Common questions

Quick answers to the questions we receive most often about Google Drive Portal.

Why can I not see files I just added to Drive?

The plugin remembers folder contents for 5 minutes by default, to limit calls to Google. Click Refresh in the portal, or Clear cache on the Drive Documents page. In Pro you can shorten the Cache duration.

Does the Google connection expire?

No. A service account key does not expire on its own. It stops working only if you delete the key in the Google Cloud console or unshare the folder.

Do I need to create OAuth credentials or a consent screen?

No. The plugin uses a service account, so there is no redirect URI to copy, no consent screen, no test users and no app to publish or verify. See Connect Google Drive.

Do files pass through my server?

Yes, on purpose: it is the only way to make sure a link does not work outside the private area. The transfer uses your hosting bandwidth. You can limit file size with Maximum download size.

Can users upload files to Drive from the portal?

No. The plugin is read only and never writes to your Drive. Add files in Google Drive and they appear in the portal.

Does switching downloads off really stop people getting the file?

It reduces access a lot: with downloads off, the original file is never sent (images are reduced and PDFs are not previewed). But anyone who can see a document on screen can photograph it. See View only folders.

A user sees "No document folder is linked to your account"

Their role has no rule, or the matching rule is not the first one while you are on the free version (the free version runs only the first rule). Check the access rules and the user's role in Users.

What happens when the trial or licence ends?

The portal keeps working as the free version: the first rule, list view, light theme and downloads. No document is lost and your Pro settings stay stored for when you activate a licence.