How to share a Google file or folder for a limited time with expiration dates

Set expiring access to files and folders in Drive

When you share Google files and folders with collaborators, you can give people access for a limited time. This feature is great when your team is working on a project and you need to give people an access which expires automatically after a specific date, or when you share files with external partners. Setting an expiration date protects the files on Google Drive and can prevent people from having access to outdated content. After the preset time has expired, the access to the shared file or folder does not work. You can give them access again if needed. 

How to set an expiration date

1. When you click to Share a document or folder, select the person you want to share with
2. Click the down arrow next to their name and select Add expiration
   
   
   
3. It will automatically default to a 30-day expiration. If you want to change the expiration date and time, click Edit (pencil icon)
4. (Optional) To remove the expiration, click Remove expiration
5. Click Send

The person you have shared with will be notified and it will indicate how long they have access. 

Items to note about this feature: 

• For folders, you can only set expiration dates for viewers and commenters but not editors 
• This feature is not available on the "anyone with the link" sharing option
• This feature is not available in Shared Drives 

 Article by Karen Matthes, Extension Learning Technologies, klm@umn.edu