{"version":"2.1.317","anchor":"gmail-file-attachments-by-reference-for-mcp-connector","canonical_anchor":"gmail-file-attachments-by-reference-for-mcp-connector","heading":"Gmail connector can attach local files, with compliance-policy controls for connector file sending","tier":"notice","area":"Connectors","scope":"both","heads_up":true,"url":"https:\/\/changelogs.core-directive.com\/v\/2.1.317\/e\/gmail-file-attachments-by-reference-for-mcp-connector","release_url":"https:\/\/changelogs.core-directive.com\/v\/2.1.317","markdown":"### Gmail connector can attach local files, with compliance-policy controls for connector file sending\n\nClaude can attach local files to Gmail drafts and messages with your approval, and HIPAA or ZDR policies can block connector file sending\n\n**Unclear.** Whether Gmail attachments are switched on when the server sends nothing is not known.\n\n**What**\n\nConnectors are claude.ai integrations, such as Gmail or Google Drive, that Claude can use through MCP, a standard way of plugging tools into Claude. The Gmail connector can now attach files from your computer to drafts and messages. It does this with file references written as `sha256:<hash>:<path>`.\n\n- Each attachment asks for your approval, even if you already allowed the tool.\n\n- Each file is limited to 10 MB, the total to 23 MB, and there can be at most 10 attachments.\n\n- It covers `create_draft`, `update_draft`, `reply`, `forward` and `send_message`.\n\n- Google Drive file references now carry a `descriptionHint`.\n\nTwo new organisation policy settings control this kind of file sending:\n\n- `allow_connector_file_uploads`, labelled \"Sending files to claude.ai connectors\", is denied under HIPAA and ZDR (zero data retention) compliance modes.\n\n- `allow_gmail_file_references`, labelled \"File references for connectors\", is denied under HIPAA.\n\nBoth are also denied when the policy cannot be looked up or the check would otherwise let the request through by default. Under those compliance modes the features are blocked unless the policy allows them.\n\n**Why**\n\nYou can have Claude attach a local file to an email it is drafting, and you approve each file before it goes. Organisations under HIPAA or ZDR rules lose file sending to connectors unless their policy explicitly allows it.\n\n- Flag `tengu_snug_pine`: Off in both readings (read for one account on one subscription tier against v2.1.317; this account: off, anonymous baseline: off, compiled default: not a boolean we can read) These values were read against a different version of Claude Code, so treat them as the nearest reading available instead of one taken on this release.\n- Flag `tengu_clever_bonbon`: Off in both readings (read for one account on one subscription tier against v2.1.317; this account: off, anonymous baseline: off, compiled default: not a boolean we can read) These values were read against a different version of Claude Code, so treat them as the nearest reading available instead of one taken on this release.\n- Area: Connectors\n- Tier: You'll notice\n- Useful: 5\/5\n- Signal: 4\/5\n- Scope: both\n- Heads-up: yes"}