What’s changing
If your admin has set up shared drives for their organization, shared drive managers were previously not able to restrict access to folders in shared drives. Today, we’re introducing a beta that allows shared drive managers to restrict folders to specific users within a shared drive. This provides shared drive managers with greater flexibility to keep relevant content within a single shared drive, while restricting access to shared folders with sensitive information.
A folder with “limited access” can only be opened by people who have been added to it directly. People with general access to the shared drive or shared folder can see the restricted folder in Drive, but will not be able to open it.
Eligible customers can use this form to express interest in the beta and will receive an email confirmation prior to the feature being enabled in their specified domain.
Who’s impacted
Admins and end users
Why it’s important
Folders with limited access allow users to organize files by project, in a single shared drive or shared folder, while ensuring that sensitive information is only accessible to the right team members.
Additional details
Folders with limited access are available in both shared drives and My Drive:
Shared drive managers can always access folders with limited-access Folder owners can always access limited-access folders in their My Drive
Getting started
Admins: Eligible customers can express interest in the beta here. We’ll begin accepting domains into the program in the coming weeks. Once accepted into the beta, visit the Help Center to learn more about folders with limited access. End users: As a shared drive manager or My Drive folder owner, go to your shared drive > choose the folder you want to limit access > click the overflow menu > share > select share settings in the top right corner > click limited access to “Folder Name”. Visit the Help Center to learn more about folders with limited access. For users whose access has been limited, you will see the folder name, but the folder will be grayed out:
Availability
Available for Google Workspace:
Business Standard, Plus Enterprise Standard, Plus Essentials Starter, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Essentials Plus Education Fundamentals, Standard, Plus, the Teaching & Learning Upgrade Nonprofits
