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      How to manage file permissions in Google Drive, Shared Drives, and Classroom Drive

      When SysCloud displays an "Access denied" error during actions like delete, remove sharing, or transfer ownership, it typically means the file owner, backed-up user, or collaborators do not have sufficient permissions to perform the requested action.

      This article explains how to check and update permissions in Google Drive, Shared Drives, and Classroom Drive to resolve such issues.

      How to check and modify file permissions in My Drive

      1. Go to Google Drive.

      2. Locate the file or folder.

      3. Right-click and select Share.

      4. In the pop-up window:

        • See who has access.

        • Change a user's role by clicking the dropdown next to their name (Viewer, Commenter, Editor).

        • Click the gear icon to control whether editors can change permissions or share.

      5. Click Done to save changes.

      Note: You must be the owner or have full edit rights to change these settings.

      How to manage permissions in Shared Drives

      1. Go to Google Drive and click on Shared Drives in the left pane.

      2. Open the appropriate Shared Drive and locate the file or folder.

      3. Right-click and choose Manage access or Share.

      4. Check access levels:

        • Manager: Full control

        • Content manager: Can edit files and manage content

        • Contributor / Viewer / Commenter: Limited permissions

      5. Adjust permissions if necessary by clicking the dropdown next to the user's name.

      Classroom Drive folders

      Classroom creates a folder structure in your Drive automatically. These inherit permissions based on:

      • Course roster (teachers and students)

      • Role in the class

      To change permissions:

      1. Go to your Google Drive.

      2. Navigate to the Classroom folder.

      3. Open the specific course folder.

      4. Right-click a file > Share.

      5. Adjust access just like in My Drive.

      What to do if you can’t change permissions

      • You may not be the owner of the file.

      • The file may be shared from another domain.

      • The file may have been deleted or is in the Trash.

      • For Shared Drives, inherited roles can't be modified at the file level.

      In such cases, contact your Google Workspace admin or the file owner.

      If you're unable to resolve the issue, contact SysCloud support.