> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://oten.gitbook.io/drive-support/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://oten.gitbook.io/drive-support/playbooks/manage-a-vault.md).

# Share a Vault

**What you'll do:** Share an entire vault — the whole encrypted container — with other people.

**Why it matters:** When collaborators need everything in a container (a full case file, a project set), vault sharing gives them the whole thing under the same password/expiration/role controls, without exposing plaintext to the server.

**Steps**

1. Open the vault and choose **Share vault** (also available from the macOS Finder context menu, in place).
2. **Add recipients** — up to **5**.
3. **Set a share password** and an **expiration date**.
4. **Assign roles** — **Viewer** or **Editor** — per recipient.
5. Confirm. Recipients can **lock/unlock** the shared vault consistently, and structural/config changes sync to them.

### Drive share vs Vault share <a href="#drive-share-vs-vault-share" id="drive-share-vs-vault-share"></a>

|            | File/folder share (Drive)           | Vault share                         |
| ---------- | ----------------------------------- | ----------------------------------- |
| Scope      | Individual files or folders         | The entire vault container          |
| Best for   | Sending a few specific items        | Collaborating on a whole set        |
| Recipients | Up to 5                             | Up to 5                             |
| Controls   | Password, expiration, Viewer/Editor | Password, expiration, Viewer/Editor |

**Common mistakes**

* **Sharing a vault that contains a sensitive Shadow Layer.** Think about which layer's data is in scope before sharing — sharing exposes the layer's files to recipients.
* **Forgetting to revoke.** Review shares periodically and clear expired ones.

> Manage shares (list, revoke, update expiration, add/remove recipients) the same way as [file/folder shares](/drive-support/playbooks/share-a-file-or-folder-drive.md).