Get started with encrypted files in Drive, Docs, Sheets & Slides

All files uploaded to Drive or created in Docs are encrypted in transit and at rest with AES256 fleck encryption. For additional confidentiality, your system tin can allow you to encrypt Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Slides files with Workspace Customer-side encryption. Encrypted files take some limitations from standard files. You lot tin also upload any Drive file types similar PDFs and .docx as encrypted Drive files and create encrypted Docs, Sheets, and Slides.

Learn about encryption

Encryption is the procedure of encoding information to protect your information. Merely users who accept Workspace Client-side encryption enabled by their admin and have verified their identity tin can create files. On an encrypted file, any user shared on the file can admission it using an encryption key unique to that file. Normally Google encrypts your content in transit and at rest, but with client-side encryption your domain has chosen to add an extra layer of protections.

Find what'due south dissimilar most encrypted files

  • You can recognize any encrypted files in Drive through the lock .
  • Only one person can edit an encrypted file at a fourth dimension. Learn more about how to collaborate on encrypted files.
  • Autosave works differently for encrypted files. Autosave starts every 5 minutes, unless your device is idle or you perform another action, like yous share a file or attempt to exit the file.
    • If you effort to leave an unsaved file, you go a warning. To avoid the loss of your unsaved changes, click Cancel. By the fourth dimension you endeavour to exit again, your file should be saved.
  • Autosave has 3 statuses:
    • Waiting to salve: Waiting for an autosave trigger or the v-infinitesimal timer.
    • Saving: A save is in progress. You lot can go along to edit your file.
    • Saved to Drive: You have not made any changes. Your version is upward to date.
  • There are dissimilar steps to create encrypted files. Larn how to brand or copy encrypted files below.
  • Your admin may require you to sign into an additional SSO service in order to access encrypted files which means you lot may take to sign in twice: once for your organization's IDP and once with Google for Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Slides.
  • You can impress from Docs only not in Sheets or Slides.
  • (Beta) You can consign a Sheets file into an Excel file. Go to File and thenDownload.
  • Version History for encrypted files retains upwardly to 100 versions. Subsequently y'all exceed 100 versions, less pregnant versions are removed automatically. Named versions are not yet bachelor.
  • Encrypted Docs, Sheets, and Slides take a maximum size of 100 MB. In that location's no limit on encrypted Drive files.
  • Maximum number of images in a document: 3,000.
  • A single image size is 1 MB.

Find what's non available for encrypted files

With encrypted files, y'all can't:

  • Access Part editing fashion
  • Comment
  • Use the mobile app to edit Docs, Sheets, and Slides
  • Utilize functions in Sheets that brand external calls
  • Import Microsoft Office Files into Docs, Sheets, or Slides
  • Utilise sure tools, including: spellcheck, grammar cheque, translate and compare documents, vocalism typing, and add together-ons
  • Apply file preview for Drive files (non-Docs, Sheets, or Slides)
  • Access encrypted files offline

Make or copy encrypted files

Yous can make or re-create encrypted files with a few additional steps.

Brand a new encrypted file

To create a new encrypted document, spreadsheet, or presentation, choose an pick:

From Google Drive:

  1. Go to bulldoze.google.com.
  2. At the summit left, click New Add.
  3. Hover over the arrow next to Docs, Sheets, or Slidesand then click Blank encrypted document/spreadsheet/presentation.
  4. In the "New encrypted document" window, click Create.

From Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides:

  1. Open up a Google Docs, Sail, or Slide.
  2. At the top, click File.
  3. Point to Newand then click New encrypted certificate/spreadsheet/presentation.
  4. In the "New encrypted document" window, click Create.

To upload a new encrypted file:

  1. Go to drive.google.com.
  2. At the elevation left, click New Add.
  3. Hover over the arrow next to File uploadand then click Encrypt and upload file

To copy an encrypted file, right or double click on the file then select "Brand a copy." You can also "Make an encrypted copy" if the file does not already have encryption just equally you can "Make a decrypted copy" if the file does. Note: currently, this is just available for Bulldoze files (non Docs, Sheets, or Slides).

Tip: If you create a new encrypted file in a Shared folder, it has the same admission as the folder.

Things to know about encryption

  • Your domain administrator has control over which groups and individuals that can use encryption. If you lot would like to movement files to locations with encryption turned off or to plough on this feature for new locations, contact your ambassador.
  • Encryption provides an actress layer of protection for your organization. Your files are encrypted from end-to-end and between clients. Google cannot decrypt your files. Keep in heed:
    • Applications on your computer with sufficient permissions granted, such equally Chrome extensions, may be able to view and exfiltrate encrypted files.
    • Encryption does not protect your files from someone who tin view your screen.
  • How often you're required to resign in to open client-side encrypted files, is upwardly to your admin. If you have to sign in oftentimes, contact your admin.

Related articles

  • Collaborate on encrypted files in Docs, Sheets & Slides

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