Unlocking the Magic Sharing in Google Drive
The core magic of Google Drive is the ability to easily share and collaborate on files and even entire folders. If you’re new to Google, understanding Google Sharing options can be confusing. When sharing files or folders, it is important to understand sharing options which include: sharing with specific people or groups, as well as link sharing. In addition to “who” can access a file, you can also set the level of permission such as: edit, view or comment. The tutorial video below provides an overview of sharing basics.
Visibility – The “Who” in the Sharing Equation
Visibility settings allow you to choose WHO will be able to see your file(s)/folders. Below is a breakdown of the different visibility options. 
Access – The “What can they do” aspect of Sharing
In addition to “visibility” settings, you also need to choose WHAT people are able to do with your file(s) or folders. The options include “Can View”, “Can Comment”, “Can Edit” and “Is Owner”. See Google Support’s breakdown of the differences between these permissions in the table below: 
Configuring Sharing Settings
To access the sharing menu, click the “Share” icon from inside the file or inside Google Drive. The menu is divided into two parts:
Sharing Options
- Sharing with people or groups: Type in the email address of the person or group you want to share with. This requires the user to have a Google account. Set the permission level you want them to have (Edit, Comment or View)
- Link Sharing: This option can be used to provide access for people who don’t have a Google account. To learn more about link sharing, check out a related post.
- Additional Restrictions: Clicking the gear icon at the top of the “Share with People and Groups” window allows you to access additional settings to prevent editors from adding new users to the file or prevent others from downloading, printing or copying a file.
Sharing Folders
Share files in bulk with colleagues and students by sharing an entire folder. It’s important to understand that by sharing a folder, ALL contents of that folder, including new files added to that folder as well as any sub-folders, automatically take on the same sharing permissions of the top level folder. You can override this by individually selecting a sub-folder or file and changing its sharing settings.
