Claude connectors link Claude to the apps you already use, like Gmail, Google Drive, Microsoft 365, Slack, and Notion, so it can find information there and, for some apps, take actions for you. Claude can only access data you already have permission to see in the connected app, not everything in the service. You add one from Customize → Connectors, sign in to the app, and turn it on in any conversation. This guide covers exactly what each major connector can and can't do (including which ones can send and change things, which has changed recently), which plans include them, how to add a custom connector for any tool, and how to fix one that isn't working.
Checked against Anthropic's connector documentation (opens in a new tab) on October 9, 2026.
TL;DR
- Add connectors from Customize → Connectors → Discover, then select Connect to Claude and sign in.
- Turn a connector on per conversation from the + menu → Connectors.
- Gmail and Google Calendar can take actions now. As of October 2026, Claude's directory lists Gmail tools for drafting, replying, sending, forwarding, and labeling, and Calendar tools for creating and updating events. Set anything that sends to Needs approval.
- Microsoft 365 can take actions (send mail, schedule meetings, update files, post in Teams) if your admins turn on write actions. It needs a work or school Microsoft account.
- Most connectors work on every plan, including Free. Gmail and Google Calendar need Pro or above; the Slack connector needs Team or Enterprise.
- Free accounts can add one custom connector; paid plans can add as many as they like.
What are Claude connectors?
A connector is a secure link between Claude and an outside app. Without one, Claude only knows what you paste in. With one, you can ask "what did Sarah say about the deadline?" and Claude searches your email and answers with links back to the messages it used.
What to know up front:
- They work across Claude. Connectors you add in claude.ai work on the web, in the desktop app (including Cowork), on mobile, and in Claude Code when you sign in with your Claude account.
- They're built on MCP (the Model Context Protocol), the open standard that lets any tool plug into Claude the same way. You don't need to understand MCP to use connectors. If you're curious, see our plain-English MCP explainer.
- Claude only sees what you can see. A connector uses your own account's permissions in the other app.
- You control every tool. For each connector you can set each action to Always allow, Needs approval, or Blocked.
Want to know if a specific app is covered? Our Claude connector checker searches every connector in Claude's directory.
What each connector can actually do
This is the table I wish I'd had. "Read" means search and summarize. "Write" means Claude can change something in the app. Write tools are listed from each connector's page in Claude's directory (opens in a new tab), checked October 9, 2026; tool lists change, so check the listing before you rely on one.
| Connector | Read | Write | Plans | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gmail | Search threads and read messages | Draft, reply, send, forward, label, filter, mark spam, and trash (29 tools) | Pro, Max, Team, Enterprise | Set sending tools to Needs approval |
| Google Calendar | Meetings, attendees, availability, conflicts | Create, update, and delete events; respond to invitations; suggest times | Pro, Max, Team, Enterprise | |
| Google Drive | Docs, Sheets, Slides, PDFs, Office files, images | Create, update, copy, share, and trash files | See listing | Built and run by Google; can't read comments or suggestions |
| Microsoft 365 | SharePoint, OneDrive, Outlook mail and calendar, Teams | Send mail, manage drafts, create and update events, update SharePoint files, send Teams messages, if admins enable write actions | Free, Pro, Max, Team, Enterprise | Work or school account only; needs Microsoft admin consent |
| Slack | Channels, DMs, and files you can access | Send messages and create canvases, per its directory listing | Team, Enterprise | Claude in Slack app must be installed first |
| Notion, Canva, HubSpot, Salesforce, and more | Varies | Varies | Varies | Built by the app makers; check each listing |
Sources: each connector's directory listing (opens in a new tab) and Anthropic's pages for Gmail (opens in a new tab), Google Calendar (opens in a new tab), Google Drive (opens in a new tab), Microsoft 365 (opens in a new tab), and Slack (opens in a new tab).
Want Claude to draft and send email? Both main email connectors can now. The Gmail connector lists tools for drafting, replying, sending, and forwarding. With Microsoft 365, Outlook drafting and sending work once your admins turn on write actions. Anthropic's own Gmail docs page (opens in a new tab) still describes the connector as read-only, so it may be out of date or the tools may still be rolling out; check your connector's Tool permissions to see what's available to you, and set anything that sends to Needs approval.
How to add a connector
Here's what the Connectors page looks like once you've added a few:
Your connectors
| Connector | Label | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Google Drive | Verified | Connected |
| Gmail | Verified | Connected |
| Microsoft 365 | Verified | Reconnect |
| Notion | Verified | Connect |
Step by step:
- Go to Customize → Connectors in claude.ai. In the desktop app, select Customize in the sidebar, then Connectors.
- Select Discover, then search for the app or browse the categories.
- Open the connector and select Connect to Claude. Some ask for extra details first, like a region or server URL.
- Sign in to the app and approve the access Claude asks for. In the desktop app this opens in your browser.
- Back on the Connectors page, it shows Connected under Your connectors.
Then use it in a chat: select + in the message box → Connectors, and make sure its toggle is on. The first time Claude uses one of its tools, it may ask permission:
What did Sarah say about the project deadline?
I'd like to search your email for messages from Sarah about the deadline.
Gmail · Search emails
On a Team or Enterprise plan, an Owner adds a connector for the whole organization first. If they haven't, you'll see Request instead of a connect button. Owners see Connect for your team, or can use the arrow next to it to pick Connect just for me and try it first.
Verified, Community, and Custom labels
Every connector in the directory has a label telling you how much Anthropic has reviewed it (opens in a new tab):
- Verified (checkmark): Anthropic tested its tools for quality and compatibility. It isn't a security audit, and the developer can still change its tools later.
- Community: built by a third party, screened but not reviewed in depth. Claude reminds you of this before you connect.
- Custom: one you added yourself by URL. Anthropic hasn't reviewed it.
Which plans include connectors?
Connectors aren't a paid-only feature. Most directory connectors work on every plan. The differences:
| Plan | Directory connectors | Custom connectors | Who turns them on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | Most, but not Gmail, Google Calendar, or Slack | One | You |
| Pro / Max | Yes, except Slack | Unlimited | You |
| Team / Enterprise | Yes | Unlimited, added by an Owner | An Owner adds each connector for the organization; then each person connects their own account |
The other app may have its own requirements too. Microsoft 365, for example, needs a work or school account and a Microsoft administrator's approval.
Google Workspace: Gmail, Drive, and Calendar
If your work lives in Google, connect these three first.
Gmail searches your email and reads whole threads. Try "find emails about the Q4 budget review" or "summarize my conversation with the sales team last week." Its directory listing also includes tools to draft, reply, send, forward, and label. Keep sending on Needs approval so nothing goes out without you seeing it.
Google Calendar answers questions like "do I have any conflicts next week?" or "who's attending the budget review?", and its listing includes tools to find a time, create and update events, and respond to invitations.
Google Drive is the most capable of the three. It's built and run by Google, it can read Docs, Sheets, Slides, PDFs, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files, and it can create, update, copy, and share files. You can also attach a specific Drive file to a chat (+ → Add from Google Drive) or to a private Project's knowledge. A few limits: Claude can't read comments or suggested edits, and Docs, Sheets, and Slides over about 10 MB come through as just the file name and details.
On Team and Enterprise, these don't appear in your list until an Owner enables them.
Microsoft 365: Outlook, SharePoint, OneDrive, and Teams
The Microsoft 365 connector is the one that can actually do things. With write actions turned on by your admins, Claude can send mail, manage drafts and automatic replies, create and update calendar events, find meeting times, create and update SharePoint files, and send Teams messages. Without write actions it still searches and reads all of it.
Two requirements catch people out:
- Personal accounts don't work. You need a work or school Microsoft account. Outlook.com, Hotmail, and Live addresses aren't supported.
- A Microsoft admin has to approve it. A Microsoft Entra Global Administrator grants consent for your organization, even on Free, Pro, and Max.
Full walkthrough: our Claude Outlook connector guide.
Slack
There are two different things here. Claude in Slack puts Claude inside your Slack workspace so you can message it there. The Slack connector lets Claude in claude.ai search your channels, DMs, and files for context.
The connector is Team and Enterprise only, and the Claude in Slack app has to be installed in your workspace first, which needs a Slack admin's approval. Anthropic's newer version of Claude in Slack is called Claude Tag (opens in a new tab), which gives your team one shared Claude set up by an admin.
Notion, Canva, CRMs, and everything else
Hundreds more connectors live in the directory, many built by the app makers themselves. Notion's connector lets Claude work with your pages and databases. Canva lets Claude create and edit designs from your conversation; see our Canva connector guide. CRM tools like HubSpot and Salesforce let Claude look up and work with records.
What each one can read or change is up to its developer, so open its listing and check before you rely on it.
Some connectors show an Interactive badge. Instead of only returning text, they show a live interface (a task board, a dashboard, a design canvas) inside the conversation.
Desktop extensions (local connectors)
Most connectors are remote: they run in the cloud and follow you to the web, desktop, and mobile. The Claude desktop app can also run desktop extensions, local connectors that run on your own computer. They're useful for local files and tools, internal systems, or work that has to happen offline.
To install one you've been given as a .mcpb file, open the desktop app, go to Settings → Extensions, drag the file in, and select Install. Your organization can turn extensions off or limit which ones you can install.
Custom connectors: connect any tool with MCP
If the tool you need isn't in the directory but has a remote MCP server, you can add it yourself:
- Go to Customize → Connectors and select Add custom connector.
- Enter the server URL, for example
https://mcp.example.com/mcp. - Choose how people sign in. "Sign in now" makes each person log in first; "Sign in when needed" prompts only when the server asks; "No sign-in" is for servers that don't need it.
- Add any OAuth details under Advanced settings if the tool's documentation says to, then select Add.
On Team and Enterprise, an Owner adds it under Organization settings → Connectors (Add → Custom), and members then find it with a Custom label and connect.
Two things to know. Custom connectors connect from Anthropic's cloud, not your computer, so the server must be reachable on the public internet; for servers inside a private network, Anthropic offers MCP tunnels (opens in a new tab). And you can't change a custom connector's sign-in settings after adding it; you have to remove it and add it again.
Connectors and Agent Skills work well together: connectors give Claude access to a tool, and skills teach it a repeatable way to use it.
Connectors in Claude Cowork
Connectors are what make Claude Cowork feel like a capable assistant rather than a chatbot. It works across your connected apps and the files on your computer to finish a whole task, not just answer a question. Connect your Google or Microsoft account early and the difference is obvious. The free course has a hands-on lesson on using connectors in Cowork.
Troubleshooting: Claude connectors not working
Work through these in order:
- Is it turned on for this chat? Select + → Connectors and check the toggle. This is the most common reason Claude "ignores" a connector.
- Does it say Reconnect? Go to Customize → Connectors, select the connector, and sign in again. If errors keep coming back, select Disconnect, then Connect.
- Is the tool blocked? Open the connector's Tool permissions and check that the action isn't set to Blocked.
- Can your account see it? Claude uses your permissions in the other app. If you can't open a file, channel, or email there, Claude can't either.
- Expecting it to write? Check the connector's Tool permissions to see which actions are available and allowed for you. Microsoft 365 only writes if your admins turned on write actions.
- Microsoft 365 sign-in failing? Use a work or school account, not a personal one, and check that a Microsoft admin approved the connector.
- On Team or Enterprise and can't find it? An Owner has to add it for the organization. Use Request, or ask them directly.
- Custom connector won't connect? Check the server URL is publicly reachable, or use an MCP tunnel for private networks.
What connectors can't do (and what to verify)
- Read and write aren't the same. Check each connector's capabilities before you build a workflow around it.
- Claude can still be wrong. Access to real data doesn't stop it from misreading a document. Click through to the original email or file on anything important, and review drafts before they're sent.
- Third-party connectors are run by their developers. Anthropic doesn't run their servers or control how they handle your data. Only connect developers you trust, and only choose Always allow for tools you're comfortable with.
- Sensitive data deserves a second thought. On regulated or confidential work, check your organization's policy before connecting.
Frequently asked questions
How do I add a connector in Claude?
Go to Customize → Connectors, select Discover, find the app, and select Connect to Claude. Sign in to the app and approve the access. Then turn the connector on in a conversation from the + menu → Connectors. On Team and Enterprise plans, an Owner has to add the connector for the organization first.
What apps can Claude connect to?
Anthropic documents connectors for Gmail, Google Drive, Google Calendar, Microsoft 365 (Outlook, SharePoint, OneDrive, Teams), Slack, and GitHub, and the directory lists hundreds more, including Notion, Canva, HubSpot, and Salesforce. If a tool isn't listed but has a remote MCP server, you can add it as a custom connector.
Can Claude send emails through the Gmail connector?
Yes, as of October 2026. The Gmail connector's listing in Claude's directory includes tools to draft, reply, send, and forward email. Anthropic's Gmail docs page still describes it as read-only, so check the Tool permissions on your connector to see what's available to you, and set sending to Needs approval. The Microsoft 365 connector can send Outlook mail once your admins turn on write actions.
Can I use Claude connectors for free?
Yes, mostly. Free accounts can use most directory connectors, including Microsoft 365, and can add one custom connector. Gmail and Google Calendar need Pro or above, and the Slack connector needs a Team or Enterprise plan.
Does the Claude Slack connector work on Pro?
No. The Slack connector is available on Team and Enterprise plans, and the Claude in Slack app has to be installed in your workspace first. Once connected, Claude can search channels, DMs, and files you have access to.
Can I connect Claude to a tool that isn't listed?
Yes. In Customize → Connectors, select Add custom connector, enter the tool's remote MCP server URL, choose how people sign in, and select Add. The server must be reachable from the internet. Free accounts get one custom connector; paid plans can add as many as they need.
Are Claude connectors safe to use?
Connectors use your own permissions in each app, and you can set every tool to Always allow, Needs approval, or Blocked, or disconnect at any time. Verified connectors have been tested by Anthropic; Community and Custom connectors haven't been reviewed in depth, so only connect developers you trust and review Claude's work before it sends or changes anything.
Start connecting your tools
The fastest way to see what connectors do is to connect one real tool and give Claude a real task. Connect Google Drive or Microsoft 365, then ask it to find a document and summarize it. When you're ready to build the habit properly, the free Claude Cowork course teaches the whole workflow, connectors included, with no coding required.