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

We’ve rolled out an update which includes support for PDF files, images, audio and other file formats. This update doesn’t yet include support for video files but we’re working on it and will have more to share soon!
339 comments
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Nicola Stanley commented
That's interesting! Have just been deciding which way to go for a collaborative teamwork in our company (be that: OneDrive, Google Docs or DropBox) . Because we use SKYPE I liked the neat integration of OneDrive with Skype messaging. However my main concern is training the staff to understand the difference between using Excel online or downloading for use on DeskTop Excel. I can see lots of issues here with staff getting confused about what they have clicked and finding themselves editing on desktop and not real-time online. Obviously the data protection and data security issues are a real concern too, particularly as they might end up by sharing sensitive information by accident with someone else. By email our Excel spreadsheets would normally be protected with a password. I am assuming here that if they download an Excel file from OneDrive that password protection is not an option. That currently makes email a securer option than OneDrive! Hope to hear more from Microsoft about the prevention of further sharing and downloading of files. In the meantime we will pilot OneDrive in a small way within our company.
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Julien commented
Agreed, we should be able to enable/disable downloads.
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Steve commented
Even shares that allow editing should allow downloads to be disabled. You may have someone helping you with something but not want them to make a copy of it for their own use.
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M commented
Totally agree with this suggestion. A view link should be read-only; please upgrade to grant the ability to share files and disable download.
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Susan commented
Absolutely this option should be available. I am currently switching a batch of files off of OneDrive to GoogleDrive exclusively for this reason. This will definitely mean I use this whole MS platform less.
BTW, if others are looking for an easy and free way to move files mover.io works brilliantly and FAST and/or in the background and/or if you disconnect from internet after queuing files for transfer! (p.s. "transfer" means files copy to GD, they will not be deleted from OD unless you do that yourself - took me a few mins. to find that info!!)
Hope this is incentive for OneDrive! -
Eulises Melo commented
I agree- Judy VIEW ONLY should be just that.
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Judy commented
I agree - prevent download of view only file!
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Anonymous commented
Please implement the control on downloading files shared, the View Only setting
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_TheLion_ commented
'... we will respond to every suggestion that gets at least 100 votes ... ' (http://onedrive.uservoice.com/forums/262982-onedrive)
We are still waiting....
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Anonymous commented
Azure RMS can provide what you are looking for
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Marcos Avila commented
é o que eu sempre desejei, não entendo o porque de ainda ter essa opção, sem logica esse botão fixo.
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Anonymous commented
agree
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Fahad King commented
Yea, it's a good idea!
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Miroslav Ondříšek commented
I second that!
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Anonymous commented
my vote
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siraj uddin commented
yes it's good for everyone because during downloading you can do father work so it's good
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_TheLion_ commented
Totally agree with this suggestion. A view link should be read-only and all other cloud services (Google Drive, Box.com, etc..) are offering the option to disable download direct download on shared links. A quick search on this issue opens up hundreds of results with people asking for the same feature.
Please add this feature as it will just enhance the power of OneDrive.
And please someone (#Jason Moore, #Omar Shahine ?) combine this thread with the following thread as it has exactly the same purpose:
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_TheLion_ commented
Totally agree with this suggestion. A view link should be read-only and all other cloud services (Google Drive, Box.com, etc..) are offering the option to disable download direct download on shared links. A quick search on this issue opens up hundreds of results with people asking for the same feature.
Please add this feature as it will just enhance the power of OneDrive.
And please someone (#Jason Moore, #Omar Shahine ?) combine this thread with the following thread as it has exactly the same purpose:
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rob commented
It is relatively easy for a user to take a screenshot etc. But the download feature makes it too easy. Because of the download feature I will have to use another service because my client wants it.
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Anonymous commented
I agree wholeheartedly to every one. This is a Must have feature.
On my blog I would like users to be able view and embedded spreadsheet and browse through it. But I DO NOT want to alllow them to just click on the little icon in the bottom right, open it in Exel online themselves and just save (and steal) it to their computer.
I am about to abandon using Exel online on my site for this very reason. And it must be SUCH AN EASY FIX for Microsoft.
There is a need to allow users to VIEW data in an embedded spreadsheet on a site without the possibility to open the actual spreadsheet or download it.