How to Share Google Drive Files With Anyone (Anywhere)

Key Takeaways 

• You may copy and share file links with anyone on any app or share files by including their emails.
• Sharing files lets you update the recipients’ permissions, making them viewers or editors.
• You may also share multiple files simultaneously from your Google Drive.

Method 1: Sending It as an Email

One of the easiest ways to share files or folders from Google Drive is by emailing. Enter the email addresses, and recipients will receive an email with the shared files or folders. Follow these steps to share a Google Drive folder or file on a PC or mobile:

On Computer

Step 1: Open the Google Drive website and right-click on the file or folder you want to share.

Step 2: Select Share > Share.

Step 3: A pop-up window will appear. In it, enter the email addresses of the people with whom you want to share the selected Google Drive file or folder.

Step 4: On the next screen, customize the sharing permission. By default, the users have editing permissions, which you can change by clicking on the Editor box and selecting Viewer or Commenter.

Step 5: You can also add a custom message for the email and click on Send.

Tip: Know how sharing works on Google Drive

On Mobile

Step 1: Open the Google Drive app on your Android or iPhone.

Step 2: Tap the three-dot icon next to or under the file or folder and select Share from the menu.

Step 3: Add the email addresses with whom you want to share the file > tap on Editor to change the permission > click the Send icon.

Tip: Know how to download files from Google Drive on iPhone

Method 2: By Sharing the Link

The above method lets you share Google Drive files through email. But what if you want to send them using a different app? Thankfully, you can do it by sharing a unique Google Drive link. Simply create the link, copy it, and send it in any app you choose, like WhatsApp, Facebook, Messenger, Outlook, etc.

On PC

Step 1: The first few steps are the same as the above method, i.e., right-click on the file or folder. Select Share > Share.

Step 2: The Restricted option is selected by default. Click on the Copy link button and paste it into your chosen app.

Step 3: Alternatively, you can share it with anyone by clicking on the Restricted text > selecting Anyone with the link.

Step 4: Next, click on the Viewer/Editor box and select the permission you want users to have.

Step 5: Finally, click the Copy link button and share it with your friends, family, or co-workers.

Step 6: Click on Done to close the window.

Tip: Know what happens when you share a Google Drive link.

On Mobile

Step 1: In the Google Drive mobile app, tap the three-dot icon next to the file or folder > select Share from the menu.

Step 2: Tap the Not Shared (or any other) icon at the bottom under Manage Access.

Step 3: If you want to email the link to the users with whom you have shared the files, tap on the Link icon at the top to copy the link to your clipboard.

Step 4: Alternatively, tap on Change under Restricted > Restricted.

Step 5: Select Anyone with the link.

Step 6: Tap on Viewer to manage the permission of the file. Finally, tap on the Link icon at the top to copy the link, which you can share with anyone.

A few things to note:

• If you share a folder in Google Drive, users can only see the files in the folder and no other files in your Google Drive account.
• Anyone with the link can view the shared files or those in the shared folder. So, ensure you don’t share any private information.
• People who aren’t signed in using a Google account will appear as anonymous animals.
• When a folder is shared, other people can also add files to that folder.

Method 3: Share Multiple Files or Folders

Sharing multiple files or folders from Google Drive is easy. First, select the files, and then the methods to share those files are the same as above. Let’s learn how to select and share multiple Google Drive files on a PC:

Step 1: Select one of the files or folders. Then, hold the Ctrl key > click the files you want to select.

Tip: If you want to select multiple files in succession, select the first file, hold the Shift key, and click on the last file to select.

Step 2: Release the Shift or Ctrl key. The selected items will show as highlighted. Right-click on any selected item > choose Share > Share.

Step 3: Then, you can share the multiple files via email or copy their individual links. You can manage their access permissions individually.

Note: You can’t share multiple files from an Android or iPhone. You must add the files to a folder and share that folder.

Method 4: Sharing an Open File

Whenever you open any file stored in Google Drive, be it the native Google Drive files like Google Docs, Sheets, Forms, and Slides or any image or video, you will find a Share button at the top. Click on it to open the Share pop-up, from where you can send the file in an email or copy its link.

In the case of Google Forms, open the Form and click on the three-dot icon, followed by Add collaborators if you want others to change your Google Form.

Note: When you share a Google Doc, Sheets, or Slides, people can change the document if you have set the permission to Editor.