Opening a Google Drive file with a connected app can authorize a third-party service to access some or all Drive content, depending on the request. Review the app and its permissions before using Open with, particularly for confidential documents.
Check the app and requested scope
Identify the publisher, intended function, privacy terms, and organizational approval. Google’s Marketplace and Drive app settings can help locate the product page and publisher contact information. Do not rely on a familiar icon or a name resembling Google’s products.
Read the authorization screen carefully. Permission to open one selected file is different from broad access to files in your Drive. Ask the administrator when a managed account blocks the integration or the requested access seems excessive.
Open and save deliberately
Right-click the intended file in Drive, choose Open with, and select the approved app. Check whether edits save to the original, export a new file, or create a separate copy. Different apps use different save actions.
Preserve the authoritative original and verify the resulting file’s format, contents, and sharing. Avoid making a new app the default for a file type until you understand its behavior.
Manage ongoing access
In Drive settings, Manage apps provides options for defaults and Disconnect from Drive. Google notes that app permissions can be revoked, but disconnection should not be described as retrieving information already processed by the app. Review any broader Google Account connection and the provider’s retention terms where relevant. If the app is no longer needed, remove its authorized access through the appropriate controls. Keep app access, local copies, Drive sharing, and source-file deletion as separate decisions.
References
Reviewed against the linked official product guidance on November 3, 2026. Features, limits, screen labels, and access can vary by account, platform, region, and organization policy.