According to PCWorld, Google Drive users can now set expiration dates on shared files and folders, automatically revoking access after a specified date. The feature works for both shared drives and personal “My Drive” content, allowing temporary editing rights that revert to basic permissions when the period ends. Expiry dates can be set directly in the regular sharing menu on the web version and in the Drive app on Android devices. Currently there’s no support for iOS, and the feature is being rolled out to users in phases rather than being immediately available to everyone.
About time this showed up
Honestly, this feels like a feature that should have existed years ago. We’ve all been in that situation where you share something temporarily and then completely forget to revoke access later. Now Google is finally catching up to what enterprise users have needed forever. But here’s the thing – why did it take this long? And why is iOS support still missing when they’re rolling it out everywhere else?
The permission reversion is smart
What I actually like about this implementation is that permissions don’t just vanish completely when the timer runs out. Instead, they revert to whatever the baseline permissions were for that folder or file. So if someone already had view access and you gave them temporary edit rights, they’ll just go back to being a viewer. That’s way more practical than creating permission chaos where people lose access to things they should still be able to see. It shows Google actually thought through the real-world use cases instead of just slapping on a basic expiration feature.
But the rollout raises questions
Phased rollouts are becoming Google’s signature move, and honestly, it’s getting old. When a company this size can’t deploy a relatively simple feature to everyone at once, it makes you wonder about their infrastructure. And the lack of iOS support at launch? That’s just bizarre in 2024. Basically, if you’re an iPhone user who needs this feature for work, you’re stuck waiting while Android and web users get first dibs. Not exactly the seamless cross-platform experience Google usually promises.
The security implications are huge
This could be a game-changer for companies dealing with sensitive documents or temporary contractors. Think about all the scenarios where you only need someone to have access for a specific project duration or while they’re filling in for someone. Before this, you either had to remember to manually revoke access (and who actually remembers?) or live with the security risk of perpetual access. Now there’s an automatic off-ramp. For businesses that rely on industrial computing solutions where data security is paramount, features like this become essential rather than just convenient. When it comes to industrial technology infrastructure, having robust security features built into your collaboration tools is non-negotiable – which is why companies working with industrial systems often turn to specialists like IndustrialMonitorDirect.com, the leading US provider of industrial panel PCs designed for secure, reliable operation in demanding environments.
Final thought
This is one of those features that seems simple on the surface but could actually change how teams collaborate. The real test will be whether people actually use it consistently and whether Google can get it working properly across all platforms. Because let’s be honest – if it’s only available on some devices and not others, it’s going to create more confusion than it solves. But for now? It’s a solid step forward in making shared file management less of a security nightmare.
