How to Change a Google Drive File Owner

Saving data on removable media such as hard drive, pen drives is certainly and old hat. With the dawn of cloud storage, Google Drive is becoming the most efficient, practical, and free way to share, save, and synchronize files on the web. It is an easily accessible personal drive in the cloud which allows you to create folders and save documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. We no more have to carry the burden of removable drives wherever we want to access data and made it easy to save data without extra cost.

Must Read: Things You Can Do To Use Google Drive Better

There are three user types on Google Drive: owners, editors, and viewers. Each user type has a different level of permission, the owner being the one with highest authority over any file.

In this article we will explain about various user types and how to change a Google Drive file owner.

Google Drive Supported Devices

To access Google Drive you need to have an internet-enabled device. It is can be used on Windows PCs, mac OS computers, iOS and Android devices.

The files can be easily uploaded, created, stored and shared via Google Drive. It even allows you to access the files offline by downloading them.

You can create word document, excel sheets and presentations online.

Google Drive User Types

The users on Google drive are divided into three different types: owners, editors, and viewers.

• Owners: The person who created the folder or file is the owner by default. The owner can make any changes to the folder, he has the maximum rights on the folder or file created. He can choose the privacy of a folder or file, can rename, edit, and delete files and folders. The owner has authority over a particular folder or file created. But ownership can be transferred to other Google account holders, if the owners wants.
• Editors: The editor can edit any Google document, depending on the permission set by the owner. He can even share the document and make other users editors.
• Viewers: A viewer can only view the Google document. If the owner permits it, viewers can also leave comments on documents.

How to Change a Google Drive File Owner

If the owner wants to change the owner for the file or folder created, he can do so by following the steps below:

1. Log in to your Google account. If you do not have an account yet, you need to create one to use Google Drive and create a file or folder. To create an account click here.

2. Once you open Google, you need to log in. After you are logged in, click on the Menu icon located in the upper right corner of the screen.

3. You will see a list with all the available options. Click on Drive, to open it and access, files or folders in the drive. Alternatively, you can visit Google Drive directly by clicking here

4. Here, you can see all the Google Drive files and folders. Click on the file or folder that you want to change ownership for.

5. Click Share button.

6. When you click on Share, it will open a new window where you need to enter the email address of the new owner.

7. Once you enter the email address, click the pencil icon, to edit the permission. Select CAN EDIT option and click Send to proceed.

8. After sharing the file, again click the Share button.

9. Now, open the Advanced option by clicking on it present in the bottom-right corner of the pop-up box.

10. Now, again click pencil icon next to the name and email address of the person to whom you want to whom you have shared the file and wish to transfer.

11. Click the IS OWNER option.

12. Click the SAVE CHANGES button.

Once you do that a final confirmation box will show you a confirmation message and will ask you to allow, if you want to proceed to change the Google Drive file owner.

Click YES to continue.

Now the particular file on the Google Drive will be assigned to the new owner.

You are all good to go now.

As you have now changed the ownership the former will have the editor rights. The present owner now will have the complete authority over the file and all the permissions. The new owner may change your access permissions or delete the file it will be upto to him.

After changing the ownership you have no control over the file and folder you created once.

Must Read: 10 Lesser Known Tricks to Use Google Docs More Smartly

Conclusion: This is the easiest and simplest way to change ownership of your Google Drive account. If someone leaves your company, you can transfer their files to someone else by granting them the ownership.