicking Disconnect. This prevents the app from appearing in your “Open with” menus and terminates its ability to create or edit files in your Drive.
Revoking Underlying OAuth Account Permissions
Disconnecting an app from the Google Drive UI removes its file handling associations, but the developer may still hold an active OAuth token granting access to your Google Account data. To revoke account-level permissions completely:
- Navigate to your Google Account Security Dashboard at
myaccount.google.com/connections. - Review the list under Third-party apps with account access.
- Click on the specific third-party application you disconnected.
- Click Delete all connections you have with [App Name] and confirm.
Periodically auditing connected applications and default file handlers ensures Google Drive remains organised, responsive, and rigorously defended against unauthorised third-party cloud data access.