> 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/share-a-file-or-folder-drive.md).

# Share a file or folder (Drive)

**What you'll do:** Share individual files or folders from your Drive with other people — while keeping end-to-end encryption intact.

**Why it matters:** Drive sharing lets you collaborate without handing files to a provider who can read them. Access is password-protected, time-limited, and role-controlled.

**Steps**

1. In **Drive**, right-click the file or folder (macOS Finder context menu → **Share**) or use the Share action in the app.
2. **Add recipients** — up to **5** per share.
3. **Set a password** for the share and an **expiration date**.
4. **Assign a role** to each recipient:
   * **Viewer** — can open and read.
   * **Editor** — can make changes.
5. Confirm. Recipients receive access and sync the shared content; config and structural changes propagate to them.

### Managing a share <a href="#managing-a-share" id="managing-a-share"></a>

* **List** current shares and recipients.
* **Revoke** access, **update the expiration**, or **add/remove recipients** at any time.
* **Renames propagate** to all recipients automatically.
* **Expired shares** can be cleared to clean up stale access and storage.

**Common mistakes**

* **Sharing from the wrong place.** Drive shares individual files/folders; a *whole vault* is shared differently — see [Share a Vault](/drive-support/playbooks/manage-a-vault.md).
* **No expiration date.** Set one so access doesn't linger longer than you intend.
* **Leaking the share password.** Send it over a separate, secure channel — not alongside the link.

> Deletion is hardened so removing a file that's actively shared won't corrupt the share.