Google Drive Unshare All: Stop Sharing Links and Folders Instantly

Content at a Glance:

• How to Let Google Drive Unshare All Files and Folders?
• Why Unshare All Files and Folders in Google Drive?
• How to Find Shared Google Drive Files and Folders?
• How to Remove Access from Google Drive Folder?
• How to Unshare Google Drive Link
• Google Drive Unshare All Files and Folders
• Bonus Tip: Backup Google Drive Files for Security
• FAQs about Google Drive Unshare All
• In the End

How to Let Google Drive Unshare All Files and Folders?

Why Unshare All Files and Folders in Google Drive?

Unsharing all of your Google Drive files and folders is important for many reasons, check the main reasons below:

• Protecting Sensitive Information

Sensitive or private information may occasionally be contained in files or folders that were previously shared with clients, coworkers, or collaborators. If access is no longer required or if someone should no longer have access (for example, because their project role has changed), unsharing those files guarantees that only those with permission can see or edit them.

• Preventing Unauthorized Access

Over time, people may leave projects or organizations, or your Google Drive might have files shared with people who no longer require access. Unsharing files ensures that former collaborators or individuals who shouldn’t have access can’t view your content.

• Simplifying File Management

Over time, you could acquire a huge number of shared files and folders, making it tougher to track who has access. By unsharing everything, you effectively start with a new slate, allowing you to organize your files more efficiently and offer access only to those who genuinely need it.

• Reclaiming Control After a Change in Work Environment

Unsharing your files may be a required step if you change teams, positions, or companies, or if your organizational needs change. This is particularly crucial if you have been storing private or professional data on a shared Google Drive. By taking back control of your data, you can make sure that nothing is left open to people who don't require it.

So, how to unshare all files on Google Drive? Check the following solutions.

How to Find Shared Google Drive Files and Folders?

If you need to unshare files and folders in Google Drive, first of all, you have to find them all. Here some tips for you to find them all:

• For shared folders, you can find the folder icon with a people just like the below:

• For shared files, you can find the shared icon at the end of your filename, just like this:

How to Remove Access from Google Drive Folder?

Managing folder permissions is crucial for securing your data. When you share a Google Drive folder, all its contents become accessible to others, which might not always be what you want. To unshare a Google Drive folder, try the following steps:

1. Go to the Google Drive website and log in.

2. Navigate to the folder you want to unshare.

3. Select the folder and select the Share icon on the top menu.

4. Choose the user you’d like to remove access, click on their permissions to expand, and choose Remove Access.

5. Hit Save to let Google Drive unshare folder with specific user.

6. If you need to unshare the folder with others, repeat the process to remove all users access from the folder.

This method is ideal if you want to selectively revoke access rather than apply a blanket unshare.

How to Unshare Google Drive Link

Shared links are a quick way to give access, but they can inadvertently lead to overexposure of your files. You can disable public or specific access for shared links, here is how:

1. Locate the file or folder with the shared link.

2. Right-click and choose "Share" > "Share".

3. Under the "General Access" section, change the setting from "Anyone with the link" to "Restricted".

If specific individuals have access via the link, remove them from the list under "Share Settings".

Disabling shared links is one of the easiest ways to regain control and ensure no unintended access.

Google Drive Unshare All Files and Folders

Sometimes, you need to unshare everything in Google Drive at once. Whether it's for privacy or efficiency, Google Drive makes this process manageable.

Way 1. Delete All Google Drive Shared Files and Folders

If you want to remove all shared files and folders to unshare all files in Google Drive, you can delete all of them(please ensure you have a local copy for these items), then the sharing links should be unavailable.

If you still want to keep them on Google Drive, rename them with new names, and upload them to Google Drive.

This way is only applied for a few shared files and folders, not for large amounts of files and folders, it’s not the ideal way.

Way 2. Move All Shared Files and Folders into a New Folder and Remove Access for All Users

Here is the easiest way to remove access from Google Drive shared files and folders for all users, check the simple clicks:

1. Please log in to your Google Drive account.

2. Create a new folder, named Sharing for example.

3. Find all the shared Google Drive files and folders, and move them into the newly created folder, Sharing.

4. Open the Sharing folder, and choose all the shared files and folders, select the Share icon on the top menu.

5. It will show you all the users that these files are shared with, choose a user, click on the permissions > Remove access, then repeat the selection for all users.

6. Hit Save to let Google Drive unshare all files and folders once and for all.

Bonus Tip: Backup Google Drive Files for Security

If you need to keep a backup copy for your critical Google Drive files, it’s highly recommended to try the web-based multiple cloud storage manager - MultCloud. It’s dedicated to moving files between clouds directly without downloading and uploading.

How to migrate Google Drive to OneDrive for example with MultCloud, check the following steps:

1. Log in to your MultCloud account after signing up.

2. Click Add Cloud > Google Drive, then follow the guide to add. Then add OneDrive accordingly.

3. Select Cloud Transfer, choose Google Drive files as the source, and a location in OneDrive as the target.

4. Press the Transfer Now button to back up Google Drive files to OneDrive easily.

FAQs about Google Drive Unshare All

What is the fastest way to Google Drive unshare all?

A: The fastest way is to move all shared files and folders into a new created folder, then choose all these files and folders simultaneously, choose Share, and then remove access for all users to unshare everything in Google Drive easily.

Can you unshare all files in Google Drive at once?

A: Unfortunately, there isn't a single-click option to unshare everything at once. However, you can batch-select multiple items, adjust permissions collectively, or use third-party tools for mass unsharing.

How to remove access from Google Drive folder permanently?

A: To permanently remove access, navigate to the folder's sharing settings, delete all shared users, and change the folder’s link-sharing setting to “Restricted.”

What happens when you unshare a file or folder in Google Drive?

A: When you unshare, individuals lose access immediately. If they had offline copies, they could still view them, but no updates will sync with their version.

How to unshare Google Drive link without breaking access for others?

A: Adjust permissions to limit access to specific individuals instead of disabling the link entirely. This way, you control who can still view or edit the file.

In the End

It’s a piece of cake for you to unshare all files and folders in Google Drive, just find the way you’d like to use it. Besides, if you need to protect your files in Google Drive, or other clouds, you can use MultCloud to backup, transfer, sync, or even copy them from one cloud to another, etc.