Google To Add Expiration Feature To Docs & Other Apps

Google’s collection of work apps which includes Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Drive, provide users with a great alternative to using services from Microsoft, and with collaboration features integrated it makes using apps like these for work purposes a breeze depending on the business. Aside from making things more functional for everyone, Google is also big on making sure that apps such as Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Drive are as secure as they possibly can be. As of today, Google has just announced a brand new feature coming to all four apps which allows individual users and businesses to keep things even more secure.

Google is set to add the ability for users to add expiration dates to files within Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Drive so that anyone who shares files with other users, whether they’re clients or anyone else, has the capability to give limited time access. Google states that the idea behind integrating a feature for expiration dates on files is because they’re aware that people may only want access to certain files to be temporary, and having the availability to set a date for access expiration allows for users to keep their information safe as they’re only allowing specific people access for a preset amount of time.

Setting an expiration date for the sharing options of specific users resides within a new drop-down menu that will appear. The menu will allow you to set custom dates for expiration or you’ll be able to set expiration times for two, seven, or thirty days depending on what you want. Expiration dates can only be configured for users who have been given access to view and comment on files, but if any file has been shared with another user and they have been granted access to edit files, or they’re the owner, expiration dates won’t be available. While this should help to increase file security for users of all four of these apps, Google notes that the features will be pushed out over a gradual pace of two to three months so not everyone will see the ability to set expiration dates right away.