I have a Google Sheets file that I previously shared with several users. Since I’m no longer working on this project, I want to ensure they can’t access my work anymore. I’ve already taken away their access, but I’m worried one of them might have saved a copy of the file before I removed them.
Is there a way to delete my original sheet along with any copies that others may have created? I want to ensure no versions of this document are left accessible to anyone.
i get what ur saying! once they’ve made a copy, ur options r super limited. just delete the original & remember to lock things down better next time! its a tough lesson!
You’ve encountered a common issue with Google’s sharing functionality. Once someone has permissions to your document, they can create copies, which become independent files that you no longer have control over. The best course of action is to delete the original document and ensure access has been revoked, as you mentioned. Unfortunately, if copies were made, there’s no method to track or remove them. For sensitive information in the future, consider utilizing Google Workspace’s advanced sharing settings or external solutions.
Unfortunately, once a Google Sheets document is copied by another user, you cannot delete those copies since they become separate files in their own Google Drive accounts. You can remove access to the original document and delete it to prevent any further sharing, but any existing copies will remain available to the users who made them. For future reference, consider using ‘View only’ permissions or enabling the ‘Prevent viewers from downloading, printing, and copying’ option to limit access.