---
title: Identify All Externally Owned Files
description: GAT+ is an Audit tool for Google Workspace domains. The audit allows an extensive and detailed view of the entire domain Drive files. GAT+ allows the Admin to view all the External owned files on the Domain. There are a…
url: "https://gatlabs.com/knowledge/tech-tips/identify-all-externally-owned-files/"
updated: "2022-02-16"
category: "Drive Audit & Management"
tags:
  - GAT+
---

# Identify All Externally Owned Files

GAT+ is an Audit tool for Google Workspace domains. The audit allows an extensive and detailed view of the entire domain Drive files.

GAT+ allows the Admin to view all the External owned files on the Domain.

There are a few different ways to see all those files.

### External users tab

Navigate to**GAT+ > Drive > External users**

![](https://gatlabs.com/knowledge/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/2022-01-12-19_00_40-GAT.png)

This table will show all External users who have access to your files.

Filter by "**Owns (not ours)**" from the table to filter **all external users** who **own the files part of your Domain.**

View from a user perspective how many files the external user has:

- **Owns (not ours)** - where the user matches the user email
- **Can edit (any doc)** - where the contributors contain the user email
- **Can edit (our docs only)** - where contributors contain the user email AND owner matches out domain(s).
  - Note that **shared drive** contents are **not counted **
- **Can view (any doc)** - where the viewers contain the user email
- **Can view (our docs only)** - where viewers contain the user email AND owner matches our domain(s).
  - Note that **shared drive** contents are**not counted**

### Externally owned filter

Navigate to **GAT+ > Drive > Files **

From the **Sharing** table select **Files owned by others shared in**

![](https://gatlabs.com/knowledge/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/2022-01-12-19_10_07-GAT.png)

Selecting this value, a **filter will be applied** and **will show the metadata** of **all files Shared In**-to the domain.

The Filter applied will be:

- **Sharing flags contains Shared in**

![](https://gatlabs.com/knowledge/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/2022-01-12-19_15_33-GAT.png)

The **result will show all the files** that are "**Shared in"**into the domain **from outside (from an external source).**

Notice all owners will be with **orange background** - **meaning the owners are external **

> If the owner is (green background) - it means the file is part of **Shared Drive** - but owner (creator of file is external)

![](https://gatlabs.com/knowledge/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/2022-01-12-19_19_16-GAT.png)

Additional filters can be applied to exclude Shared Drive files.

- **Flags doesn't contain Shared Drive**

![](https://gatlabs.com/knowledge/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/2022-01-12-19_23_47-GAT.png)

### Actions on Externally owned files

When filtering the **Shared In - Externally owned files, **the Admin can take action on those files.

Navigate to **GAT+ > Files > Shared in** - files

- For **Externally owned files** (Shared in) you **cannot remove permissions** - if you **do not have Contributors** (editor) rights

![](https://gatlabs.com/knowledge/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/2022-01-12-19_29_05-GAT.png)

- For **Externally owned files** (Shared in) you **can remove permissions** - if you **do have Contributors** (editor) rights.

![](https://gatlabs.com/knowledge/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/2022-01-12-19_35_53-GAT.png)