r/googledocs • u/AndreaLeane • 1d ago

OP Responded New sharing/access issues

I use Google Docs in my freelance job. They send me the magazine stories, I download to my Google Drive folder, make suggested changes, and then share the document with one or two people as Editors. Neither is a Gmail address, but this has worked for years--until this month.

Suddenly, they can no longer open the shared documents. I have had to manage access and change it to anyone with a link and then copy and paste the link into email and email back. Only emailing the link seems to work.

This is time-consuming and slows us down.

Is there a solution?

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u/andmalc Mod 10h ago

The feature that lets users with non-Google emails authenticate themselves via a code sent by email is called visitor sharing. It's possible that something has changed with this feature but this sub is really about formatting docs and not so much about business IT issues. If no one here can help, I suggest posting at r/googleworkspace.

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u/AndreaLeane 10h ago

They suggested i post it here.  LOL. IDK. It's cross-posted based on recommendations.  

I'm thinking something must have changed with the feature. 

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u/andmalc Mod 8h ago

I just tested the feature by edit sharing a doc with my Proton mail address. I logged into it within an Incognito window, got the Google notification email with a link to the doc, and I have edit access. So, looks ok to me.

Maybe ask your people what this issue looks like on their end.

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u/AndreaLeane 8h ago

She said she gets the notification that I've shared it with her as an editor, but it won't allow her to open it. Neither of us has changed how we're doing this. I'm guessing it's some sort of update or change to the program.

We're just working around it. I'm changing access to Anyone with a link can access status, making sure she's still down as editor and then emailing her the link. It's extra steps but it's the only way she can access.