Using Mindmup with Google Drive
When you save maps to Google Drive, the file itself is stored in your Google Drive account.
During an active editing session, map data is temporarily processed on Mindmup servers.
Once the editing session ends, Mindmup does not keep additional permanent copies of the map. The authoritative version of the file remains in your Google Drive account.
Mindmup plans and storage
Mindmup with Google Drive storage is available on Personal, Team and Organization plans. For the most up-to-date pricing, please see our Pricing page.
Google Drive integration overview
Mindmup integrates smoothly with the Google Drive web interface. You can:
- Create mind maps directly from Google Drive
- Organize maps into folders
- Manage them like any other Drive file
This guide explains how to set up and use Mindmup with Google Drive.
Connecting Mindmup with Google Drive
Automatic installation
The easiest way to install Mindmup for Google Drive is through the Google Workspace Marketplace.
If your browser or organization blocks inline installations, you won’t see the install option. In that case, follow the manual steps below.
Manual installation (Chrome)
If you’re using Chrome, add the application directly from the Google Workspace Marketplace.
Manual installation (other browsers)
- Log in to your Google Drive
- Click Drive Settings (the cog icon in the top-right corner)
- Select Manage Apps
- Click Connect more apps
- Search for Mindmup For Google Drive
- Click Connect
If your account is managed by a Google Workspace administrator, you may not be able to install apps yourself. In that case, ask your administrator to enable access for Mindmup.
Using Mindmup with Google Drive
Once connected, the easiest way to use Mindmup is directly from the Google Drive web app.
You can also bookmark the Mindmup for Google Drive landing page to quickly create or open maps.
Creating new maps
You can create a new map like any other Drive file:
Click New › Mindmup in Google Drive
Or:
Open the Mindmup for Google Drive landing page and click Create a new map.
Opening existing maps
To open an existing map:
- Right-click the file in Google Drive
- Select Open with › Mindmup
You can also configure Google Drive to open Mindmup files on double-click for a faster workflow.
To see all your Mindmup files in one place, use the Mindmup for Google Drive landing page and click Open from Google Drive.
Deleting and moving maps
You can manage maps directly in Google Drive as usual.
Or, from within Mindmup:
- File › Move to trash
- File › Move...
Creating copies of maps
To duplicate a map from within Mindmup:
- File › Duplicate
You can also copy maps directly using the Google Drive interface.
Sharing maps
You can use standard Google Drive sharing options with Mindmup files, including private, public, or limited sharing.
To control access:
- Use sharing settings in Google Drive
- Or click Share in the top-right corner of the map inside Mindmup
By default, maps inherit the sharing settings of the Google Drive folder they’re stored in, similar to Google Docs.
Auto-saving and manual saving
Before July 2018, Mindmup used Google’s Realtime API to support safe, concurrent editing in Drive. Google removed this capability for third-party apps, so automatic saving and collaboration in Drive are no longer reliable.
To avoid conflicts, maps stored in Google Drive now require manual saving by default.
Turning autosave on or off
- Turn on autosave: File › Turn on Autosave
- Turn off autosave: File › Turn off Autosave
Autosave settings are per map, so you can enable it only where needed.
Autosaving sends updates to Google Drive periodically, currently about once per minute.
Important limitations
- Autosave is safe only for single-user editing
- Do not enable autosave if multiple people are editing the same map
- Mindmup may attempt to detect remote changes and merge them, but this is not fully reliable
For true real-time collaboration, move your maps to Mindmup storage.