Share files and folders

You can share files and folders with people and choose whether they can view, edit, or comment on them. You can share with:

Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, or Slides
A link or email attachment

Note: To edit Microsoft Office files with others, you'll need to convert them to Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides.

Levels of access

When you share a file with other people, you choose what they can do with the file. You can always change your mind or stop sharing completely. Choose if others:

Can edit: Others can make changes and share a file with others. The default for sharing with specific people.
Can comment: Others can view and comment on a file but not make changes. You cannot comment on a folder.
Can view: Others can open a file but not change it or comment. The default for link sharing.

Share with specific people

Note: To share multiple files at once, add the files to a folder in Drive and share the entire folder.

Google Drive

Go to drive.google.com.
From your file list in Google Drive or from an open folder: Select the name of a file or folder. At the top, click Share .
Tip: You can also right-click and choose Share.
Under "People" in the "Share with others" box, type the email address of the person or Google Group you want to share with. Tip: Search for contacts by typing a name in the box.
To choose if a person can view, comment, or edit the file, click the Down arrow next to the text box .
Click Done. The people you shared with will get an email letting them know you've shared a file or folder.

Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides

Open a file in Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides.
In the top right corner, click Share.
Under "People" in the "Share with others" box, type the email address of the person or Google Group you want to share with. Tip: Search for contacts by typing a name in the box.
To choose if a person can view, comment, or edit the file, click the Down arrow next to the text box .
Click Done. The people you shared with will get an email letting them know you've shared a file.

Share using a link

To share something with more than one person without entering individual email addresses, you can create a link that allows anyone to open it.

Google Drive

Go to drive.google.com.
Select the name of a file or folder.
At the top, click Get shareable link .
In the corner, make sure the switch is green and to the right. A file link will be copied to your clipboard.
Paste the link in an email or anyplace you want to share it.
- To change whether a person can view, comment, or edit the file, click Sharing settings.

To stop sharing a file:

At the top, click Get shareable link .
Next to "Link sharing on", click the switch.

Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides

Open a file in Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides.
In the top right corner, click Share.
Click Get shareable link in the top right of the "Share with others" box.
To choose whether a person can view, comment, or edit the file, click the Down arrow next to "Anyone with the link" .
A file link will be copied to your clipboard. Paste the link in an email or anywhere you want to share it.

Share a file or folder publicly

On your computer, sign in to Google Drive.
Click a file or folder.
- Google Drive: In the top right, click Share .
- Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides: In the top right, click Share.
In the top right of the "Share with others" box, click Get shareable link.
Next to "Anyone with the link," click the Down arrow.
Click More…
Select "On - Public on the web". Anyone can open the file on the Internet by searching or using the link.
Click Save.
Choose what level of access people with the link have: view, comment, or edit.
Click Done.

If you're using an account through work, school, or another group, you may not be able to share files or folders publicly.

If you share something publicly:

Up to 50 people can edit or comment at the same time.
More than 50 people can view an item, but they will not be visible to others in the file.
You can share a file with 200 people or groups to view, comment, and edit.
If you share a folder with many people, it might take awhile before everyone can see it.

Public sharing examples:

To share with a lot of people without making a file public, add users to a Google Group, then share with the group.

When 50 or more people need to view a file, publish the file for viewing. This will generate a separate link for viewing, and keeps the original link for editing. Others can view the file even if there are already 50 people editing it.
If you're collecting information from people in a spreadsheet, you can create a Google Form. When people submit forms, the form information is stored in your spreadsheet.

Evan is a Docs & Drive expert and author of this help page. Leave him feedback below about the page.

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