Restrict sharing settings for your files & folders

If you are the owner of a file or folder, you can do things like stop sharing files you previously shared, prevent people from sharing your file with others, and prevent people from downloading or printing your file.Prevent people from changing the sharing settings

By default, people who can edit your file or folder can also share that file or folder with other people. You can prevent that by turning on this setting:

In Google Drive

• 1. Go to drive.google.com.

  2. Select a file or folder.

  3. At the top, click the share icon 

  4. .

  5. In the bottom right, click Advanced.

  6. Next to "Prevent editors from changing access and adding new people," check the box.

  7. Click Save changes.

In Docs, Sheets, or Slides

• 1. Go to a Docs, Sheets, or Slides home screen.

  2. Open a file.

  3. In the top right, click Share .

  4. In the bottom right, click Advanced.

  5. Check the box next to "Prevent editors from changing access and adding new people."

  6. Click Save changes.

If you turn this setting on for an item, here are two things to keep in mind:

• • If that item is added to a shared folder and the shared folder's advanced sharing options are later changed, those changes will not be applied to the item that was added to the shared folder.

  • If you create a new item in a folder that has this setting on, that new item will not inherit the setting. To apply the setting to the new item, follow the instructions above.

Prevent your file from being downloaded, printed, or copied

To prevent people you share with from being able to download, print, or copy your file, turn this setting on.

In Google Drive

• 1. Go to drive.google.com.

  2. Select a file.

  3. At the top, click the share icon 

  4. .

  5. In the bottom right, click Advanced.

  6. Next to "Disable options to download, print, and copy for commenters and viewers," check the box.

  7. Click Save changes.

Docs, Sheets, or Slides

• 1. Go to a Docs, Sheets, or Slides home screen.

  2. Open a file.

  3. In the top right, click Share .

  4. In the bottom right, click Advanced.

  5. Next to "Disable options to download, print, and copy for commenters and viewers," check the box.

  6. Click Save changes.

Note:

• • At the moment, you can't prevent folders from being downloaded in Google Drive.

  • People with "edit" permissions will still be able to download, print, and copy your file, even if this setting is on.

  • If you turn this setting on, all options to download, print, and copy will be hidden from Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Slides.

Related pages

Unsharing and re-sharing folders within folders

If you share a folder with someone, everything in that folder, including folders within that folder (subfolders), will be shared with them.

If you unshare a subfolder with that person, sharing the original folder with them again will not grant them permission to access that subfolder unless you unshare and then re-share that original folder with them.