The fastest way to share photos on Google Drive
Open the photo or folder in Google Drive, click the Share button in the top right, type the email address of the person you want to share with, and choose whether they can view, comment, or edit. If you want a link anyone can access without an email address, click Change to anyone with the link instead of typing individual addresses. Google Drive sends a notification to each person you name, or you can copy the link and send it yourself.
The whole process takes under a minute. The person you share with sees the photo or folder in their own Google Drive, and you stay in control of who can do what with it.
Key Takeaways
- Click Share, type an email address, and pick a permission level — the person gets notified automatically and the photo appears in their Drive.
- You can give three different permission levels: Viewer (see only), Commenter (see and leave notes), or Editor (see, edit, and delete).
- A shareable link lets anyone with the link view the photo without needing a Google account, and you control whether they can edit or just view.
- You can stop sharing at any time by opening the Share panel and removing the person's access or changing the link settings.
- Sharing a folder shares all photos inside it, so you do not have to share each photo one at a time.
How to share with specific people by email
Right-click the photo or folder and select Share, or click the photo once and click the Share button at the top. A panel opens on the right side of the screen. In the text box that says "Add people and groups", type the email address of the person you want to share with.
Before you click Send, look at the dropdown menu next to the email box. It shows three options: Viewer, Commenter, and Editor. Viewer means they can see the photo but cannot change it. Commenter means they can see it and leave notes or feedback, but cannot edit the file itself. Editor means they can view, edit, delete, and share the photo with others. Pick the one that fits what you want them to do, then click Share or Send.
Google Drive notifies the person by email that you shared something with them. They do not have to do anything to accept — the photo or folder appears in their Google Drive automatically.
How to create a shareable link for anyone
Open the photo or folder, click Share, and look for the text that says Restricted or shows a lock icon. Click it. A menu appears with options: Restricted, Anyone with the link, and Public on the web. Choose Anyone with the link if you want people to need the link but not a Google account. Choose Public on the web only if you want search engines to find it.
Once you pick Anyone with the link, a URL appears in the Share panel. Copy it and send it however you want — email, text, social media, or a messaging app. Anyone who clicks that link can view the photo. If you want them to be able to edit it, make sure the permission dropdown (next to the link) is set to Editor instead of Viewer.
You can turn off the link at any time by clicking Restricted again. The link stops working when ready, and the photo is no longer shared with anyone who had the link.
Sharing folders instead of individual photos
If you have multiple photos in a folder, share the folder instead of each photo separately. Right-click the folder, click Share, and follow the same steps as sharing a single photo. Everyone you share the folder with can see all the photos inside it, and if you give them Editor permission, they can add new photos to the folder too.
This is useful when you want to collaborate on a photo project or let family members read a batch of vacation photos. Any new photos you add to the folder after sharing it are automatically visible to the people you shared it with — you do not have to reshare.
How to change or remove sharing
Open the photo or folder and click Share. The panel shows everyone who has access. To change what someone can do, click their name or email and pick a new permission level from the dropdown. To stop sharing with them entirely, click the X or Remove button next to their name.
If you shared a link and want to turn it off, click the link permission dropdown (where it says Anyone with the link) and change it back to Restricted. The link stops working, but people you shared it with by email still have access unless you remove them individually.
What each permission level means
| Permission | Can view | Can comment | Can edit or delete | Can share with others |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Viewer | Yes | No | No | No |
| Commenter | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Editor | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Viewer is the safest choice if you just want someone to see the photo. Commenter works well for feedback or review — they can point out what they think, but cannot accidentally change the original. Editor is for people you trust completely, because they can modify or delete the photo and share it with anyone they choose.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I share a photo with someone who does not have a Google account?
Yes. Create a shareable link by clicking Share, changing from Restricted to Anyone with the link, and copying the URL. Send them the link and they can view the photo in a web browser without signing in. If you share by email address instead, they will need a Google account to see it.
What happens if I delete a photo after sharing it?
The photo disappears from everyone's Drive, including the person you shared it with. If they downloaded a copy before you deleted it, they still have that copy on their computer, but they cannot access it through Google Drive anymore.
Can I see if someone viewed a photo I shared?
Google Drive does not show you a list of who opened or viewed a specific photo. You can see who has access to it by opening the Share panel, but not whether they actually looked at it.
How do I know if someone edited a photo I shared with them?
Open the photo and look at the top of the screen — it shows the date and time of the last change and who made it. You can also click the version history icon (looks like a clock) to see all the changes made to the photo and when.
Can I share a photo with a group instead of typing individual email addresses?
Yes. In the Share panel, type the email address of a Google Group instead of a person's email. Everyone in that group gets access to the photo. This is faster than adding people one at a time if you share with the same set of people regularly.