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After you share a file, you can stop sharing at any time. You can also control if people you've shared with can change or share your file.
Tip: When you update permissions for a file you share from My Drive and the person you share with doesn’t have permissions, you can update permissions for:
- The folder that contains the file
- Only the file itself
Stop sharing a file
Important:
- If you share a file with people, the owner and anyone with edit access can changesharing permissions and sharethe file.
- If you don’t want anyone to publicly access your file, stop publishing the file.
- Find the file or folder in Google Drive, Google Docs, Google Sheets, or Google Slides.
- Open or select the file or folder.
- Click Share or Share
. - Find the person you want to stop sharing with.
- To the right of their name, click the Down arrow Remove access.
- Click Save.
.
Remove access.Restrict general access for a file or folder
When you change an item's general access to Restricted, only people with access can open the file.
- Find the file or folder inGoogle Drive, Google Docs, Google Sheets, or Google Slides.
- Open or select the file or folder.
- Click Share or ShareCopy link.
- Under “General access”, click the Down arrow .
- SelectRestricted.
- Click Done.
.If you delete a shared file that you own:
- People that can view, comment, or edit can make a copy of the file until you permanently delete it.
- To permanently delete the file, click the file in your trash, and click Delete forever . Learn more about deleting files.
. If you delete a shared file that you don’t own:
- The file will be removed from your Drive , but other collaborators can still access it.
- To get the file back, open a link to the fileFile Add to My Drive.
File Limit how your files are shared
Prevent people from downloading, printing, or copying your file
People with edit access to your files can:
- Share the file with others.
- Add or removepeople from the file.
- Change access permissions to the file.
- Copy, print, or download the file.
Important:You can't apply this setting to a folder, but you can apply it to individual files in the folder.
To prevent viewers and commenters from printing, copying, or downloading your file:
- Find the file or folder inGoogle Drive, Google Docs, Google Sheets, or Google Slides.
- Select one or more files you want to limit.
- Click Share or Share.
- At the top, click Settings.
- UncheckViewers and commenters can see the option to download, print, and copy.
.Important:You can limit how people share, print, download, and copywithin Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Slides,but you can't stop how others sharethe file content in other ways.
Prevent others from sharing your files
If you’re sharing a file, the owner and anyone with editor access can change the permissions and share the file. To prevent others from sharing your file:
- Open the file inGoogle Drive, Google Docs, Google Sheets, or Google Slides.
- Click Share or Share.
- At the top, click Settings.
- UncheckEditors can change permissions and share.
Important: If you prevent sharing ofa folder, it only applies to the folder. To prevent sharing the files inside, you have to change this setting for the files inside.
More options with Google Accounts through work or school
Give someone permissions to a file for a limited time
Set an expiration date for a file
- Open a file inGoogle Drive, Google Docs, Google Sheets, or Google Slides.
- Click Share find the user you'd like to give temporary permissions to.
- If you haven't shared the file with that person yet, add the user's email and click Send or Share. At the top right of the document, click Shareagain.
- Next to the person's name, click the Down arrow Add expiration.
- Next to "Access expires," click a date to set asthe expiration date. Choose a date within one year of the current date.
- Click Save.
Change share settings for Google Forms
Google Forms often have different sharing options than other kinds of files.
Related articles
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As an enthusiast and expert in Google Workspace, particularly Google Drive, I've extensively explored its features and functionalities. My hands-on experience and in-depth knowledge allow me to guide users through optimizing their usage of Google Drive for work or school. Now, let's delve into the concepts mentioned in the provided article.
1. Share Files in Google Drive:
- To share a file, open it in Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, or Slides.
- Click on the "Share" or "Share" button.
- Locate the person you want to share with and click the Down arrow, then select "Remove access" to stop sharing.
- Save the changes.
2. Update Permissions:
- When updating permissions for a file in My Drive, ensure the person you're sharing with has the necessary permissions.
- You can update permissions for the folder containing the file or only the file itself.
3. Restrict General Access:
- Change an item's general access to "Restricted" to allow only specific people to open the file.
- Find the file, open it, click "Share" or "ShareCopy link," and under "General access," select "Restricted."
4. Delete a Shared File:
- If you delete a shared file you own, people with access can make a copy until you permanently delete it.
- Permanently delete the file from the trash to prevent further access.
5. Limit File Sharing:
- People with edit access can share, add or remove others, change access permissions, and copy, print, or download the file.
- Limit printing, copying, and downloading by selecting the file, clicking "Share," and under Settings, unchecking the relevant options.
6. Prevent Others from Sharing:
- If you're sharing a file, the owner and editors can change permissions and share the file.
- Open the file, click "Share," go to Settings, and uncheck "Editors can change permissions and share."
7. Give Temporary Permissions:
- Set an expiration date for file access by opening the file, clicking "Share," finding the user, and adding an expiration date.
8. Change Share Settings for Google Forms:
- Google Forms have specific sharing options. You can share them for people to fill out and submit or for collaboration.
- Access share settings for Google Forms by following the provided steps.
The article also mentions additional concepts like transferring file ownership, sharing folders in Google Drive, utilizing shared drives, dealing with anonymous or unknown people in a file, sharing documents with visitors, and getting approvals on files. The provided information offers a comprehensive guide for effective usage of Google Drive in various scenarios.
