How to Share Google Drive Files on Mac

Edited 3 weeks ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

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Google Drive is a convenient cloud storage service from Google that allows you to store and share files securely online. As a Mac user, sharing files on Google Drive is simple and can be done in a few easy steps. In this guide, we will discuss in depth how you can share your Google Drive files on a Mac system. This explanation will give you a comprehensive understanding of how to use Google Drive on your Mac, including all the possible ways to share files effectively.

Understanding Google Drive

Before getting into the specifics of sharing files on Google Drive, let's start with the basic information about Google Drive. Basically, Google Drive is a file storage and synchronization service from Google. It enables users to save files in the cloud, synchronize files across devices, and most importantly, share files with others.

Google Drive includes Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Google Slides, which allow users to collaborate in real-time on documents, spreadsheets, and presentations.

Setting up Google Drive on Mac

To start using Google Drive, you first need to set up and install Google Drive on your Mac. Follow these instructions:

1. Open your web browser and go to the Google Drive website.
2. Click the “Download” button to get Google Drive for your Mac.
3. Once the download is complete, open the installer package.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to install Google Drive on your Mac.
5. After installation, launch Google Drive and sign in with your Google account.

Upload files to Google Drive

Before you can share files, you need to make sure they're stored on Google Drive. Uploading files is a simple process:

1. Open your Google Drive from “Finder” on your Mac.
2. Drag and drop the files you want to upload to the Google Drive folder. Alternatively, you can click the “New” button in Google Drive and choose “File Upload” to select the files manually.
3. Wait for the files to upload. You will see a progress bar showing the upload status.
4. Once the upload is complete, the files will appear in your Google Drive folder, ready to be shared.

Share files from Google Drive

Now that your files are in Google Drive, you can share them using a variety of methods. Google Drive gives you different options for sharing files, whether through email invitations, shareable links, or by modifying sharing permissions.

Method 1: Sharing files via email invitation

A simple way to share files is through an email invitation. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Right-click the file you want to share in Google Drive.
2. Select “Share” from the context menu.
3. A sharing dialog will appear. In the dialog, enter the email addresses of the people with whom you want to share the document.
4. You can type a note if you want to include a message.
5. Click “Send” to share the file. An email invitation will be sent to the recipients with a link to access the file.

Method 2: Sharing files with links

The next way to share files is to create a shareable link, which you can distribute to anyone. This method is convenient and provides easy access. Here is how to create a shareable link:

1. Right-click on the desired file in Google Drive.
2. Select “Get Link” from the menu.
3. By default, your file may be restricted. Click the “Anyone with the link” option to make it publicly shareable.
4. Press “Copy Link” to copy the shareable link to your clipboard.
5. You can now share the link with others by pasting it into an email, message, or on social media.

Method 3: Changing sharing permissions

Google Drive allows you to control file access by adjusting sharing permissions. You can control whether users can view, comment on, or edit your files:

1. Right-click on the file and select “Share.”
2. In Share settings, click the drop-down menu next to each person's name or shareable link.
3. Choose the appropriate permission: “Viewer” allows users to only view, “Commenter” lets them comment, and “Editor” provides editing rights.
4. Click “Done” to save the changes.

Advanced options for sharing Google Drive files

Google Drive provides advanced sharing options that give you more control over business features. Here are some additional features for sharing:

Setting an expiration date for shared links

If you want to temporarily share access to a file, you can set an expiration date for the link:

1. Open the sharing dialog for the file.
2. In the sharing options, click 'Can View' or other permission indicator next to the email of the person you're sharing with.
3. Click "Add expiration date" and set the desired date when the link will automatically expire.

Disable options to download, print, or copy

You can disable other users from downloading, printing, or copying your shared files:

1. In the Share dialog, click the gear icon for the Settings menu.
2. Uncheck the box for “Viewers and commenters can see the option to download, print, and copy.”
3. Copies of these files will be restricted to prevent unwanted distribution.

Tips for sharing files on Google Drive

Sharing files on Google Drive can be more effective through the following tips:

• Regularly check and manage your shared files to ensure that only trusted people have access to them.
• Educate recipients about permission levels to avoid accidental modifications.
• Use Google Drive's Activity pane to see who viewed or edited your files and when.
• Publish documents online if they need to be made widely available without editing.

Conclusion

Sharing files on Google Drive from a Mac is a straightforward process that involves uploading files to your Google Drive and using Google Drive's sharing feature to distribute them. Whether through email invitations, shareable links or adjusting permissions, you have a variety of options for sharing safely and effectively. Exploring advanced features like expiration settings and disabling downloads ensures you maintain control over your shared content.

With these comprehensive details, sharing your Google Drive files on Mac will now be a seamless process for all your personal and business needs.

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