Connect Drive, Slack, calendars and more so ChatGPT works from your tools.
The full script, word for word — 199 words, about 1 minutes to read. Current as at July 2026. AI tools change quickly; if something looks different when you try it, check the product's own help pages.
Plugins add packaged capabilities to ChatGPT and Codex. Some bring a repeatable workflow; others connect an external service so ChatGPT can find information or take a permitted action. The name is simple, but the permissions deserve attention.
Open Plugins from the left sidebar. The directory is where you discover and install them. A plugin can package Skills, external Apps and ready-made templates. Skills are methods; Apps are the connections to other tools and data. You do not need to understand the plumbing underneath.
Before installing, check the publisher, what the plugin includes and what access it requests. If it connects an outside service, you may need to sign in and approve specific permissions. Give it only the access needed for the task, particularly when email, files or external actions are involved.
Installed plugins can appear from the composer and may be used when relevant. Start with one clear request and check which service is being used. If an action could change something outside ChatGPT, review the proposed action before approval.
Install for a job, not for a crowded toolbox. Keep the few plugins that improve work you actually do, review their access, and remove connections you no longer need.