How To Remove Google Docs Not Owned By Me From My Account
When it comes to managing documents on Google Docs, it’s a habit to quickly delete documents without looking at ownership options. In addition to documents you create or own, your Google Docs account can still list Google Docs that are owned by others.
So, how do you remove Google Docs that you do not own? Enclosed below are the steps required:
- Open Google Docs.
- Sort documents by selecting the slider.
- Select “Not owned by me” from the options provided.
- Choose the document you wish to remove.
- Right-click on the document and select Remove.
In this article, let’s look at a detailed way to remove Google Docs not owned by you and probable bottlenecks that can be addressed in due course.
How To Remove Google Docs Not Owned By Me
Enclosed below are the steps required to remove Google Docs that are not owned by your account:
Step 1 – Go to Google Docs
Open up your browser and navigate to Google Docs.
Step 2 – Click on the “Owned by Me” Drop-Down Menu
Next, click on the “Owned by Me” drop-down menu option as shown in the screenshot above.
Step 3 – Select “Not Owned by Me” from the Drop-Down Menu
Choose “Not owned by me” from the available options in the drop-down menu as shown in the screenshot above.
Step 4 – A list of documents will appear
You should now see all of the documents that you have access to but do not own.
Step 5 – Right-click on the three dots next to the file name (associated with each file).
Next, find the document you want to remove and click on the vertical ellipsis (…) to bring up the menu as shown in the screenshot above, and select “Remove” from the available options
The file gets removed from the list. You can repeat the same procedure for the rest of the documents.
Why Can’t I Change The Owner Of A Google Doc
Changing the owner of a Google Doc is extremely easy if you’re the editor/owner of the document. If you face issues, the problem could be due to your device configuration or access rights.
When you’re the owner of a document on Google Docs, you can follow the steps below to change the owner of the Google Doc:
- Open the document you’ve created on Google Docs.
- Click on the Share button at the top.
- In the new popup box, type the email address and select “Editor” next to the address.
The editor now takes the role of the owner and has all permissions.
Here are other reasons you’re unable to change the ownership of a Google document:
- You aren’t the owner/editor.
- If it’s a shared document, you haven’t been granted access to change ownership or add collaborators.
- Sometimes, changing ownership can be troublesome due to your device configuration. If you have an outdated version of Google Docs, this can be a problem.
Why Can’t I Remove A Document From Google Docs
Removing a document from Google Docs might pose issues due to one or more reasons – the file is already sent to the trash, a problem with access rights, or the folder is being used in another location.
There’s a folder named “Bin” on the left pane of Google Drive. You should check if the deleted file is already in the bin.
Sometimes, removing the document can be a troublesome task if you aren’t the owner or editor of the document. It’s also advisable to check if another person presently uses the folder in yet another location.
Conclusion
The advantage of Google Docs is that even if you’re deleting a document by mistake, you can still retrieve it anytime later. Nevertheless, you need to exercise caution before you delete and also remove those documents that you don’t own, only when required.
If you’re planning to save your drive quota by removing a few documents, remember to double-check every document, and this saves you time later.
