# download_file

Download a file from Google Drive to the local filesystem. For Google Docs/Sheets/Slides, use export_doc or export_sheet instead.

Agent View of the PolicyLayer registry record for `download_file`. HTML page: https://policylayer.com/tools/ztgluis-google-mcp/download-file

## Facts

- Tool: `download_file`
- Server: Google (`ztgluis/google-mcp`) — https://policylayer.com/tools/ztgluis-google-mcp.md
- Homepage: https://github.com/ztgluis/google-mcp
- Risk category: Read (Low risk)
- Registry record: grade F, identity unverified
- Server rate-limited: no
- Parameters: 0
- Recommended policy verdict: Allowed

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

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

## 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.

## Use case

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

## Recommended policy (PolicyLayer)

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

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

## Other tools on Google (63)

- `delete_comment` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/ztgluis-google-mcp/delete-comment.md
- `delete_doc_tab` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/ztgluis-google-mcp/delete-doc-tab.md
- `delete_footer` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/ztgluis-google-mcp/delete-footer.md
- `delete_header` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/ztgluis-google-mcp/delete-header.md
- `delete_named_range` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/ztgluis-google-mcp/delete-named-range.md
- `delete_permission` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/ztgluis-google-mcp/delete-permission.md
- `delete_positioned_object` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/ztgluis-google-mcp/delete-positioned-object.md
- `delete_reply` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/ztgluis-google-mcp/delete-reply.md
- `trash_file` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/ztgluis-google-mcp/trash-file.md
- `about` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/ztgluis-google-mcp/about.md
- `export_doc` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/ztgluis-google-mcp/export-doc.md
- `get_file_metadata` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/ztgluis-google-mcp/get-file-metadata.md
- `get_revision` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/ztgluis-google-mcp/get-revision.md
- `list_comments` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/ztgluis-google-mcp/list-comments.md
- `list_doc_tabs` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/ztgluis-google-mcp/list-doc-tabs.md
- `list_folder` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/ztgluis-google-mcp/list-folder.md
- `list_named_ranges` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/ztgluis-google-mcp/list-named-ranges.md
- `list_permissions` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/ztgluis-google-mcp/list-permissions.md
- `list_replies` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/ztgluis-google-mcp/list-replies.md
- `list_revisions` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/ztgluis-google-mcp/list-revisions.md
- `read_doc` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/ztgluis-google-mcp/read-doc.md
- `read_doc_structure` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/ztgluis-google-mcp/read-doc-structure.md
- `search_drive` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/ztgluis-google-mcp/search-drive.md
- `add_comment` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/ztgluis-google-mcp/add-comment.md
- `add_doc_tab` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/ztgluis-google-mcp/add-doc-tab.md
- `copy_doc` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/ztgluis-google-mcp/copy-doc.md
- `copy_file` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/ztgluis-google-mcp/copy-file.md
- `create_doc` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/ztgluis-google-mcp/create-doc.md
- `create_doc_from_markdown` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/ztgluis-google-mcp/create-doc-from-markdown.md
- `create_folder` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/ztgluis-google-mcp/create-folder.md
- …and 33 more: https://policylayer.com/tools/ztgluis-google-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=ztgluis-google-mcp · API: https://policylayer.com/registry/api · Policy library: https://policylayer.com/policies/ztgluis-google-mcp