Controlling Google Docs Sharing Permissions

Audience: Faculty, Staff and Students

This KB Article References: Google Drive
This Information is Intended for: Faculty, Staff, Students
Last Updated: August 11, 2020
Average Rating: Not Rated
Your feedback is important to us, help us by logging in to rate this article and provide feedback.

As a file owner, when you share a document in Google Drive and give someone "edit" permissions, they will be able to change sharing settings, and viewers and commenters will be able to print, copy, and download the file by default unless you change these settings:

  1. Click Share from the file
  2. In the bottom right of the Share with others box, click Advanced
    drive share settings access advanced settings
  3. At the very bottom of the Sharing Settings dialog box are Owner settings (if you don't see Owner settings, you might not be the document owner). Check the options you'd like to change here:
    • To prevent editors from being able to share the file, check Prevent editors from changing access and adding new people
    • To prevent those with view or comment access from downloading, printing, or copying the file, check Disable options to download, print, and copy for commenters and viewers

Additional Information


Files & Links

Provide Feedback


Your feedback is important to us, help us by logging in to rate this article and provide feedback.

Sign in with NetID

Getting Help


The Division of Information Technology provides support on all of our services. If you require assistance please submit a support ticket through the IT Service Management system.

Submit A Quick Ticket

Supported By


Customer Engagement and Support