How to share files on Google Drive

One of the perks of cloud-based storage is that you can easily share files with other people at a drop of a hat. There’s no need to send email attachments or pass someone a USB stick (unless it happens to be a huge file). This makes it easier when you need to show someone a draft of something or want to collaborate with them on a document or spreadsheet.

If you use a cloud storage service like Google Drive, then sharing files is super simple and there are a few different ways to go about it, so if you’re interested, then follow the steps below to start sharing.

Sharing files with Google Drive

Adding a person to a shared file or folder

1. Open the file or folder that you want to share with someone
2. Click the three-dots icon and then select Share
3. Type in the email address of the person you want to share the file with. You can add multiple users at once if you want.
4. Choose the roles of the user you’re sharing with and check the notify box if you want them to get an email alert letting them know that a file or folder is being shared
5. Click Send when you’re done

Creating a shareable link

1. Open the file or folder that you want to share with someone
2. Click the three-dots icon and then select Share
3. Under General access, click “Anyone with the link”. If you choose “Restricted”, only the people who you have added to the shared file/folder will be able to use this link. The upside is that it’s more secure, but the downside is that it’s a bit more troublesome to share with new people.
4. If you select “Anyone with the link”, click the dropdown menu to the right and choose their role
5. Click Copy link and then share that link with whatever method you like, whether it be on social media, instant messenger, SMS, or email
6. If you don’t want the link to be available in the future, follow the steps above and select “Restricted” under General access