Critical Issue: Google Drive "Download" Node returns Folder Object for a File ID

Hello,

I am having a critical issue where the Google Drive “Download File” node consistently returns the metadata for a folder, even when I provide the direct File ID for a .txt file.

  • The correct File ID I am using is: 1ahytI5GHw8Fc507IBg1VA0PG5WrA1adR
  • The ID for the folder it is in is: 1owr4ryJWzvsFfFwHps4D0iCC0EsGdG9p

No matter what I do, when I execute the node with the File ID, the output is always this Folder Object:

JSON{ "kind": "drive#file", "name": "Jane \"Janie\" Doe", "mimeType": "application/vnd.google-apps.folder" }

I am expecting to see mimeType: 'text/plain' and a data property with the file’s content.

Things I have already tried extensively with an AI assistant:

  • Confirmed I am using the correct File ID and not the Folder ID.
  • Deleted and rebuilt the nodes and the connections between them.
  • Isolated the node in a brand new, clean test workflow.
  • Tried both selecting the file from the “List” picker and pasting the “Direct File ID”.
  • Confirmed all other settings on the node are at their default.

This seems to be a fundamental issue where the node is not correctly resolving the File ID. I would be grateful for any help. I am attaching screenshots of my workflow and the node’s configuration. Thank you.


## Share the output returned by the last node

kind drive#file
id 1gBi2zC4P-DET_ggP8msQOBUsOjVmxISE
name Jane "Janie" Doe
mimeType application/vnd.google-apps.folder
aggregatedResearch



## Information on your n8n setup
- **n8n version:** 1.99.1
- **Database (default: SQLite):**
- **n8n EXECUTIONS_PROCESS setting (default: own]
- **Running n8n via n8n cloud
- **Operating system:** macOS Sequoia 15.1

Hi,

I think I can help. Could you share your workflow.

n8n attach workflow