How to Remove Sharing from all Google Drive Files

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This post shows how to remove sharing from all your Google Drive files. Its a bit of a workaround, but its better than doing it manually.

Step 1:

In the search-bar type: owner:me before:2019-12-31 after:2019-01-01

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Note: the dates allow only a subset of files to be displayed at a time.

Step 2: Click the first result

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Step 3: Type Ctrl-a

Important Note 1: you may need to scroll down to see all the files

Important Note 2: it may take a log time or hang Google Drive to select them like this

Important Note 3: you can also hold down Ctrl and click each file with the shared icon; the files do not need to be listed contiguously

You should see all the results selected:

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Step 4: Right-click on the first entry and select Share

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Step 5: Click Advanced

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Step 6: Click the x on everyone listed

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Step 7: Click Save changes

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Step 8: Click Change…

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Step 9: (A) Click Off - Specific people and (B) click Save

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Step 10: Click Done

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Step 11: Repeat for each year.

Note: I tried to just use owner:me and press Ctrl-a but my browser hung.

References