OneDrive
Feedback by UserVoice

How can we improve sharing and collaboration in OneDrive across all experiences??

← OneDrive Sharing & Collaboration

Prevent shared files from being downloaded

I think it would be great if there was some setting to turn download's of a shared file or folder ON\OFF... what I mean is suppose I want to share a File\Folder with someone, I would only want them to be able to view\edit it online and not be able to download it onto their computer.. to take this idea further, it could also be helpful if you could prevent copying content from shared files... the download permission could probably be visible once a user decides to share a particular file with someone

2,696 votes
Vote
Sign in
(thinking…)
Password icon
Signed in as (Sign out)
Close
Close
You have left! (?) (thinking…)
elwin shared this idea  ·   ·  Flag idea as inappropriate…  ·  Admin →
working on it  ·  AdminEugene Lin (Principal Program Manager, Microsoft) responded  · 

Users will be able to share a link to Office documents that blocks recipients from downloading copies but still allows them to view the document in Office Online.

Users can create links that block download by using the common Sharing experience that exists across Office 365. By going into Link Settings they’ll be able to toggle the “block download” option for view-only links.

We’ve completed rollout for “anyone” and “people in my organization” links, and are working on enabling it for the remaining link types.

Show previous admin responses (4)

261 comments

Sign in
(thinking…)
Password icon
Signed in as (Sign out)
Close
Close
Submitting...
  • R commented  ·   ·  Flag as inappropriate

    This is not available for "Anyone" option, as you stated... where and how can we see and use this?

  • Anonymous commented  ·   ·  Flag as inappropriate

    block download option is not available in my office 365. am i missing something? set password and expiration date options are available

  • Amala commented  ·   ·  Flag as inappropriate

    OneDrive is great, but I cannot use it show design layout PDFs to clients because "DOWNLOAD" cannot be turned off. A pity to have to back to Google Drive.

  • Charlie commented  ·   ·  Flag as inappropriate

    Great feature but in testing I have found that this can only be done at file level. Would be nice to be able to achieve the same at folder level which would then prevent download of all Office documents within.

    It would also be very good if this wasn't just applicable to Office documents but all file extensions as well.

  • Pankaj Sharma commented  ·   ·  Flag as inappropriate

    Idea was simple and perfect: Edit and Save, but, no download.

    Scenario: We would like to share an excel spreadsheet with customer, which customer will fill and save. But they should not be able to download that sheet.

    So, can we do that?

  • stuartb commented  ·   ·  Flag as inappropriate

    Where is the Link Settings/ View-Only feature implemented? - I can't find it so far in Powerpoint 365 or Onedrive. Just see settings for allowing or disallowing editing (which is meaningless since the file can be downloaded and edited) and expiry. Can use modification password to prevent editing, but download still available.

  • Cindy L. Breitman commented  ·   ·  Flag as inappropriate

    We need this to prevent others from downloading a video we want to share. What are the options there? We just upgraded our account specifically to set an expiration date and password but what is the point if people can download it and then share it with others?

  • Acrol commented  ·   ·  Flag as inappropriate

    We'd also like the feature where a user an edit a Word or Excel document, but cannot *download* the file to their device.

    Like Anonymous commented on March 3, 2019 8:12 AM:

    "This is pain for as well. We have very sophisticated EXCEL files, and we don't want users to download and keep a copy."

  • Daryl Blowes commented  ·   ·  Flag as inappropriate

    It says you deployed for Public links, but Downloading still seems to be enabled for Videos ... is this going to be released for Videos?

  • Quan Nguyen commented  ·   ·  Flag as inappropriate

    It seems like we can block people from downloading the files on a PC web browser only. The Onedrive apps on Android and iOS and mobile web browsers haven't supported the feature yet. Can you guys work on that too?

  • Anonymous commented  ·   ·  Flag as inappropriate

    This is pain for as well. We have very sophisticated EXCEL files, and we don't want users to download and keep a copy.

  • Rob commented  ·   ·  Flag as inappropriate

    This Feature will be amazing!! it must come soon. Google Drive has already got the ability ;p

  • Steve commented  ·   ·  Flag as inappropriate

    Still can’t see any of these options in OneDrive but, as with others who have posted here, this feature needs to be implemented with PDF and media files, not simply restricted to Microsoft’s proprietary formats if OneDrive is to be more widely adopted.
    PS Leaving messages on this forum via a smart phone is very difficult as scrawling through your message is nigh-on impossible!

← Previous 1 3 4 5 … 13 14

OneDrive Sharing & Collaboration

Feedback and Knowledge Base

(thinking…)


OneDrive Tech Community

UserVoice Terms of Service & Privacy Policy