Knowledge Connectors
Google Drive and Microsoft SharePoint work differently from other Connectors. Instead of fetching data in real time, they index your files (process and catalog them for fast search) and store them on our platform so Le Chat can search them instantly, similar to how Libraries work.
This means your team can query documents across your entire drive using natural language, with results based on the actual files and respecting your existing access permissions.
Knowledge Connectors are available on Team and Enterprise plans. An administrator must set up indexing before users can connect.
How it works
- An administrator configures the Connector and initiates indexing of your organization's files.
- Files are indexed and stored in our European data centers.
- Users connect with their own accounts and start querying indexed content from the chat.
- The index syncs regularly with the source. Edits, new files, and deletions at the source are reflected during each scheduled sync.
Administrator setup
This is a one-time process. Once indexing is complete, your team can connect and start using the Connector.
- Go to the
Connectorspage and open theAdmin Controlstab. - Find Google Drive and click
Setup. - Review the indexing information modal and click
Setup. - Follow the setup flow: sign in with your Google admin account and grant the required permissions.
- Monitor indexing progress on the
Admin Controlstab.
Indexing can take minutes to several hours depending on the volume of data.
Use selective sync to index only specific folders instead of the entire drive. This reduces indexing time and keeps the knowledge base focused on relevant content.
Selective sync
Selective sync lets you choose exactly which folders, sites, or libraries to index. To configure it:
- Open the
Admin Controlstab on theConnectorspage. - Click on the Connector card.
- Browse and check/uncheck individual folders or sites to include in indexing.
To add new folders to an existing index, re-run the indexing process. New content is added to the existing index.
Updating the index
The platform monitors changes at the source (creation, modification, deletion) and updates the index during each scheduled sync. Deleted files are removed from the index and can no longer be queried through Le Chat.
User connection
Once your administrator has completed indexing, you can connect with your own account:
- Open the
Connectorspage from the sidebar. - Find the Google Drive or SharePoint card and click
Connect. - Sign in with your own Google or Microsoft account.
- Confirm the connection.
A green Connected indicator confirms you're set. You can now query indexed content from any conversation by enabling the Connector as a tool.
If you try to connect before indexing is complete, you'll see an error. Check with your administrator if the Connector isn't available yet.
Permissions and access control
We replicate user, group, and permission structures from the source system. If you don't have access to a file in Google Drive or SharePoint, you can't access it through Le Chat either.
Google Drive specifics
- Permissions are based on explicit sharing (user, group, or domain level).
- Files shared as "anyone with the link" are not automatically visible to your entire organization through Le Chat. They must be explicitly shared with specific users or groups.
SharePoint specifics
- Permissions rely on Microsoft Entra ID groups. Older SharePoint-only groups may not be recognized.
- Files shared exclusively with external guests are generally not indexed.
Disconnecting
What happens when you disconnect depends on who does it:
- A user disconnects (from
My Connectors): your ability to query the data is removed, but the index stays intact for other users in your organization. - An admin disconnects (from
Admin Controls): the Connector is disabled organization-wide and the indexed data is scheduled for permanent deletion.
Re-enabling after an admin disconnection requires a full re-setup and re-indexing.
Libraries vs. Knowledge Connectors
Both give Le Chat access to your documents, but they work differently. Pick the one that fits your situation:
| You want to... | Use |
|---|---|
| Control exactly which files are available, upload them manually | Libraries |
| Index your entire drive or specific folders, with automatic sync | Knowledge Connectors |
| Combine knowledge with an Agent | One or the other (can't use both on the same Agent) |
Data and privacy
- Files are indexed and stored in our European data centers.
- The index is retained only while the knowledge Connector is active. If an admin disables the Connector, data is immediately scheduled for deletion.
- Data accessed through Connectors is never used to train or improve our models, regardless of your plan.
- Conversations that reference Connector data follow your plan's data policies.
For more details, see our privacy policy and trust center.
- Connectors: overview of all available Connectors and how to use them in chat.
- MCP Connectors: browse the directory or connect your own MCP-compatible servers.
- Libraries: build knowledge bases from manually uploaded documents.
- Agents: attach knowledge Connectors to Agents for context-aware assistants.