Printing is Disabled for this File Error on Google Drive – Reasons and Solutions

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Have you ever seen while you are trying to print the important files is disabled? This is the right article to check why the printing option is disabled in Google Drive. Google Drive allows you to download, edit, and print the files directly to your system.

Here I am going to discuss why this happens in the first place, along with the solutions to print such files.

Continue reading to learn more to get to know the things the fixes by troubleshooting methods.

Printing is Disabled for this File Error- Reasons and More

Google Drive is a popular cloud storage service. The major reason for its popularity is it gives users complete control over their data. It will let you copy, print, and download any file that you share with others.

This feature is available for almost everything you have inside your Google Drive. Suppose you want to share the PDF files but you do not want to allow them to download or print the files for that, you can do this simply by following these steps before sharing your files.

  • Open Google Drive and right-click on the file you want to share with others without giving them the ability to download or print the file.
  • From the options menu, select the share option.
Print is disabled in Google Drive
  • Now, click on the Gear icon to open advanced sharing settings.
Print is disabled in Drive
  • Here, you have to uncheck the option that says, “Viewers and commentators can see the option to download, print, and copy.”
Printing is Disabled for this File Google Drive

That’s it. After doing this, you can share the file. However, note that you have to provide them access as the Viewer or Commentator, not the Editor. People who have access to edit the file will also be able to download or print the file.

Limitations

Even though this is a solid feature, it has some limitations as well.

  • You cannot disable one or two options. Either enable all options that will give a user to download, print, or copy files or restrict them from performing these actions by disabling the settings.
  • If you are not a file owner, then you cannot disable these options.
  • Doing this will restrict downloading, printing, and editing of the documents and files in Google Drive and other platforms such as Google Docs, Sheets, etc.

The main idea behind introducing this feature to Google Drive was to give the file owners complete control of how their files can be distributed or shared.

However, if you want to download any such file that is protected from downloading, printing, or copying, there is a way to do that. You can follow the below-mentioned guide to print such files.

Read How to Request Edit Access in the Google Drive Folder

Steps to Download or Print Protected Google Docs Files from Google Drive

Downloading Google Docs files that are protected is quite simple and easy.

You just have to follow these simple steps –

  • Open the file.
  • Now, look at the URL of the file, and at the end of it, you will see the /edit part. You have to replace /edit with /mobilebasic and press enter. This will open the file in the mobile view mode.
Printing is Disabled for this File google drive
  • Now, you just have to press the CTRL + S button on your keyboard replace the extension from .html to .doc, and save it.

Now, Google document is saved on your computer and you can print, edit, or modify them the way you want.

Read How to Hide a Folder in Google Drive

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I print a disabled PDF from Google Drive?

To print a view-only PDF, you have to follow the above-mentioned guide. However, note that the above-mentioned technique will turn your PDF into an image file. Therefore, you will not be able to use the file as a PDF, and there are chances that the quality will also reduce a bit. You will be able to print that PDF, though.

2. Why can’t I print something from Google Drive?

If the file is not protected or available in view-only mode, you will be able to print that file. However, sometimes an error can be caused due to poor installation of printer software or browser. So, see if that is the issue.

Conclusion

There you have it – a detailed guide on how the Printing is Disabled for this File error can be solved and what causes it.

Google Drive is one of the favorite cloud storage solutions, especially for personal uses. One of the main reasons for that is that Google Drive always comes up with new features that make it quite easy to use and highly functional. The file-sharing options are strong features it gives users more options to take control of their files.

You may like the following Google Drive tutorials: