How to Disable Download Option in Google Drive

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How to Disable Download Option in Google Drive

Google Drive is one of the easiest learning cloud storage platforms that anyone can make the best use of. With the 15GB free storage available for every user, you can store as many files, photos, videos, etc., as you can. The best part about this platform is that Google brings tons of updates and new features every now and then making it a lot more feasible for the users. One such is the process where you can disable the download option in Google Drive.

Now, the question arises why would anyone want to do such a thing? Well, a lot of times, while you are sharing any file or document with another user, and you do not necessarily want them to download it, this feature comes in handy. This feature has been active for quite some time now and not everyone is aware of it.

But in this guide we will talk about everything there is to know on how to disable the download option in Google Drive on your devices.

How to Disable Download Option in Google Drive

Well, it is important to note that the disable download option in Google Drive is only available on the web version.

Hence, if you are looking to make changes to your blog, you will have to open your system every single time for the same. Here is how you can do it.

  • Open the official Google Drive webpage and log in.
  • Now, make a right-click on the document you wish to disable download for.
  • Tap on the Share option.
  • Click on the gear icon on the top-right corner of the window.
  • Disable the box beside the option “Viewers and commenters can see the option to download, print, and copy”.
Disable Download Option in Google Drive

Once done get back to your document. To ensure it works you can open the link sharing and check the File menu options.

Read How to make a graph on Google Drive

How to Prevent Editors from Re-sharing Files on Google Drive

Apart from the options given above, if you are only looking to change the access permission for editors or the owner, you can try out this method.

There are times when you do not wish to give the editors permission to share the doc or make any access function to the document. This method or the steps will help you disable the re-sharing file options.

  • Open your Google Drive webpage and log in. Or open Google Docs, Slides, Sheets, and log in to the account.
  • Now, choose the document you wish to disable the function.
  • Make a right-click on the document.
  • Tap on Share.
  • Now, click on the Settings icon on the window.
How to Disable Download Option in Google Drive
  • Uncheck the box beside Editors can change permissions and share.
how to disable download option in google drive 2022

Once you have made the changes, simply close the settings options. After this, no editors will be able to make any changes to the permission or even share the doc with anyone else.

Read How to embed video from google drive?

How to Enable Download Option in Google Drive?

Till now, we have only read and learned about how to disable the download option. But the same process can be reversed in order to enable the option back. Here is how you can enable the download option on Google Drive.

  • Open Google Drive on your browser and log in.
  • Make a right-click on any file and choose Share.
  • Now click on the Gear icon or the Settings icon on the top-right.
  • Simply check the box for both options.
  • Close the window and check to see if this works.

Once you close the window, you can start sharing the doc with other people and then ask them to try and download it. Well, it will surely work and hardly takes a few seconds.

Read How To Create A Google Drive Account For A Group- Using Google Workspace

FAQs on Disable Download Option in Google Drive

How to Share the Files on Google Drive if Permission is Disabled?

If your sharing access has been disabled by the owner of the files as an editor, you cannot directly re-share the file with any other user. In fact, you no longer have the permission to make other changes as well to who can access the file. However, you can make this happen.

Simply go to the sharing settings and try sharing the file with other users. As soon as the user will try to access the file, you will receive an email to grant permission for the same. Only when you approve the access permission, the document can be shared with other users.

Furthermore, the same aspect goes with sharing a folder. All the functions are applied to it as we did to the files. However, when you make any changing settings to the folder, it is only meant for that folder and not for the individual files in it. That needs to be separate.

Can you Disable the Download option from your Smartphone?

The answer is no. The steps we have mentioned can only be followed by your web browser. You need to open the settings sections while you trying to share the file from your system.

The same options are not available on your smartphone, hence you need to have a system nearby to make any such changes.

Can you download it from Google Drive with view only?

Yes, you can download it if you have View-only access to that particular file. Simply make a right-click on that particular file and select Download.

However, if you have been restricted to downloading, printing, and copying the file as a viewer, you will not be able to do any of those functions. Hence, make sure you get proper permissions from the owner or the editor and then try out downloading the files.

Read How to Give Google Drive Request Access

Conclusion

Did you try out the methods we have mentioned here? Well, this isn’t rocket science and anyone with a basic idea can make the changes. We have tried out the method mentioned above and made sure they are still in function.

Multiple users have reported errors while trying to share or make any changes to their documents. Hence, make sure you follow through with each step carefully. Even if you make an error, you can always go back and undo those changes.

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