# uploadFile

Upload a file (any type: image, audio, video, PDF, etc.) to Google Drive, either from a local path on the server or from base64-encoded content. When fileId is provided, uploads the content as a new version of that existing file (in-place update) instead of creating a new file.

Agent View of the PolicyLayer registry record for `uploadFile`. HTML page: https://policylayer.com/tools/ark7-google-drive-mcp/uploadfile

## Facts

- Tool: `uploadFile`
- Server: Google Drive (`@ark7/google-drive-mcp`) — https://policylayer.com/tools/ark7-google-drive-mcp.md
- Install: `npx -y @ark7/google-drive-mcp`
- Homepage: https://www.npmjs.com/package/@ark7/google-drive-mcp
- Risk category: Write (Medium risk)
- Registry record: grade F, identity unverified
- Server rate-limited: no
- Parameters: 8
- Recommended policy verdict: Rate-limited

## Parameters

| Parameter | Type | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `name` | string | no | File name in Drive (defaults to local filename; required when creating a new file from contentBase64) |
| `fileId` | string | no | ID of an existing Drive file to update in place: the uploaded content becomes a new version of this file (same ID, revision history preserved). Omit to create a |
| `account` | string | no | Alias of the Google account to target. Optional — defaults to the session/global default account, or the sole authenticated account. Run manage_accounts list to |
| `mimeType` | string | no | MIME type (auto-detected from extension if omitted) |
| `localPath` | string | no | Absolute path to the local file to upload (on the machine running this server). Provide either localPath or contentBase64. |
| `contentBase64` | string | no | Base64-encoded file content. Alternative to localPath for clients without access to the server's filesystem. Provide either localPath or contentBase64. |
| `parentFolderId` | string | no | Parent folder ID or path (e.g., '/Work/Projects'). Creates folders if needed. Defaults to root. Not allowed with fileId (use moveItem to move a file). |
| `convertToGoogleFormat` | boolean | no | Convert uploaded file to Google Workspace format (e.g., .docx to Google Doc, .xlsx to Google Sheet, .pptx to Google Slides). Defaults to false. Not allowed with |

Parameters from the server's own tool schema.

## Example call (MCP tools/call, JSON-RPC 2.0)

```json
{
  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "id": 1,
  "method": "tools/call",
  "params": {
    "name": "uploadFile",
    "arguments": {}
  }
}
```

## Why uploadFile is rated Medium

This tool modifies cloud storage by creating or updating files, which is characteristic of Write category. It is not Destructive because uploads are reversible (files can be deleted or versions reverted).

From the tool's own definition: "uploadFile creates new files or modifies existing files in-place via version updates. Description states: 'Upload a file...to Google Drive' and 'uploads the content as a new version of that existing file (in-place update)'."

## Use case

AI agents use uploadFile to create or update resources in Google Drive, usually the action step of a workflow, after the agent has gathered context. Every call changes real data in your Google Drive environment.

## Recommended policy (PolicyLayer)

Verdict: **Rate-limited**. Enforced by the PolicyLayer MCP gateway (https://policylayer.com/mcp-gateway) before a call reaches Google Drive:

```json
{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "uploadFile": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "uploadfile_rate",
          "window": "minute",
          "max": 30,
          "scope": "grant"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}
```

## Other tools on Google Drive (130)

- `deleteCalendarEvent` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/ark7-google-drive-mcp/deletecalendarevent.md
- `deleteComment` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/ark7-google-drive-mcp/deletecomment.md
- `deleteDimensionGroup` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/ark7-google-drive-mcp/deletedimensiongroup.md
- `deleteGoogleSlide` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/ark7-google-drive-mcp/deletegoogleslide.md
- `deleteItem` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/ark7-google-drive-mcp/deleteitem.md
- `deleteRange` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/ark7-google-drive-mcp/deleterange.md
- `deleteSheet` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/ark7-google-drive-mcp/deletesheet.md
- `deleteSlideElement` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/ark7-google-drive-mcp/deleteslideelement.md
- `removePermission` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/ark7-google-drive-mcp/removepermission.md
- `authGetStatus` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/ark7-google-drive-mcp/authgetstatus.md
- `authListScopes` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/ark7-google-drive-mcp/authlistscopes.md
- `authTestFileAccess` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/ark7-google-drive-mcp/authtestfileaccess.md
- `describeGoogleDocRange` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/ark7-google-drive-mcp/describegoogledocrange.md
- `downloadFile` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/ark7-google-drive-mcp/downloadfile.md
- `exportSlideThumbnail` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/ark7-google-drive-mcp/exportslidethumbnail.md
- `getCalendarEvent` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/ark7-google-drive-mcp/getcalendarevent.md
- `getCalendarEvents` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/ark7-google-drive-mcp/getcalendarevents.md
- `getComment` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/ark7-google-drive-mcp/getcomment.md
- `getDocumentInfo` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/ark7-google-drive-mcp/getdocumentinfo.md
- `getGoogleDocContent` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/ark7-google-drive-mcp/getgoogledoccontent.md
- `getGoogleDocContentPaginated` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/ark7-google-drive-mcp/getgoogledoccontentpaginated.md
- `getGoogleDocImage` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/ark7-google-drive-mcp/getgoogledocimage.md
- `getGoogleDocStyleSummary` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/ark7-google-drive-mcp/getgoogledocstylesummary.md
- `getGoogleSheetCells` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/ark7-google-drive-mcp/getgooglesheetcells.md
- `getGoogleSheetContent` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/ark7-google-drive-mcp/getgooglesheetcontent.md
- `getGoogleSlidesContent` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/ark7-google-drive-mcp/getgoogleslidescontent.md
- `getGoogleSlidesSpeakerNotes` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/ark7-google-drive-mcp/getgoogleslidesspeakernotes.md
- `getRevisions` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/ark7-google-drive-mcp/getrevisions.md
- `getSlideElementInfo` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/ark7-google-drive-mcp/getslideelementinfo.md
- `getSpreadsheetInfo` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/ark7-google-drive-mcp/getspreadsheetinfo.md
- …and 100 more: https://policylayer.com/tools/ark7-google-drive-mcp.md

## For agents

This record is a snapshot. Live verdicts and the full registry:

- Check every server in your MCP config at once: `npx -y policylayer stack`
- Vet a server before you add it: install the mcp-precheck skill — `npx skills add https://policylayer.com` (skill text: https://policylayer.com/skill.md)
- Query the registry over MCP: endpoint `https://api.policylayer.com/mcp` — tools `check_mcp_server`, `check_mcp_stack`, `check_tool`, `search_registry`, `get_change_events`

---

Source: the PolicyLayer MCP registry — one continuously verified record per MCP server. Full record: https://policylayer.com/registry?q=ark7-google-drive-mcp · API: https://policylayer.com/registry/api · Policy library: https://policylayer.com/policies/ark7-google-drive-mcp