How to Stop Sharing a Google Docs File (and Share It Again)

To stop sharing a Google Docs file, open the document, click Share, click the down arrow next to the person’s name, choose Remove access, and click Save. If the file is shared by link, change General access to Restricted so only the people you added can open it.

How to Stop Sharing a Google Docs File

These steps follow Google’s help page on stopping or changing sharing. They work the same way in Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Drive.

1. Open the document in Google Docs on a computer.
2. Click the Share button in the top-right corner.
3. Find the person you want to remove in the list.
4. Click the down arrow to the right of their name.
5. Choose Remove access.
6. Click Save.

How to Turn Off Link Sharing

If you shared the file with “Anyone with the link,” removing people one at a time won’t stop someone who has the link. Change the general access setting instead.

1. Open the document and click Share.
2. Under General access, click the down arrow.
3. Select Restricted.
4. Click Done.

Now only the people listed in the Share window can open the file.

How to Share a Google Docs File With Someone

If you want to give someone access again, or invite someone new by email, Google’s Share files from Google Drive page lists these steps:

1. Open the document, or right-click it in Google Drive.
2. Click Share.
3. Type the person’s email address.
4. Pick their role: Viewer, Commenter, or Editor.
5. Click Send. They get an email with a link to the file.

Viewers can only read the file. Commenters can read it and leave comments. Editors can change the file and share it with others unless you turn that off.

How to Stop People From Downloading or Copying Your File

If you own the file, you can also limit what viewers and commenters do with it.

1. Click Share.
2. Click the Settings gear at the top of the Share window.
3. Under “People who can download, copy, and print,” check only the roles you want to allow.
4. Click the back arrow, then click Done.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the person get told when I stop sharing?

No. Google doesn’t send a notice when you remove someone. The file just stops opening for them.

What if the file is in a shared folder?

People can still get in through the folder. Google says that removing someone from a file they reach through a folder changes their access for the whole folder, so check the folder’s sharing too.

Can I stop sharing a file I don’t own?

Only if the owner gave editors permission to change sharing. Otherwise, ask the owner to do it.

Related Guides

• How to save a Google Docs file as a PDF
• How to convert a PDF to a Google Doc
• How to clear formatting in Google Docs