Google Drive
Search your Google Drive photos.
Sign in with Google, choose folders, and find any photo by what’s in it or who’s in it. Sift works from small previews, so your originals stay in Drive.
In short: Sift’s Google Drive connection signs in with Google as you and lists only the folders you choose. It analyzes a small preview of each photo on your own computer, and nothing passes through Sift’s servers.
No editor needed. Sift works on its own as a desktop app on Mac and Windows: search, preview, build Selects and share footage by link without opening an editor. The editor panels are optional.
What it does.
- Search photos in the Drive folders you choose by what’s in them and who’s in them.
- Works with My Drive, shared drives and folders shared with you.
- Keeps a thumbnail, face data and search data for each photo on your computer, so searching is fast.
- Open any result in Google Drive, or download one original when you ask for it.
What it doesn’t.
- It never changes, moves or deletes anything in your Drive.
- It doesn’t download your originals to analyze them.
- It doesn’t send your photos, or what it learns from them, to Sift’s servers.
- It doesn’t use your Drive data to train AI models, or for ads, and it never sells it.
- Videos in Drive aren’t included yet.
Removing your data.
To remove one folder, choose ⋯ next to it in Sift, then Remove from Sift. To remove everything, open Integrations › Google Drive › Disconnect: Sift ends its access at Google and deletes the thumbnails, faces and search data it made from your Drive, from your computer. You can also end access any time from your Google Account, under Third-party apps and services.
Trademarks
Google Drive is a trademark of Google LLC. Sift Clips isn’t affiliated with or endorsed by Google.
How it works.
- Update Sift
Open Integrations in Sift and choose Google Drive.
- Sign in with Google
Read what Sift will do, then allow access.
- Choose folders
Pick the folders to search. Sift lists them, then reads the previews.
Questions
Does Sift download my originals?
No. It works from small previews. A full original is downloaded only when you click Download original on that photo.
Why does Google say Sift can see my Drive files?
Google only gives previews to apps allowed to read a file. Sift uses that access to list the folders you choose, fetch previews, and download an original when you ask.
Does Sift find faces in my Drive photos?
Yes, on your computer, so you can search by person. Face data stays on your computer and is deleted when you disconnect.
Keep reading.
Try it on your own footage.
Free for 3 days or 25 searches. No card. Then $99 a year for one computer, Mac or Windows. Everything in Sift, including the optional editor panels and one free link to share footage.