download_file

SERVERMcp Google Drive SOURCE@a1-x-tech/mcp-google-drive

Low RISK CLASS

Category Read

Parameters 41 required

Recommended Allowedsee the rule below

Registry record Grade F, identity unverified Pull the record →

This record as markdown: /tools/a1-x-tech-mcp-google-drive/download-file.md

WHAT IT DOES

What download_file does on Mcp Google Drive

AI agents call download_file to retrieve information from Mcp Google Drive without modifying anything. It is typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
`file_id`	string	Yes	The file id — the long id from the Drive URL (drive.google.com/file/d/<fileId> or docs.google.com/.../d/<fileId>/edit) or from search_files/get_file output. Fol
`overwrite`	boolean	—	Replace save_path if it already exists (default false).
`save_path`	string	—	Absolute local path to write the file to (required for binary or >100 KB content).
`acknowledge_abuse`	boolean	—	Download even though Drive flagged the file as abusive (owner only).

Parameters from the server's own tool schema.

RISK

Why download_file is rated Low

Even though download_file only reads data, uncontrolled read access leaks sensitive information and racks up API costs: an agent caught in a retry loop can make thousands of calls a minute without anyone noticing.

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

RECOMMENDED RULE

The rule that runs download_file safely

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway: it sits between your AI agents and Mcp Google Drive, and checks every tool call against a rule you set before the call runs. Nothing changes on the server itself. For download_file, this is the rule to start with:

download_file Allowed

download_file is read-only, so it stays allowed. Everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.

View as policy code

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "download_file": {}
  }
}

ALLOW ONLY THIS TOOL → Instant setup, no code required.

The button opens the PolicyLayer dashboard: create your workspace, connect Mcp Google Drive, apply this rule, and every download_file call is checked against it from then on.

FAQ

Questions about download_file

What does the download_file tool do? +

Downloads a binary file's bytes. With save_path (absolute local path) the file is written to disk (refuses to overwrite unless overwrite=true) and the result reports saved_to/bytes; without save_path small textual files (≤100 KB, text/JSON/XML) are returned inline as content. Google-native files (Docs/Sheets/Slides — mimeType application/vnd.google-apps.*) have no bytes: this tool rejects them, use export_file; for a shortcut it names the real target to download instead. acknowledge_abuse=true downloads a file Drive flagged as malware/abuse (owner only). It is categorised as a Read tool in the Mcp Google Drive MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

What parameters does download_file accept? +

download_file accepts 4 parameters: file_id, overwrite, save_path, acknowledge_abuse. Required: file_id. The full parameter table on this page comes from the server's own tool schema.

How do I enforce a policy on download_file? +

Register the Mcp Google Drive MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for download_file: allow, deny, rate-limit, or require approval. Point your MCP client at the PolicyLayer proxy URL and the rule is enforced on every call, before it reaches Mcp Google Drive. Nothing to install.

What risk level is download_file? +

download_file is a Read tool with low risk. Read-only tools are generally safe to allow by default.

Can I rate-limit download_file? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the download_file rule in your PolicyLayer policy. For example, setting max: 10 and window: 60 limits the tool to 10 calls per minute. Rate limits are tracked per agent session and reset automatically.

How do I block download_file completely? +

Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for download_file. The AI agent will receive a policy violation error and cannot call the tool. You can also include a reason field to explain why the tool is blocked.

What MCP server provides download_file? +

download_file is provided by the Mcp Google Drive MCP server (@a1-x-tech/mcp-google-drive). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

KEEP EXPLORING

More on Mcp Google Drive, and thousands of servers like it.

This server

All 15 Mcp Google Drive tools →

Across the catalogue

get_file_snippet on ACE-MCP → The MCP Attack Database →

Guides

Roll out MCP under one policy →Data exfiltration →MCP token cost →