The cloud-based storage service Google Drive allows users to save and access files online. The service synchronizes saved files, including images, across all of the user’s devices, including smartphones, tablets, and PCs. So, let us understand how to share Google drive files with non Gmail account.
Google account integrates with the user’s other services and systems including Google Docs, Gmail,
Android, Chrome, YouTube, Google Analytics, etc.
A Google account needs to be created or signed in for the user to access Google Drive.
- Then, the user types www.drive.google.com into their browser.
- My Drive, which can include uploaded or synced files and folders as well as Google Sheets, Google Slides, and Google Docs files, will automatically display.
- Now, the user can either upload files from their computer or create files in Google Drive.
A Google Drive application can be downloaded to one or more devices by the user. Each device’s file system will display a Google Drive folder alongside other folders.
A user automatically becomes the owner of a file or folder when they create it. The owner can transfer
ownership to another user by using their Gmail addresses, regulate the amount of visibility (public or
privately shared with particular Google accounts), and more. Through the use of access levels like editor,
viewer, and commenter, the owner can also control the permissions for both folders and files.
Google Drive Desktop, Web and Mobile Apps
The web app is how most users access Google Drive. With the help of Google Docs Offline, an official Chrome extension, users without Wi-Fi may still view and modify documents. Users of Save to Google Drive, a different official Chrome extension, can utilize their browser or a context menu to save site content to their Google Drive.
The iOS and Android mobile apps for Google Drive let users store, share, and view files. Users must, however, utilize the distinct Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides applications in order to create and modify files.
Creating Files on Google Drive
In addition to storing your files, Google Drive also lets you create, manage, and share documents using its own productivity tools. Some aspects of Google Drive’s programs could be recognized if you’ve ever used a suite like Microsoft Office. The types of files you can work with, for instance, are equivalent to those that can be produced by a number of Microsoft Office programs.
Below are the types of files you can create and share on Google Drive:
- Documents: For composing letters, flyers, essays, and other text-based files (similar to Microsoft
Word documents) - Spreadsheets: For storing and organizing information (similar to Microsoft Excel workbooks)
- Presentations: For creating slideshows (similar to Microsoft PowerPoint presentations)
- Forms: For collecting and organizing data.
- Drawings: For creating simple vector graphics or diagrams.
Google Drive is a free online cloud storage service for Google files. Launched in 2012 to replace Google Docs, which had a storage limit of 1GB, it provided customers with a significant increase in capacity, up to 15GB entirely free.
Also read: Set Google Chrome as Default Browser.
Share Google Drive Files with Non Gmail Accounts
Follow below listed instructions and share Google drive documents with non Google account.
Step-1. Upload Files to Google Drive (if not already done): If the files you want to share are not already on your Google Drive, upload them by clicking on the “+ New” button in Google Drive and selecting “File upload”. Choose the files from your computer that you want to share.
Step-2. Open Sharing Options: Right-click on the file you want to share, and then click on “Share”.
Step-3. Enter Email Address: In the “Share with people and groups” dialog box, enter the email address of the person who has a non-Gmail account. You can also enter multiple email addresses if you want to share with multiple people.
Step-4. Set Permissions: Below the email address field, you’ll see the option to set permissions. Click on the drop-down menu to the right of the input box to select the appropriate permission level. These levels include:
- Viewer: Can view the file but not make changes.
- Commenter: Can view and leave comments on the file.
- Editor: Can view and make changes to the file.
- Viewer (no comment): Similar to Viewer but without the ability to leave comments.
Step-5. Notification Options (Optional): If you want to notify the recipients about the shared file, you can check the box next to “Notify people”. This will send an email to the recipients with a link to the shared file.
Step-6. Add a Message (Optional): You can include a message with the sharing invitation. This message will be included in the email that the recipients receive.
Step-7. Click “Send”: Once you’ve entered the necessary information, click the “Send” button. An email will be sent to the recipients with a link to the shared file.
8. Accessing the Shared File: The recipients will receive an email with a link to the shared file. They can click on the link to access the file. If they don’t have a Google account, they can still access the file by clicking on the “Open link” button on the Google sign-in page.
Conclusion
Remember that the exact steps and options might vary slightly depending on any updates Google
makes to its interface. The key point is that you can share Google Drive files with non-Gmail accounts
by using their email addresses and setting the appropriate permissions for access.