A Google Drive Update Might Break All Your Links

Now that Google has opened up its business-focused Workspace suite to everybody, there are some new Google Drive options. But as with each transfer, typically issues get busted alongside the best way.

Google introduced it’s releasing a safety replace which will have an effect on some Drive recordsdata. The hyperlinks can be up to date with a “resource key” that may make them safer, however would require new file entry requests in some conditions. Once the replace goes stay, you may solely entry sure Drive recordsdata through a hyperlink with a useful resource key connected to it.

Per a Google blog:

This safety replace is being utilized to some recordsdata in Google Drive to make sharing hyperlinks safer. The replace will add a useful resource key to sharing hyperlinks. Once the replace has been utilized to a file, customers who haven’t seen the file earlier than should use a URL containing the useful resource key to realize entry, and people who have seen the file earlier than or have direct entry won’t want the useful resource key to entry the file.

It’s unclear whether or not each non-public and public recordsdata can be affected by this modification. For occasion, if you happen to’re part of a large file meant for public consumption through Google Docs or Google Forms, it’s unclear if you happen to’ll have entry to it when the replace is stay. I’m a part of a Google Doc the place somebody compiled a large listing of each out there Sailor Moon card launched by Bandai within the ‘90s. I do hope this news gets to the original owner of that Google spreadsheet!

The update will apply to all Workspace users beginning Sept. 13, and you have until then to update your links. If you’re a part of a corporation, the migration over to the brand new link-sharing protocol will depend on your administrator or IT division head, who has till July 23 to use the replace manually. For everybody else, Google will begin to ship out electronic mail notices starting July 26 about any of your Google Drive recordsdata that could be impacted, together with assets on find out how to replace them.