Make someone else the owner of your file

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By default, you own any file you create in or upload to Google Drive.

If you use a personal Google Account:

  • You can invite another person with a personal Google Account to take ownership of your files and folders.
  • You can’t invite another person with a work or school account to take ownership of your files or folders.
  • The person you invite to own the file or folder must accept your request to complete the transfer.

Before you transfer ownership

When you make someone else the owner of a folder, you still own the files inside. Learn more about sharing folders.

Tip: If you transfer ownership of a lot of files and folders at once, it may take some time for you to see the changes.

After you transfer ownership

When you send an ownership transfer request:

  • The pending owner is notified by email that if they accept the transfer request, they become the file owner. Until then, you remain the owner.
  • The pending owner is upgraded to an Editor, unless they’re already an Editor.
  • If the pending owner accepts, you’re downgraded to Editor. The new owner can remove you.
  • If the pending owner declines, you remain the owner.

You can’t change owners from an iPhone or iPad

To change the owner of a file, go to drive.google.com on a computer.

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