Delmy Belknap
Sep 12, 2023 - 02:05

Google Drive Allows File Locking to Prevent Unwanted Edits

Google Drive introduces a new "Lock" feature that allows users to prevent unauthorized edits to their documents, streamlining the process of file restriction.

Have you ever experienced the frustration of unauthorized edits to your important documents or Excel sheets? It can be incredibly annoying when a colleague makes changes without consulting you first. Well, it seems like the Google Drive development team understands this frustration and has come up with a solution. They have introduced a new feature that allows you to "Lock" any file in order to prevent unwanted edits.

If you are a Google Workspace user, you can now lock your files in Google Drive to ensure that they remain unedited, no matter what. The best part is that even users with high levels of access won't be able to make changes to the document without your explicit permission.

This exciting new feature was announced in the latest Google Workspace Updates blog post. According to the post, the lock feature aims to simplify and streamline the process of restricting files in Google Drive. To lock a document, simply open Google Drive and right-click on the file. Make sure you have edit access to the file, then select the "Lock" option from the pop-up menu to enable read-only mode.

It's worth noting that this is not the first time Google has allowed users to restrict access to files. Previously, you could achieve similar results using the Google Drive API and dedicated file approvals. However, the new implementation has a key advantage - you can lock a file at any time, even after you have shared it with a colleague. This was not possible before.

The Google Drive file lock feature is currently being rolled out to Workspace users in the Rapid Release domain. It is expected to become available to all users within the next 15 days. If you are in the Scheduled Release domain, you can expect the feature to go live for you on September 20, following a similar 15-day rollout period.

So, what do you think of this handy Google Drive feature? Will you find it useful in your daily workflow? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below.