How do I share Google Drive on Windows 10?

To share files or folders from Google Drive on your Windows 10 computer, follow these steps:

1. Open Google Drive: On your computer, access Google Drive by going to Google Drive in a web browser. Ensure you are logged into your Google account.

2. Select the File or Folder: Locate the file or folder you want to share.

3. Share Options: You have several ways to access the sharing options:

   • Right-click: Right-click on the file or folder. In the context menu, select "Share".
   • Get Link: Right-click the file or folder and select "Get link" if you just want to create a shareable link.
   • Select File and Click Share Icon: Select the file or folder, then click the "Share" icon (it looks like a person with a + sign) at the top of the page.

4. Share with People or Groups: In the sharing dialog box, you have two main options:

   • Share with specific people or groups: Enter the email addresses of the people or Google Groups you want to share with. You can add multiple addresses.
   • Get a shareable link: This creates a link that anyone with the link can access. You can then copy and paste this link to share it via email, chat, or other methods.

5. Set Permissions: For both options (sharing with specific people or using a shareable link), you can control what people can do with the file or folder:

   • Viewer: People can view the file or folder but cannot make changes or share it with others.
   • Commenter: People can view and add comments to the file but cannot make changes. (Not available for folders).
   • Editor: People can view, edit, and share the file or folder.

   When using a shareable link, you can also restrict access so that only people with a Google account can access the file. Select “Anyone with the link” option and then adjust the role (Viewer, Commenter or Editor). To restrict the file only to specific people, select 'Restricted' from the dropdown instead of "Anyone with the Link".

6. Advanced Settings (Optional): Click the "Settings" icon (gear icon) in the upper right corner of the sharing dialogue box for advanced control over your files. Here you can:

   • Prevent editors from changing access and adding new people. This limits collaborators from sharing the file beyond who you've given access.
   • Disable options to download, print and copy for viewers and commenters.

7. Add Expiration Date (If Applicable): If you have a Google Workspace account associated with a work or school, you may see an option to add an expiration date to the sharing permissions. This automatically revokes access after the specified date.

8. Send Notification (If Sharing with Specific People): When sharing with specific email addresses, you can add a message that will be included in the email notification they receive. Check the box next to “Notify people” to send an email to the recipients.

9. Copy Link/Send Invite: If you chose to "Get link" copy the generated link and share it. If sharing with specific people, click "Send" to email an invitation to the recipients.

By following these steps, you can easily share files and folders from Google Drive on your Windows 10 computer, while maintaining control over who has access and what they can do with the shared content.