Apr 15, 2019

Sharing subfolders with additional members in a shared Google Drive folder

Hello, I want to share a Sub folder (son folder) of a shared Google Drive folder (parent folder) to additional members without giving the permission to these additional members to access all the Google Drive folder (parent folder). There is an article that could give the solution: https://support.google.com/drive/forum/AAAAOxCWsTojZjwgQNNmgY?hl=en, but the "Share" button when selecting the Sub folder is "Grey".

Do you have a solution?

Thanks a lot

Regards

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Sharing Files/Folders,Windows

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Last edited Dec 6, 2019

All Replies (51)

Kimberly Gehant

May 14, 2019

I have the same issue. Can someone respond with the solution?

User 7072594663910549999

Feb 3, 2020

This is extremely limiting.

Kimi

Feb 5, 2020

We are using SharePoint Online and is currently testing G-Suite Business

The option to shared sub-folders in Shared Drives is a SHOW STOPPER for us to migrate to Google.

Is there any deadline or roadmap for this important requested feature?

Anyone knows if Google has a request/voting system such as Uservoice here https://onedrive.uservoice.com/forums/913522 So we can see all the request features with status such as planned, WIP, or completed?

Orchard Admin

Feb 7, 2020

We are facing the same issue. It is strange that this ability does exist under 'My Drive' but not under shared drives.

Google seem pretty arrogant around their products. It seems to be their policy of 'work our way because it is better.'

In this instance, I can imagine them thinking that everybody just creating the folders they need for their teams as required and then sharing them as required is a great idea. Yes, I am sure that works very well in a tech company where the users understand what they are doing. In our environment, it would create chaos with duplications, shares going to the wrong people, etc.

They have done the same with Google office, some really basic functions are just missing.

It is not easy to post feature requests, the FAQ is here:

https://www.cloudconnectcommunity.com/ccc/feature-ideas-faqs

Another example of Google thinking that we all have nothing better to do with our time but administer their platforms.

Happy to be here

Feb 19, 2020

Agree with everyone above that this is horrible from Google. The Team/Shared Drive developers must know that Shared Drive permissions are lame. There are about a million use cases where you want to set up a shared drive and then have sub-folders where you restrict access for some people or add access to some people. G Suite's update calendar continues to add features that I would prioritize as worthless, but they never fix the things that are essential and fundamental to running a business. Stop adding silly little add-on features and fix the core issues with G Suite please -- and start with Shared Drive permissions management PLEASE.

Google user

Feb 25, 2020

Has anyone sent feedback directly to G Suite on this?

Google user

Feb 26, 2020

I thought were were supposed to get convenient services for sacrificing our privacy.

Google user

Mar 4, 2020

This is in the "Upcoming G Suite releases" pipeline, still as "in development".

"Allows admins to preserve sharing rights for additional users when migrating subfolders to shared drives." is described as "in beta", which might be a good sign.

Go here: https://support.google.com/a/table/7539891?hl=en

And narrow by the search term "subfolder".
---
This was what I got from G Suite support today...

Daniel Souweine

Mar 24, 2020

Adding to the chorus here. Incredibly frustrated that this feature does not exist yet. I was not involved in our internal decision to use Google Drive. But if I had been, knowing that it doesn't have this feature, and is otherwise glitchy and hard to move files into, I would not use it.

Haley Williams

Mar 30, 2020

Can't believe this isn't a feature! I just spent so long creating several subfolders that need to be easily accessible to colleagues in a dozen different countries, without them having access to the entire rest of the shared Drive. Now I find out that it's not possible for me to give access only to subfolders for target colleagues... woah, huge issue for me and huge interruption to our workflow. I will literally have to move all of my subfolders and contents to Dropbox or something right now to allow our work to continue. INSANE!

Google user

Mar 31, 2020

@Haley Williams, and to others

New command may solve your problem. Check this Gsuite Updates Blog

They wrote as below:

For example, Paul, a marketing manager, creates a “Marketing Strategy” document and shares it with the sales team. Greta, the sales manager, can now create a shortcut to the document in the “Sales” shared drive, enabling everyone on the sales team to quickly and easily access the file.

Shortcuts are visible to anyone who has access to the folder or drive containing the shortcut. Even if someone can see the shortcut, however, they can only open it if they have the appropriate access to the original file or folder.

Simplifying how files and folders appear in multiple locations

In order to create a consistent experience for managing and viewing reference files across Drive, we’ve changed the “Add to My Drive” option to “Add shortcut to Drive.”

Michael Wall 9566

Apr 14, 2020

I don't see how - a pointer will solve the problem. Sharing of sub-folders is a big issue and it's making me rethink a future investment in switching to G-Suite from Office 365. As stated above - the accounting Team is everyone, but everyone should not be privy to everyone's payroll - different people in accounting AND HR will have different sharing needs. Not being able to share sub-folders and sub-sub-folder is crazy. All Sharing should be over-ridden at any folder level. I can't believe it's not available :(

Reed Sutton

Apr 29, 2020

Can this please be fixed!!!