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

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elwin shared this idea · February 17, 2015 · Flag idea as inappropriate… · Admin →

working on it ·

AdminStephen Rice (Product Manager, Microsoft) responded · April 09, 2020

We are working on releasing the ability to Block Download for other file types now! You can currently block download for office file types!

Show previous admin responses (6)

boom! it's done ·

AdminRandy Wong (OneDrive Program Manager, Microsoft) responded · November 11, 2019

Earlier this year, across the various options of sharing links, we introduced the capability of “block download” enabling you to keep your content in the cloud by not allowing users to download Office files. This capability helps you avoid out of date copies and maintain access control. Today, we are glad to announce that shortly, you will be able to apply the same functionality to images, 3D, PDF files and more.

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/Microsoft-OneDrive-Blog/Celebrating-top-OneDrive-moments-at-Ignite-2019/ba-p/963182

working on it ·

Eugene Lin responded · February 04, 2019

OneDrive for Business users are now 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. “Specific people” links are enabled on web endpoints and we’re working on native clients.

We are working on bringing this same capability to other file types.

working on it ·

Eugene Lin responded · November 27, 2018

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.

We’ll be gradually rolling this out to customers in late November, and the roll out will be completed worldwide by the end of January.

working on it ·

Eugene Lin responded · July 09, 2018

At SharePoint Conference North America this past May, we demonstrated the ability to create and send sharing links that blocks recipients from downloading the file. In this first iteration, this feature will be supported for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents.

We will be shipping this to OneDrive for Business and SharePoint users later this year.

thinking about it ·

AdminRyan Hoge (Group Program Manager, Microsoft) responded · January 04, 2018

We’re still interested in this feature. No other updates to share right now.

thinking about it ·

Douglas Pearce responded · July 15, 2015

Thanks for the suggestion!

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Johnny Pierre commented · March 16, 2016 06:02 · Flag as inappropriate

This one is a no brainier. MS should have implemented this yesterday. This is definitely needed for enterprise.

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john pye commented · March 06, 2016 02:07 · Flag as inappropriate

I would like to endorse that suggestion as we, a physio practice, wish to allow our patients to view our exercise leaflets but to avoid others from hi-jacking them for their own commercial use, wish to prevent their download or printing/saving to PDF.

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yzh poi commented · March 06, 2016 00:59 · Flag as inappropriate

Please please please just do it

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L. C. Chong commented · February 18, 2016 18:04 · Flag as inappropriate

Douglas Pearce, no need to think about it. Please just do it. Thanks.

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Anonymous commented · February 14, 2016 22:43 · Flag as inappropriate

6 months is a long time to be thinking about something this basic to the protection of copyright.

This is a show stopper for me, if something is not done soon. Until then I will hold off uploading documents I am not prepared to allow being downloaded by others. That is almost everything!!!

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Bryce Tsuyuki commented · January 23, 2016 22:14 · Flag as inappropriate

Please add this feature, it is disappointing to not have this feature. As a recent convert from Google Drive it is imperative that this feature be added. The lack of this feature may well send me back to Google as it is imperative that access to my files be controlled in the correct manner.

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Alexandre A. commented · January 19, 2016 08:03 · Flag as inappropriate

One feature of Google Drive sharing control prevents download of the shared file.
Allow others can only view a shared PDF file but can’t print or do your download, it’s very useful in some situations.
Please MS, implement this feature!

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shahmadbd commented · January 17, 2016 14:24 · Flag as inappropriate

This is really saddening, microsoft is failing to deploy such a critical feature of document security... :( docs . com can only give visibility, but no interactivity at all, with one drive, there's interactivity, BUT THE CORE FILE CAN BE DOWNLOADED BY ANYONE AND EVERYONE...and there's still no solution for that...really tragic!! :( :(

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A B Quadri (India) commented · January 14, 2016 19:38 · Flag as inappropriate

I have many excel spreadsheets for Engineering (mostly without macros) which I want the users with whom I share on OneDrive to be 1) only able to run it (ie entering data in unlocked cells and pressing the command run button to get results on the spreadsheet itself) on my OneDRive and view the results online and 2) should be able to print the sheet on his computer. in a pdf format or download the pdf file ---- This way I think my sheets will be secure and I will still have the Ownership rights --

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Gerald commented · January 04, 2016 04:17 · Flag as inappropriate

MS DOCs is for just displaying documents:
https://docs.com

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Walter commented · January 01, 2016 21:19 · Flag as inappropriate

I was able to easily implement it with EOL + ADFS, but do not seem to find something similar for ODFB. Where I can get an offitial response from is not implemented yet for ODFB so I can forward to my client ?

https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn530630(d=printer,v=exchg.150).aspx

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Alfredo Rb commented · December 30, 2015 08:17 · Flag as inappropriate

I was looking to do exactly this but apparently it's not possible. My company needs to be able to share some workbooks to clients so that they can generate quotes to their clients. The problem is that if one of our clients goes rogue, we don't want them to have access anymore, which they will have if they downloaded it.

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Z.E. commented · December 17, 2015 00:13 · Flag as inappropriate

Full Ack!

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Anonymous commented · December 16, 2015 14:46 · Flag as inappropriate

I agree with other users below. There's a world of difference between allowing shared access and downloading. Lack of a block downloading discourages use.

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Anonymous commented · December 16, 2015 10:00 · Flag as inappropriate

Please please we need it

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Anonymous commented · December 15, 2015 08:31 · Flag as inappropriate

Really a CRITICAL feature for our Use Case!! Hope will be ready ASAP.

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VAP commented · December 11, 2015 14:17 · Flag as inappropriate

No doubt, it'd be an excellent addition. Great suggestion.

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feces commented · November 20, 2015 14:17 · Flag as inappropriate

yuk

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bummer commented · November 20, 2015 14:15 · Flag as inappropriate

yes, and how doiallow someone toview audio files online?

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Keisha McKenzie commented · November 14, 2015 18:59 · Flag as inappropriate

How is this not yet done? It is now November 14, 2015 and persons are still able to download what I shared with them! Not good!!

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