TESTED WORKFLOW · MAKE FILTER · PDF + SENDER + SUBJECT

How to Automatically Save Invoice PDFs from Gmail to Google Drive with Make

We extended our Gmail-to-Google-Drive workflow with a third AND condition so only PDF attachments from a specified sender with the exact subject invoice are uploaded.

Hands-on tested · Updated August 16, 2026 · By Automation Lab Guide

Hands-on test result The matching invoice PDF passed the filter and was uploaded to Google Drive. A PDF sent under a different subject was blocked as expected. This verifies both the positive and negative paths of the workflow.

What we are building

The scenario uses three modules: Gmail — Watch emails, Gmail — List email attachments and media, and Google Drive — Upload a File.

Make scenario connecting Gmail watch emails, Gmail list attachments, and Google Drive upload a file
The tested Make scenario used for the three-condition invoice filter.

Configure the three AND conditions

Open the filter between Gmail — List email attachments and media and Google Drive — Upload a File. Configure all three rules with AND.

Condition 1
MIME type
Equal to
application/pdf
Condition 2
From (email)
Equal to
sender@example.com
Condition 3
Subject
Equal to
invoice
Make filter with PDF MIME type, sender@example.com, and invoice subject conditions
The tested filter. The real sender address has been replaced with sender@example.com for privacy.

Why we used “Equal to” for the subject

For this hands-on test, the subject condition was configured as an exact match. The tested value was invoice. This article therefore documents the behavior we actually verified rather than claiming broader keyword matching.

Email subjectExpected result with this filter
invoicePass
reportBlocked
Invoice AugustDoes not exactly match
August invoiceDoes not exactly match

Test 1: matching invoice email

We sent a message from the configured sender with a PDF attachment and the exact subject invoice. The attachment passed all three conditions and reached Google Drive.

invoice.pdf saved in Google Drive
PASS: the matching invoice PDF was uploaded to Google Drive.

Test 2: different subject

We then repeated the test with a different subject. The PDF did not satisfy the exact subject condition, so the workflow did not upload it through the tested route.

report.pdf used for the non-matching subject test
BLOCKED AS EXPECTED: the different-subject test did not pass the complete three-condition filter.

Final filter configuration

MIME type = application/pdf
AND
From (email) = sender@example.com
AND
Subject = invoice

If any one of these conditions fails, the attachment does not proceed to the Google Drive upload module.

Where this workflow is useful

This pattern is useful when a mailbox receives many attachments but only a narrow class of documents should be archived automatically. The same structure can be adapted for receipts, monthly reports, statements, or purchase orders by changing the sender and exact subject value.

Important limitation

This tested configuration uses Subject → Equal to → invoice. It does not mean “save any message whose subject contains the word invoice.” Broader subject matching requires a different filter configuration and was not part of this test.

What we verified

  • Gmail messages can be monitored by Make.
  • Attachments can be listed and processed individually.
  • PDFs can be selected with MIME type application/pdf.
  • A specific sender can be required.
  • An exact subject can be required as a third AND condition.
  • The matching invoice PDF reaches Google Drive.
  • A non-matching subject is rejected.
Continue with automatic folder routing

Next, see how we added a Router and sent invoice and report PDFs to different Google Drive folders: Automatically sort Gmail PDFs into Drive folders with Make.

Next step

Once this filter is stable, useful extensions include month-based folders, standardized filenames, sender-based folders, duplicate prevention, and logging saved invoices in Google Sheets.

Build this workflow in Make

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