If you deal with contracts, forms, or signatures, you know the pain: files everywhere, endless email chains, and that sinking feeling you sent the wrong version. If you want to sign documents online and save them straight to Google Drive—without headaches—this guide’s for you. We’ll walk through how to hook up Signnow with Google Drive, what actually works, what to skip, and how to keep your workflow simple.
Why bother integrating Signnow with Google Drive?
Let’s be real—most e-signature tools do a decent job. But if your finished docs end up scattered across inboxes or lost in downloads, it’s a mess. Here’s why connecting Signnow to Google Drive is worth your time:
- Single source of truth: Signed docs land in the right Drive folder, not your Downloads.
- Easy sharing: Share or organize files in Google Drive just like any other doc.
- Searchable: Google Drive’s search beats digging through email threads.
- Backup: Google’s pretty good at not losing your stuff.
But, there are a few caveats. The integration isn’t perfect, and some features are more “meh” than magical. Let’s get into the nuts and bolts.
What you’ll need before starting
Don’t skip this—most headaches come from missing one of these:
- A Signnow account (any paid plan; free tiers usually can’t integrate)
- A Google account with access to Drive (personal or Workspace is fine)
- Decent internet connection (yep, it matters for cloud stuff)
- Chrome browser (or another mainstream browser; some odd bugs on Edge/IE)
Pro tip: If you’re doing this for a team, make sure you’re using the right Google account. Mixing personal and work accounts is a recipe for confusion.
Step 1: Enable the Signnow for Google Drive integration
There are two ways to connect Signnow with Drive: via the Google Workspace Marketplace, or from within Signnow itself. Here’s the lowdown on both.
Option 1: Install the Signnow add-on from Google Workspace Marketplace
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Open Google Drive.
Go to drive.google.com and log in. -
Get the Signnow add-on.
Click “+ New” → “More” → “Connect more apps.”
In the search bar, type “Signnow” and select the official app. -
Install it.
Click “Install.” You’ll need to grant permissions (read: give it access to your files). -
Authorize Signnow.
When prompted, sign in with your Signnow credentials and connect your account. -
What works:
Once installed, you can right-click most files in Drive, then go to “Open with” → “Signnow” to send them for signature or save signed copies back to Drive. -
What doesn’t:
The add-on isn’t flawless. Sometimes it’s slow to appear, or doesn’t support all file types (PDF is safe, but weird formats can be buggy). Don’t expect magic with images or spreadsheets.
Option 2: Connect from within Signnow
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Log into Signnow.
Go to your Signnow dashboard and sign in. -
Find the integrations section.
Look for “Integrations” or “Cloud storage” in the sidebar (the menu labels change sometimes). -
Connect Google Drive.
Click “Connect,” then sign in to your Google account and approve permissions. -
What works:
You can import files from Drive to Signnow, sign them, and export back—directly from the Signnow interface. -
What doesn’t:
The connection sometimes drops if you change your Google password or have strict admin controls. Double-check you’re using the right account.
Ignore: Any third-party “integration” tools that want you to pay extra or download sketchy software. Stick to the official add-on or built-in integration for security.
Step 2: Sending documents for signature and saving to Drive
With the integration set up, here’s how to actually use it:
Sending a document from Google Drive
- Right-click the document in Drive.
- Go to “Open with” → “Signnow.”
- Sign in (if prompted).
- Prepare the doc in Signnow:
Add signature fields, dates, checkboxes—whatever you need. - Send for signature:
Enter recipient emails and customize the message.
When you’re done, the completed doc can be saved back to your Drive. Make sure to pick the right folder—defaults can be messy.
Importing a document from Drive in Signnow
- In Signnow, click “Upload” → “From cloud storage.”
- Choose Google Drive.
- Pick your file.
- Set up signature fields and send.
After the doc is signed, you can usually “Export” or “Save to Drive.” Sometimes this option is buried—look for a cloud or Google Drive icon.
Heads up: If you’re working with sensitive info, check your organization’s Drive sharing settings. Some admins block third-party integrations.
Step 3: Organizing and sharing signed documents
Once your docs are in Google Drive, you can treat them like any other file:
- Use folders:
Don’t just dump everything in “My Drive.” Set up folders by client, project, or year. - Rename files:
Signnow’s naming convention isn’t always helpful (“signed_document_xyz.pdf” isn’t very descriptive). - Set sharing permissions:
Use Google Drive’s sharing settings for who can view, edit, or download.
Pro tip: For recurring docs (like NDAs), create a folder template and reuse it.
Step 4: Automating the process (for power users)
If you’re signing lots of documents, you might want to automate things. Here’s what actually works:
- Zapier:
Use Zapier to connect Signnow and Google Drive for automating “When a document is signed, save to this folder” workflows. It’s not free, but handy if you’re drowning in paperwork. - Google Drive shortcuts:
No need to move everything—use shortcuts if you want the same signed doc in multiple folders. - Avoid:
Overcomplicating things with too many automation layers. If you need a PhD to troubleshoot it, it’s not worth it.
Note: Some automations (like Zapier) may require higher-tier Signnow plans.
Common problems (and how to fix them)
- Integration not showing up:
Refresh Google Drive, or reinstall the add-on. - File types not supported:
Stick to PDFs, Word docs, or common file formats. Oddball files (.pages, .odt) are hit-or-miss. - Signed docs not saving to Drive:
Double-check your export settings in Signnow and your Google permissions. - Multiple Google accounts confusion:
Log out of extra accounts, or use Chrome’s “profiles” feature to keep work and personal separate.
What not to worry about
- Security:
The official integration uses Google and Signnow’s security. As long as you’re not sharing Drive folders publicly, you’re fine. - Storage limits:
Signed PDFs are usually small. Unless you’re signing video files (don’t), you won’t hit Drive limits. - Manual backups:
Google Drive handles versioning and backups. No need to download every signed doc “just in case.”
Summary: Keep it simple, iterate as you go
Setting up Signnow and Google Drive together isn’t rocket science, but it’s easy to overthink. Start with the basics: connect the two, run a test doc, and see if it fits your workflow. Don’t chase every automation or feature—get the essentials working first. If you hit snags, check permissions, stick to supported file types, and remember: most “integration problems” are really just login confusion.
Once you’ve got the basics down, you’ll save time, avoid lost docs, and maybe—just maybe—keep your inbox a little cleaner.