Shared drives access levels

This feature is available with G Suite Enterprise, Enterprise for Education, Drive Enterprise, Business, Education, and Nonprofits edition. Compare editions

Users with G Suite Basic have limited access in some situations. To learn more, see G Suite Basic edition user privileges.

User access levels

To manage shared drives and their contents, users must have the appropriate access levels.

Task Manager

Content manager*

 Contributor** Commenter Viewer
View shared drives and files ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Comment on files in shared drives ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✘
Make, approve, and reject edits in files ✔ ✔ ✔ ✘ ✘
Create and upload files and create folders in shared drives ✔ ✔ ✔ ✘ ✘
Add people to specific files in shared drives ✔ ✔ ✔ ✘ ✘
Move files and folders within a shared drive ✔ ✔ ✘ ✘ ✘
Move files from one shared drive to another shared drive ✔ ✘ ✘ ✘ ✘
Move shared drive files into the trash ✔ ✔ ✘ ✘ ✘
Permanently delete files in the trash ✔ ✘ ✘ ✘ ✘
Restore files from trash (up to 30 days) ✔ ✔ ✔ ✘ ✘
Add or remove people to or from shared drives ✔ ✘ ✘ ✘ ✘
Modify shared drive settings ✔ ✘ ✘ ✘ ✘
Delete a shared drive ✔ ✘ ✘ ✘ ✘

* Default role for new members.

** Contributor access provides read-only access to files in Drive File Stream or files in the Chrome OS Files app. Assign the Content manager access level for users who need to edit files in Drive File Stream or on Chrome OS.

Requests for access to files in shared drives—Requests for access to shared drive files go only to the file creator. If the file creator is no longer a member of a shared drive, the request will be sent to the shared drive Managers.

G Suite Basic edition user privileges

Shared drive privileges for G Suite Basic edition users depend on whether the shared drive is located inside or outside their organization.

Access to shared drives inside an organization

G Suite Basic users can only view the shared drive files in their own organization's shared drives, unless those files have been shared with them directly. For example, a G Suite Basic user at solarmora.com can only view files on shared drives from solarmora.com.

Access to shared drives outside an organization

G Suite Basic users who are outside an organization are allowed to manage shared drives in that organization if they have the appropriate access levels. For example, a G Suite Basic user at solarmora.com with Manager access can manage shared drives from altostrat.com.
Note: Depending on your organization's sharing permissions, you can share files directly with G Suite Basic edition users to let them view, comment on, or edit files. Learn how to control sharing of shared drives content.

G Suite administrator privileges

To manage shared drives for your organization, you must be a G Suite administrator with the Drive and Docs privilege. 

This privilege lets you:

  • Turn shared drive creation on or off for your organization. Learn more
  • View and manage the shared drives in your organization. Learn more
  • Add and remove the people who can access a particular shared drive. Learn more
  • Control sharing of shared drives content. Learn more
  • Migrate content to a shared drive. Learn more
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