How can Gmail and Drive be included in Gemini Deep Research?

Definition: Gmail and Drive can be added as sources in Gemini Deep Research when the Google Workspace app is connected to Gemini Apps. For work or school accounts, Google documents a qualifying Workspace edition, Keep Activity, and administrator permission as connected app requirements.

Key facts

• Google's Deep Research help says Google Search is included by default and that personal Gmail or Drive can be added as research sources.
• In the source picker, you select Gmail or Drive after clicking Sources. Google says these services are available there only when the Google Workspace app is connected to Gemini Apps.
• Google's Workspace connection help requires the same signed-in account used with Workspace and Keep Activity turned on.
• For a work or school Google Account, Google's Connected Apps help requires a qualifying Workspace edition and administrator permission to connect apps.
• Google Search remains selected by default. The Deep Research help says you can deselect it to limit research to the other selected sources.

How do you add Gmail or Drive to a research run?

On the Gemini website, click Add Files, choose Deep Research, and open Sources. Select Gmail, Drive, or both, then enter the research question and submit it. Gemini creates a research plan before you start the research.

Add Files > Deep Research > Sources > Gmail or Drive

Google's Deep Research help describes Gmail and Drive as optional sources alongside Google Search, uploaded files, and NotebookLM notebooks. Google Search is part of the default source set, so a run that should use only the connected Workspace sources requires deselecting Google Search in the picker.

What must be connected before Gmail and Drive appear?

The Google Workspace app is the connection that exposes Workspace data to Gemini Apps. Google's connection instructions say to sign in to Gemini with the same account used for Workspace and to turn on Keep Activity. If Keep Activity is off, Gemini cannot connect to Google Workspace.

The documented connection flow starts when you ask Gemini to get information from Google Workspace. If Workspace has not been connected, Gemini offers the connection flow and then shows on-screen instructions. Google also says that Smart features in other Google products must be enabled in Gmail settings; after changing that setting, the help page instructs you to reload Gemini and try again.

What changes for a work or school account?

For a work or school account, the Google account requirements add two administrative conditions: the account must have a qualifying Google Workspace edition, and the Workspace administrator must enable the ability to connect apps to Gemini. The same page says Keep Activity must be turned on and that the administrator manages this setting for the account.

After the administrator enables the app, Google documents an account-specific prompt path. Enter @, select the app, and refer to the Workspace content with keywords. For Drive, Google specifically instructs users to select Google Drive and reference the content in the prompt. The page says Gemini Apps automatically use an app enabled by the Workspace administrator.

Google says Connected Apps availability varies by account type, Workspace edition, location, language, device, and Gemini app. The help pages do not give one universal eligibility matrix for Gmail and Drive in Deep Research.

What can the connected sources contain?

Google's Workspace connection help says Gemini Apps can access information from Gmail and Drive, while listing limits on the connected app. It says Gemini Apps cannot access pictures and videos in Drive, including content outside a document, spreadsheet, presentation, or PDF. It also says Gemini Apps cannot manage Drive content by creating folders or moving content between folders, or count Drive or Gmail items.

These limits describe the connected app's documented access. They do not change the source-picker requirement: Gmail and Drive need the Google Workspace app connection before Deep Research can use them as sources.

Related terms

• Gemini Deep Research
• Can Gemini Deep Research run without Google Search sources?
• Why can a work account be unable to add Drive files to Gemini?

FAQ

Do Gmail and Drive replace Google Search in Deep Research?

No. Google Search is included by default. You can deselect it in Sources when you want the research run to use the other selected sources.

Why is Gmail or Drive missing from the source picker?

Check that Gemini and Workspace use the same account, Keep Activity is on, and the Google Workspace app is connected. For a work or school account, ask the Workspace administrator to confirm a qualifying edition and permission to connect apps.

Can Gemini Deep Research use Drive pictures and videos?

Google says the connected Workspace app cannot access pictures and videos in Drive. Its documented supported content in that limitation is content in a document, spreadsheet, presentation, or PDF.

Sources

1. Google Gemini Apps Help, "Use Deep Research in Gemini Apps", undated
2. Google Gemini Apps Help, "Connect the Google Workspace app to Gemini Apps", undated
3. Google Gemini Apps Help, "Use apps connected to Gemini with a work or school Google Account", undated

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