Google Docs not only lets you make and edit all kinds of documents but also allows you to collaborate with your classmates or colleagues without having to leave your seat. Moreover, it has a prominent sharing feature that gives people access to viewing, editing, or commenting on certain documents at the same time. Even better, every input is saved automatically.
To share your document, click the “Share” button at the upper-right corner of the Google Docs workspace and add your collaborators by entering their email addresses in the “Add people and groups” textbox.
In this guide, we will walk you through the detailed process of how to share Google Docs documents using your computer. We’ll also discuss how you can accomplish this via the mobile app.
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How to Share a Document in Google Docs Using a Computer
These days, sharing Google Docs from your laptop to other computers is very simple and convenient. Here are three of the easiest solutions on how to share documents on Google Docs.
Method 1: Adding by Email Address
With this method, the person will receive an email with a link to the Google Docs document you shared. They can then click on the link to access the document according to the access level you granted them.
To share a Google Docs document by adding someone’s email address, simply follow these steps:
- Go to Google Docs, log into your account, and open the document you want to share with other people.
- Click the “Share” button in the upper-right corner of your Google Docs workspace.
- On the dialog box that appears, type your recipient’s name or email address in the “Add people and groups” field.
- Choose your recipient’s access levels, whether you’ll only allow them to view your document or also let them do edits.
- Tick the box next to “Notify people” if you want the recipients to get notified in their email.
- Optionally, you can also enter a message in the textbox below it.
Method 2: Sharing a Link
When you need several people to access your file to make edits, sharing a Google Docs link is one of the easiest ways you can try. In addition, it is excellent for team projects, as it enables multiple users to work on the document simultaneously.
Additionally, you can choose which people can access the file and your sharing permissions (editor, viewer, or commenter). Here’s the how-to on sharing Google documents using links.
- Open the Google Docs document you want to share.
- Click on the “Share” button at the top-right corner of your screen.
- Select a permission option to indicate whether you allow the people you share the file with to edit, comment on, or view it.
- Click “Copy link” and send it to your collaborators.
Method 3: Sending Through Email
Sending or sharing your Google Docs via email is a great idea if you don’t want everyone to be able to access your document but still want to share it with certain people. It also helps you control who can edit your documents or leave comments.
Here’s how you send your Google Docs using email on a web browser.
- Open the Google Docs document you want to send via email.
- Click “File” in the menu bar, then choose “Email” > “Email this file” from the drop-down menu.
- From the “Email this file” dialog box, enter the email address or name of your recipient in the first field. You can also write a message under the Message field.
- Optionally, you can email yourself a copy of the document by ticking the “Send yourself a copy” checkbox.
- You may also convert your Google Docs document to a different file type, such as PDF, Rich Text (RTF), Open Document, and more.
- Once done, click the “Send” button at the bottom-right corner of the dialog box.
How to Share Google Docs on a Mobile Device
While sharing Google Docs on a mobile device or tablet differs from sharing on a computer due to the user interface, the idea is essentially the same. Here are three ways you can send your documents on a mobile device.
Method 1: Direct Sharing by Email Address in the Google Docs App
You can share Google Docs on mobile devices by choosing the document and tapping the “Share” icon. Afterward, you can select the recipient and give them access to the document. Here’s how to do it.
- Open the Google Docs app on your mobile phone or tablet.
- Choose and open the file you want to share with other people.
- Tap the “Sharing” icon in the upper-left corner of the screen.
- Add the email address you want to share the files with.
- Choose whether you want the recipient to edit, comment, or view the document.
- You can also add a short message for them (optional).
- Lastly, tap the “Send” icon at the bottom right side of the screen.
Method 2: Sharing Through the Gmail App
In addition to sharing Google Docs using a laptop or computer, you can also share a document using your mobile phone or tablet. You must open the document, choose “Share,” type the recipient’s email address, and specify the recipient’s access permissions. However, the user interfaces for tablets and smartphones might differ slightly from those for desktops.
- Open the Gmail app on your phone or tablet.
- Next, tap the “Insert file” button.
- From there, you can select files you want to insert from Photos, Attachments, or Google Drive.
- Once you’re done, tap the “Send” button in the upper left corner of the screen to send the email.
Method 3: Sending a Link
The steps for sharing a Google Docs link on a mobile device are identical to those for doing so on a computer; there may be a few minor differences, though. The primary distinction may be in how the mobile application is laid out and how it interacts with the user.
To send a Google Docs link on your mobile device, simply follow the steps below:
- Open the Google Docs app on your mobile phone or tablet.
- Then, select a file you want to share and open it.
- Tap the “Share” button in the upper left corner of the screen.
- Tap the globe-like button.
- From there, you can edit the permission access of the file, then tap the copy link icon.
How to Share a Google Docs File with a Limited Group of People
To share your files only with a limited number of people, the only solution you can do is add them as collaborators (or people with access to your Google Docs) using their email. As discussed above, click the “Share” button, enter the person’s email address in the “Add people and groups” textbox, and hit the “Send” button.
How to Find Google Docs Shared with You
There is no direct functionality on the Google Docs platform that lets you see all the shared files that other people gave you access to. However, a clever workaround is to filter your documents regarding file ownership.
Here’s how to do it:
- Go to Google Docs.
- Click on the first drop-down menu in the middle part of the interface, which is usually displayed as either “Owned by me,” “Owned by anyone,” or “Not owned by me.”
- Select “Not owned by me” to see the documents others might have shared with you.
Alternatively, you can check your other communication channels, especially your mailbox, to see if anyone has sent you a Google Docs share link.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Give Someone Access to My Google Docs?
Yes. To allow another person to access your Google Docs file, you can add them as a collaborator using their email address. Click “Share,” then type your collaborator’s email address in the “Add people and groups” field. Alternatively, you can generate a share link to send to others under the “General access” section.
How Do I Share a Google Doc via Email?
Using a laptop or PC, open the document you want to share. Click “File” > “Email” > “Email this file.” There, you can add the email address of the recipient. Alternatively, you can generate a shareable link to your Google Docs file and send it to your intended recipient via email or any other messaging platform.
Why Can’t I Share Google Docs with Others?
When sharing your Google Docs, ensure you are allowing access to the file. Otherwise, it won’t work. To enable access to your Google Docs, you can set the sharing options to anyone with the link, specific people, or even make the document public. Moreover, you can set the level of access, whether the user can edit, comment or only view the document.
When I Share a Document, Does It Only Share That One Document?
Yes. When you share a Google Doc, you just share that specific document. Only the people you share that document with can access it. But, it is important to be mindful of what you share to ensure the privacy and security of your other documents.
Wrapping Up
You will find sending the rest of your documents much simpler now that you know how to share Google Docs. In addition, you can now collaborate on a document with your friends, coworkers, or classmates. This not only boosts output but also makes it possible to collaborate easily, no matter where you are.
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