In Google Drive, only one account owns any given file or folder, and this owning account is the only one that can reassign ownership or delete files. Managing file ownership is therefore a critical piece of using Google Drive within teams and working groups.
Default File Ownership
The three different sections of Google Drive have different default owners:
- My Drive
The creator of the file is the default owner
- Shared Drives
Carleton is the owner (though the creator is listed as the owner in some views) – Managers and Content Managers can manage sharing and delete files
- Shared With Me
Someone other than yourself is the owner
Seeing Who Owns a File or Folder
Open the Share menu (click the Share button on a document, or click the downward arrow next to a folder's name and select Share)- Look to the right of each person/account listed there to find the one listed as "Owner"
Find Files by Owner
Reassigning Ownership
There are times when it's important to reassign ownership of a file or folder to someone else. For example, if you will be leaving a project or team, you should reassign ownership of all files and folders associated with that project or team to someone who will continue the work.
ITS cannot reassign ownership of specific files after a person leaves the college. Google Admins at Carleton can reassign ownership of an entire account to another account, but not individual files and folders.
Reclaiming "Orphaned" Files and Folders after the Owner Leaves Carleton