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

• Your domain administrator has control over which groups and individuals can use encryption. If you would like to move files to locations with encryption turned off or to turn on this feature for new locations, contact your administrator.
• Client-side encryption provides an extra layer of protection for your organisation. Your files are encrypted from end to end and between clients. Google cannot decrypt your files. Bear in mind:
  • Applications on your computer with sufficient permissions granted, such as Chrome extensions, may be able to view and exfiltrate encrypted files.
  • Encryption does not protect your files from someone who can view your screen.
• It is up to your admin how often you're required to sign in to open client-side encrypted files. If you have to sign in often, contact your admin.

• A lock  appears next to an encrypted file.
• Only one person can edit an encrypted file at a time. Learn how to collaborate on encrypted files.
• In encrypted files, autosave starts every 30 seconds, unless your device is idle or you perform another action, like share a file or attempt to exit a file.
  • If you attempt to exit an unsaved file, you get a warning. To avoid the loss of your unsaved changes, click Cancel.
• Autosave has three statuses:
  • Waiting to save: Waits for an autosave trigger or the 30-second timer.
  • Saving: A save is in progress. You can continue to edit your file.
  • Saved to Drive: You haven't made any changes. Your version is current.
• There are different steps involved in creating encrypted files. Learn how to make or copy encrypted files.
• In order to access encrypted files, your admin may require you to sign into an additional SSO service twice, once for your organisation's IDP and once with Google for Drive, Docs, Sheets and Slides.
• You can print from Docs or Sheets, but not from Slides.
• Spellcheck for encrypted Docs and Slides is available in American English, British English, French, German, Italian and Spanish.
• Spellcheck isn't available in Sheets.
• You can export a Sheets file to an Excel file. Go to FileDownload.
• Version history for encrypted files retains up to 100 versions. After you exceed 100 versions, less significant versions are removed automatically. Named versions aren't yet available.
• Encrypted Docs, Sheets and Slides have a maximum size of 100 MB. Encrypted Drive files have no limit.
• The maximum number of images in a document is 3,000.
• A single image size is 1 MB.
• Downloading a folder doesn't affect client-side encrypted files.

With encrypted files, you can't:

• Open Office editing mode
• Comment
• Use the mobile app to edit Docs, Sheets or Slides
• Use functions in Sheets that make external calls
• Import Microsoft Office files into Docs, Sheets or Slides
• Use certain tools, which includes:
  • Grammar check
  • Translate and compare documents
  • Voice typing
  • Add-ons
• Download or use file preview for Docs, Sheets or Slides
• Open encrypted files offline

To create an encrypted document, spreadsheet or presentation, choose an option:

From Google Drive:

1. Go to drive.google.com
2. In the top left, click New .
3. Point to the arrow next to Docs, Sheets or Slides click Blank encrypted document/spreadsheet/presentation.
4. In the 'New encrypted document' window, click Create.

From Google Docs, Sheets or Slides:

1. Open a Google Docs, Sheet or Slide.
2. At the top, click File.
3. Point to New; click New encrypted document/spreadsheet/presentation.
4. In the 'New encrypted document' window, click Create.

Tips:

• If you create an encrypted file in a Shared folder, the encrypted file has the same access as the folder.
• If the options for Blank encrypted document/spreadsheet/presentation or New encrypted document/spreadsheet/presentation aren't available:
  • Confirm that you're logged in to your work or school account.
  • Check if your admin permits client-side encryption.
  • Ensure that you verify your identity. Learn more about encryption with your identity provider.

1. Go to drive.google.com
2. In the top left, click New .
3. Point to the arrow next to File upload click Encrypt and upload file.

Tips:

• If you upload an encrypted file in a Shared folder, the encrypted file has the same access as the folder.
• If the option for Encrypt and upload file isn't available:
  • Confirm that you're logged in to your Workspace account.
  • Check if your admin permits client-side encryption.
  • Ensure that you verify your identity. Learn more about encryption with your identity provider.

Important: You can only copy encrypted Drive files.

• Right- or double-click the file, then select Make a copy.
• If the file doesn't already have encryption, you can also Make an encrypted copy, just as you can Make a decrypted copy if the file does.

Tip: If the options for Make an encrypted copy or Make a decrypted copy aren't available:

• Confirm that you're logged in to your work or school account.
• Check if your admin permits client-side encryption.
• Ensure that you verify your identity. Learn more about encryption with your identity provider.

1. Open a Google Doc, Sheet or Slide.
2. At the top, click File Make a copy Add additional encryption.

Tips:

• Features not supported by client-side encryption are made static or removed.
  • Features made static:
    • Checklists
    • Embedded drawings, charts and tables
    • Linked forms
    • External data functions like GOOGLEFINANCE
    • Connected sheets
    • WortArt
  • Features removed from the document:
    • E-signature fields
    • Comments and suggestions
    • Protected ranges
• If Add encryption isn't displayed:
  • Confirm that you're logged in to your work or school account.
  • Check if your admin allows client-side encryption.
  • Confirm that you are the owner of the document in My Drive or the manager of the shared drive.
  • Verify your identity. Learn how to connect with your identity provider.