Verify that the folder is inside a connected Google Drive folder. Only folders within your synced Drive folders are searchable. If you recently connected a new folder, wait for the initial sync to complete. Use the exact folder name as it appears in Google Drive.
Search Google Drive Folders
When you ask the Assistant about a Google Drive folder by name, August can list the files inside that folder and search recursively through its subfolders. This is different from keyword search, which finds documents based on content rather than folder location.
How Folder Search Works
Folder search is a specialized capability within Google Drive integration that lists files when you reference a folder by name. The Assistant recognizes when you're naming a folder and switches to folder-listing mode instead of content search.
When you search a folder by name, August:
Lists files inside the named folder, showing what documents are available at that location.
Recurses into subfolders, exploring nested folders to surface files deeper in the hierarchy.
Respects limits to keep responses manageable — folder search stops after finding 500 files or reaching a depth of 6 folder levels.
Use folder search when you want to see what's in a specific folder or when you know the folder name but not the file names inside it. Use keyword search when you're looking for documents based on their content or subject matter.
When to Use Folder Search vs. Keyword Search
The Assistant automatically chooses the right search mode based on your query:
You say... | Search mode | What happens |
|---|---|---|
"What's in the Acme Merger folder?" | Folder search | Lists files inside the Acme Merger folder, including subfolders |
"Find documents about environmental liability" | Keyword search | Searches document content for environmental liability across connected folders |
"Show me the Q4 Board Materials" | Folder search | Lists files inside the Q4 Board Materials folder |
"Search for NDAs with change of control" | Keyword search | Finds NDA documents containing change of control clauses |
Folder Search Behavior
Folder search explores the folder structure rather than document content:
Pass the folder name verbatim: Use the exact folder name as it appears in Google Drive. The Assistant matches folder names directly.
Recursion depth: The search descends through subfolders up to 6 levels deep to find nested files.
File limit: If a folder contains more than 500 files across its subfolders, results truncate at 500 to keep responses readable.
Connected folders only: Folder search works within the folders you've connected to August through the Google Drive integration.
If you have folders with many nested subfolders or hundreds of files, folder search may not surface every file. The 500-file and depth-6 limits ensure responses remain useful and actionable. For comprehensive content discovery, use keyword search instead.
Keyword Search Behavior
Keyword search finds documents based on their content, not their location:
Content-based matching: Searches document text for your keywords, phrases, or concepts.
Broad scope: Searches across all connected folders, not limited to a single folder.
Semantic understanding: Can find conceptually related content even when exact keywords don't appear.
Results Cards
When the Assistant performs a folder search, results cards indicate that the search came from a specific folder. This helps you understand where the listed files originated and distinguishes folder-list results from keyword search results.
Prerequisites
Folder search requires:
Google Drive integration connected to your August workspace.
The folder you're searching must be within a connected Drive folder.
OAuth permissions granting access to the folder location.
Troubleshooting
Folder search doesn't find my folder
Folder search returns fewer files than expected
Large folders may hit the 500-file limit or the depth-6 recursion limit. If your folder structure is deeply nested or contains hundreds of files, some files may not appear. Try searching specific subfolders by name instead of the parent folder.
I want content search, not a file list
If you're looking for documents based on their content rather than their location, phrase your query to describe the content you need. For example, "Find merger agreements with earnout provisions" triggers keyword search instead of folder search.
What to Read Next
Google Drive Integration — Set up and configure Google Drive connection.
Platform Search — Search across all content in your August workspace.
Assistant Overview — Work with Drive-connected documents for analysis and drafting.
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