How to Prevent Downloading on Google Drive on PC or Mac

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

This wikiHow teaches you how to restrict the downloading of shared files in Google Drive when you’re using a computer.

Steps

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/27\/Prevent-Downloading-on-Google-Drive-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Prevent-Downloading-on-Google-Drive-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/27\/Prevent-Downloading-on-Google-Drive-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-1.jpg\/aid9316415-v4-728px-Prevent-Downloading-on-Google-Drive-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":342,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":542,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Go to https://drive.google.com . This opens the contents of your Google Drive.
    • If you’re not signed in, click Go to Google Drive to sign in now.
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/29\/Prevent-Downloading-on-Google-Drive-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Prevent-Downloading-on-Google-Drive-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/29\/Prevent-Downloading-on-Google-Drive-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-2.jpg\/aid9316415-v4-728px-Prevent-Downloading-on-Google-Drive-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":342,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":542,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    A menu will appear.
    Advertisement
  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/c\/c8\/Prevent-Downloading-on-Google-Drive-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Prevent-Downloading-on-Google-Drive-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/c8\/Prevent-Downloading-on-Google-Drive-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-3.jpg\/aid9316415-v4-728px-Prevent-Downloading-on-Google-Drive-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":346,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":548,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    You’ll see the Share with Others window.
  4. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/5\/54\/Prevent-Downloading-on-Google-Drive-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Prevent-Downloading-on-Google-Drive-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/54\/Prevent-Downloading-on-Google-Drive-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-4.jpg\/aid9316415-v4-728px-Prevent-Downloading-on-Google-Drive-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":348,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":551,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    It’s at the bottom-right corner of the window.
  5. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/88\/Prevent-Downloading-on-Google-Drive-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-5.jpg\/v4-460px-Prevent-Downloading-on-Google-Drive-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/88\/Prevent-Downloading-on-Google-Drive-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-5.jpg\/aid9316415-v4-728px-Prevent-Downloading-on-Google-Drive-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":346,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":547,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
  6. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/68\/Prevent-Downloading-on-Google-Drive-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-6.jpg\/v4-460px-Prevent-Downloading-on-Google-Drive-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-6.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/68\/Prevent-Downloading-on-Google-Drive-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-6.jpg\/aid9316415-v4-728px-Prevent-Downloading-on-Google-Drive-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-6.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":346,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":547,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
  7. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/22\/Prevent-Downloading-on-Google-Drive-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-7.jpg\/v4-460px-Prevent-Downloading-on-Google-Drive-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-7.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/22\/Prevent-Downloading-on-Google-Drive-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-7.jpg\/aid9316415-v4-728px-Prevent-Downloading-on-Google-Drive-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-7.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":342,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":541,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    You’ve now disabled downloads for the selected file.
    8. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      You Might Also Like

      How to Make a Google Drive Folder Available Offline on Android
      How to
      Use Google Drive
      How to
      Download a Google Drive Folder on iPhone or iPad
      How to
      Store Pictures on Google Drive
      How to
      Download a Backup from Google Drive
      How to
      Share Large Files on Google Drive
      How to Hide Folders in Google Drive (on Mobile and Web Browser)
      How to Save a Copy of Your Gmail Emails to Google Drive
      The Easiest Way to Sign Out of Google Drive on Android
      How to
      Resume a Google Drive Upload
      How to
      Add Files to Google Drive Online
      How to
      Edit Photos Using Google Drive
      How to Embed Audio from Google Drive into Slides & Docs
      How to
      Stop a Google Drive Sync on PC or Mac
      Advertisement

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Sign in to https://drive.google.com .
      2. Right-click a file.
      3. Click Share…
      4. Click Advanced .
      5. Check the box next to “Disable options to download…” 6. Click Save Changes .
      7. Click Done .

      Did this summary help you?
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 19,164 times.

      Is this article up to date?

      Advertisement