Claude comes to Google Docs, Sheets and Slides: what the add-on does

On October 6, Anthropic introduced Claude for Google Workspace, an add-on that opens an assistant in the sidebar of Google Docs, Sheets and Slides. The public beta is available to Pro, Max, Team and Enterprise subscribers. Its purpose is to work where the material already lives, reducing repeated copying between an editor and a chat.

From documents to presentations

Claude can rewrite and restructure text in Docs, work with formulas and data analysis in Sheets, and create or revise slides. Treat it as help with a specific file: a useful first request describes the outcome and identifies which part may change.

For a draft report, you might ask for a shorter introduction while preserving the requirements list. For a spreadsheet, ask it to explain a total before suggesting a correction. These are our suggested prompts, not results from testing the add-on.

Installation and edit control

The official instructions describe one Google Workspace Marketplace installation covering all three editors. Open a file, then choose Extensions → Claude → Open Claude. A work account may require approval from its Google Workspace administrator.

Ask before edits is the default mode. Accept all edits permits ordinary changes without stopping, while some sensitive actions still require approval. Google version history records edits. Without additional connectors, access is limited to the open file.

The add-on and connectors serve different workflows

Google Workspace connectors operate from Claude: you work in its interface and connect the services you need. The editing beta can open a Google file in a pane beside the conversation. Existing Google access permissions still apply; for Team and Enterprise, an organization owner must enable connectors first.

Our practical suggestion is to start with the add-on if your day revolves around an open spreadsheet, or consider connectors if you assemble material through conversations with Claude. Before sharing work data, review our AI privacy checklist.