How to Share a Link to Google Drive File with others on an iPhone or iPad?

Google Drive is a cloud storage service that allows you to store, access, and share files from any device. With Google Drive, you can easily share files and folders with other people, giving them access to view or edit the content.

On an iPhone or iPad, sharing a link to a Google Drive file is simple and straightforward. Here’s a step-by-step guide to sharing a link to a Google Drive file with others when using an iOS device.

Prerequisites for Sharing Google Drive Links on iPhone/iPad

Before you can share a link to a Google Drive file from your iPhone or iPad, there are a few prerequisites:

• Google Drive app - You need to have the Google Drive app installed on your iOS device. This can be downloaded for free from the App Store.
• Google account - You need to be logged into your Google account within the Drive app. This is the same account where the file you want to share is stored in Drive.
• Internet connection - You need an internet connection on your iPhone or iPad to access Drive and share file links. This can be via Wi-Fi or mobile data.
• File permissions - If the file you want to share is owned by someone else, you need editing permission for that file in order to get the shareable link.

Once you have the Google Drive app set up on your iPhone/iPad and are logged into your Google account, you can proceed with getting the shareable link for a Drive file.

Steps to Share Google Drive File Link on iPhone/iPad

Follow these steps to share a link to a Google Drive file from your iPhone or iPad:

1. Open the Google Drive App and Locate the File

• Open the Google Drive app on your iOS device.
• Navigate to the file or folder you want to share. Tap on it to open the file details.

2. Tap the Share Icon

• With the file open, tap the share icon in the top right (it looks like a box with an arrow coming out of it).

3. Tap ‘Copy Link’

• In the share sheet that pops up, tap ‘Copy link’.
• This copies the file’s shareable link to your clipboard.

4. Paste the Link Where You Want to Share

• Now you can paste this link anywhere you want to share it - in an email, messaging app, social media etc.
• When pasting into an app, tap and hold in the text field, then tap ‘Paste’ to paste the link.
• The link will enable anyone to view or access the Google Drive file.

Share Options with the Google Drive Link

When you share the Google Drive file link, you have options to control what recipients can do with the file:

• Anyone with the link - This gives editor access, allowing people to view, edit, and share the file if they have the link.
• Restricted - Only allows viewing access, prevents editing.
• Specific people - Share with individual email addresses to control access.

Manage these options from the Google Drive desktop site for more granular control.

Sharing File Links From the iOS Share Sheet

An alternative way to share a Google Drive file link is directly from the standard iOS share sheet:

1. Open the File in Google Drive

• Open the Google Drive app and tap the file you want to share to open it.

2. Tap the iOS Share Icon

• Tap the iOS share icon in the top toolbar (a box with an arrow pointing up).

3. Tap Copy Link

• In the share sheet, tap ‘Copy Link’. This copies the shareable file link.

4. Paste the Link to Share

• You can now paste this copied link to share it with others.

This allows you to share Drive file links without having to open the Drive sharing menu specifically.

Sharing Entire Folders via Link on iPhone/iPad

You can also share links to entire Google Drive folders from your iOS device. This gives people access to all files within that folder. Just follow the same steps, but tap a folder instead of an individual file.

The shareable link will lead to a page showing all files and sub-folders in that Drive folder. Great for sharing collections of documents.

Link Sharing Settings in Google Drive

On the Google Drive website, you have additional options for managing link sharing settings:

• Link access - Control whether links give editing or viewing access only.
• Link permissions - Set links to expire after a certain time period.
• Visibility - Make links accessible to anyone, or require Google login.

Adjust these from Drive on the web for more control over shared links.

Pros of Sharing Google Drive Links

Here are some benefits of sharing files via Google Drive links rather than attachments:

• Access the latest version - Recipients always see the most up-to-date version of the file.
• Large files - No size limits for sharing large documents or media.
• Live collaboration - Recipients can collaborate on documents in real-time.
• No attachments - Avoid clogging up inboxes with file attachments.
• Link settings - You have options like restricting editing access.

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Tips for Sharing Links to Google Drive Files

To safely and effectively share Google Drive file links from your iPhone or iPad, follow these tips:

• Double check you are sharing the correct file before sending the link.
• Be wary of enabling ‘Anyone with the link’ access for sensitive documents - consider restricting access.
• Share links directly in messaging apps for easy access rather than attachments.
• Disable link sharing when you no longer want recipients to access a file.
• Use view-only links to prevent changes to important documents or media.
• Check the sharing status of files owned by others before attempting to share.

Summary

Sharing file links is a simple yet powerful Google Drive feature. From an iPhone or iPad, just open the Google Drive app, tap the share icon on a file, and copy the link. Paste this anywhere to securely share the file. Manage additional link settings on the Drive website.

With the Google Drive app and shareable file links, you can easily collaborate and exchange files right from your iPhone or iPad. No attachments required! Use the steps in this guide to start sharing Drive files seamlessly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Some common questions about sharing Google Drive file links from iOS devices:

How do I remove link sharing access to a Google Drive file?

On the Google Drive website, open the file and click the share icon. Click 'Change' next to 'Get shareable link' and change the access to 'Only people explicitly granted access'. This will revoke the shareable link.

Can I prevent recipients from resharing a Google Drive link?

Yes, on the Google Drive desktop site, open the file and edit the link sharing settings. Under the 'Advanced' section, disable the option to 'Allow viewers to copy, print, and download'.

Do recipients need a Google account to access a shared Drive link?

No, Google account login is not required to view files via a shareable Drive link, unless specified when generating the link. Recipients simply need the link URL.

How can I share an entire Google Drive folder via link?

Follow the same sharing steps, but tap a folder instead of an individual file. This will generate a shareable link for the folder contents. Enable 'Share everything in this folder' in the link settings.

Can I set an expiration date for a shared Google Drive link?

Yes, from Google Drive on the web you can access advanced sharing options to set an expiration date for any shared links, after which the link will stop working.