Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about FolderFeed, from how it works to how it handles your data.
The basics
What is FolderFeed?
FolderFeed turns your Google Drive folder activity into a feed, like a news feed for your team’s documents. Each updated file is listed once, no matter how many times it was edited, with its new comments and replies alongside.
How is it different from the Activity tab in Google Drive?
Drive’s Activity tab is a long stream of individual events, and it gets hard to follow as edits and comments pile up. FolderFeed groups that activity by file, shows only what happened since you last caught up, and highlights the comments that need you.
Can I monitor more than one folder?
Yes. Follow as many folders as you like. For each one, FolderFeed shows the updated files in that folder and all its subfolders.
Staying up to date
What is a Time Window?
Every folder has its own Time Window, which shows what changed Since you last marked the folder as read, As of your last refresh. Folders don’t affect each other, so you can catch up on one without touching the rest.
Why doesn’t my feed update by itself?
That’s deliberate. FolderFeed never refreshes in the background, so nothing changes while you’re reading. Click Refresh when you want the latest activity. It also means FolderFeed only looks at your Drive while you’re using it.
What does “Mark as read” do?
It empties the folder’s feed and starts a fresh Time Window from that moment, just like marking a feed as read. Anything that happens afterwards shows up on your next refresh.
Can I see only one person’s updates?
Yes. You can filter a folder’s activity by the person who made the changes.
Comments and Rings
Do I have to open files in Google Drive to read new comments?
No. FolderFeed shows each discussion’s original comment and the replies added or updated during the Time Window, next to the file preview.
What does “For you” mean?
For you lists the files with new comments or replies that need your attention: threads where you were assigned or mentioned, and threads you started or chose to watch. All other updated files go under Everything else.
What is the Ring?
The Ring is the circle of arcs around a folder, a person’s avatar or a file icon. It shows at a glance where new comments are.
- On a folder or a person, one arc is one file.
- On a file, one arc is one comment thread.
- Colored arcs are for you. Gray arcs are other conversations.
The color shows the most important thing that happened: an assignment outranks an @mention, which outranks a plain reply. Arcs show the final state, so a comment assigned to you and then marked as done appears as done.
How do I follow a thread I wasn’t mentioned in?
Click the eye button on any comment to watch it. You also start watching a thread automatically when you’re assigned or mentioned in it, or when you start a new discussion.
Privacy and access
Does FolderFeed have permanent access to my Google Drive?
No. Google gives FolderFeed a short-lived access pass, valid for about an hour, each time you use the app. FolderFeed never receives Google’s long-term refresh credential, so it can’t open or read your Drive after you close the app or your session ends.
Can FolderFeed change or delete my files?
No. FolderFeed only reads. It doesn’t edit, move or delete your files, and it doesn’t post comments.
Why does FolderFeed ask for Drive and Contacts permissions?
It reads your Drive’s file and folder information, comments and activity to build the feed. It reads contact information (names, emails, profile photos) so it can show who did what.
Where is my data stored?
The feed data from your Drive (activity, file details and comments) is stored in your own browser, on your device. It is not copied into FolderFeed’s servers. Sensitive parts, such as comments and file titles, are encrypted in your browser’s storage.
How do I remove FolderFeed’s access to my Google account?
You can revoke access at any time on your Google Account permissions page. Because FolderFeed never stores a long-term credential, there is nothing left to revoke on our side. Access simply ends with your session.
Do you use analytics or error tracking?
Only if you opt in. Analytics and error monitoring are off until you turn them on, and you can change your choice at any time.
Devices and accounts
Can I use FolderFeed on several devices?
Yes, but the data is stored on each device, so a second device won’t mirror the first. Your read state and feed on your phone and your laptop are independent.