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!
342 comments
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Anonymous commented
Editable and not downloadable is the true requeriment.
If it is only readonly, there is nothing to protect. Anyone can take screenshots, scan the values etc...
Editable excel files is another story. It can use protected formulas, and hidden fields and esoteric formats, in order to provide functionality while the user type data.
If the user can download the file it can easily break the protection and see formulas and other settings.
If no one can download the file, the protected cells and formulas could be keeped secured on the server side.
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Tim Blair commented
Who and When will this BASIC need be completed?
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Greg commented
"Block Download" capability is available for shared files today, as I can see.
How can I block download of shared folder and content of shared folder (files which are located/stored within shared folder)? -
Anonymous commented
When you are selling the cloud storage subscription the restriction is a basic need and being in 2019 and if we still talking about these small things is not a good thing. I should have the ability to control the use to download the content I shared.
I read most of the comments including by Microsoft and they are talking about the business version, how about the home version of one drive when anyone has the subscription security to their content should be the same.
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Sean Kimbell commented
I can see the ability to block downloads with documents but when I click on a video file that option disappears.
Sean -
Chris commented
Unfortunately, the Business features make embedding documents on websites or blogs extremely unreliable, often asking for credentials, even when using a public link, so I'm damned if I do, damned if I don't.
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Anonymous commented
The block download should be available for edit links as well.
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Placide commented
Hi! how do I put the download restriction on the folder containing the shared files? thank you!
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Rahul Barua commented
but it does not restrict video to get downloaded even option is not visisble. you have have this option already or this
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Elena commented
What is the timeline to enable blocking of download for all types of files? This is much needed in the business
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Anonymous commented
The sole reason I purchased this license was to allow remote employees to edit spreadsheets but not have the ability to download or print. I also thought there was an option to include a watermark. It appears that granting permission to edit also includes ability to download.
At this point, I am unable to use the product for its intended purpose. Can Excel's online document access restrictions be changed? It wold be good to disable the ability to copy text as well. -
Anonymous commented
I am a photographer, and sometimes I want my clients to be able to view images but not download them. Would this business feature work with jpeg files and folders containing them??
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Adam Monnery commented
It would be handy to enable this at shared folder level as well, that would streamline sharing multiple documents none of which you want downloaded.
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Christian Seres commented
Is it still possible to use an xml VBA based sheet in full working order opening it via one drive with EXCEL?
THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP -
JP commented
What is the holdup on PDFs? We've been on O365 for a few months and it's been one of our biggest pain points.
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Steve commented
The simple binary ability to turn the download capability for ANY file type <On> or <Off> is a seemingly widespread requirement amongst the Microsoft diaspora. So, howsabout it, MS?
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Dimitris commented
We need to have documents made available online for editing but users with edit access should not be able to download the whole file.
So the "do not download" restriction should be available for both view and edit.
Users should also be able to use the desktop client version to collaborate and edit, but the option to save the file outside the original onedrive for business location of the author should be disabled.
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Rohin Cooper commented
Hi.. it would be good to have a feature where users can only view and edit but not download the workbook.
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Nicolas commented
Hello, I just tried a OneDrive Business account especially for the toggle option of downloading, which is important for me. Unfortunately, it seems that the password option is not available with a business account, whereas it is available with a personal 365 account :( Can you validate this observation ?
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Brian commented
Anyone have status on this? We want to share a file(video) but do not want to allow it to be downloaded.
We have E3 license.