Google Drive Folders are useful for collaboration, but what exactly happens when a user shares them with other people? A Google Drive folder can contain Word documents, spreadsheets, presentations, forms, photos and videos. While Google allows users to upload other file types, these are the most popular types for sharing. In some cases, users may want to give others the ability to view files in a folder, and in other cases, they may be shared for collaboration purposes. However, before sharing a Google Drive folder, it’s important to understand the different permissions and how to modify them.
If a user shares a Google Drive folder with another person or group of people, they will only You will be able to access the files inside this folder. Everything else in the user’s Google Drive storage will remain private unless it has been previously shared with other people. So if a user creates a shared Google Drive folder, they don’t have to worry about other people seeing any private or confidential files in their Google Drive account.
Learn about Google Drive folder permissions
Once the Google Drive folder is created, users can share it with specific people. To do this, select the folder in Drive and choose “InvolvedEnter the recipients’ or Google Group’s email address (if using a work or school account). From the drop-down list, select an appropriate role from Editor, Viewer or Commenter. If you chooseeditor, the person will be able to organize, add, edit and delete files in the folder. ‘viewThe role allows a person to view only the files in the folder, whileCommentatorIt allows them to add comments to the files in the folder without letting them make any other changes.
After you’ve added people to the folder and defined their roles, choose whether to notify those who have been added to the folder, add an optional message, and press “SENDSto share the file. It’s also worth making sure that the Google Drive folder’s visibility is set to “limited.This option appears when you clickInvolved“Next to Folder and select the drop-down menu within”public accessThis will ensure that only people who have access to the file can open it. if’Everyone has the connectionAnyone online with the Google Drive folder link can view the files. However, they will not be able to make any changes.
Change Google Drive folder permissions after sharing
Google also allows users to change the permissions for a file or folder after it has been shared. To do this, find the folder in Google Drive and click “Involvedbutton ‘. All people the file has been shared with will be listed under “People who have accessTo change permissions for a specific person, click the Permissions drop-down menu next to their name to toggle between “editor“,”view“and”CommentatorTo remove the person’s access to the folder, click “.Remove accessin the same drop-down list.
It should be noted that anyone who has access to the Google Drive folder can download, print, or copy files within it. While there is no way to prevent this for the folder as a whole, users can change this setting on individual files. To do this, select one or more files in the folder and click “Involved,Then select Settings (gear icon) at the top. Uncheck change next to “Viewers and commenters can see the option to download, print and copyTo prevent editors from changing permissions and sharing files Google Drive folder with other people, select the option next to “Editors can change permissions and sharing“.
Source: Google
