---
title: Options when changing Ownership of a file in Google Drive
description: "## File management functionality – Change ownership [GAT Unlock](https://gatlabs.com/products/gat-unlock/) required **File ownership change** – Admin can use **GAT+ and Unlock** to change Ownership of single or multiple files from One/Multiple owners to a new (one) Owner. **NOTE: The transfer will work on…"
url: "https://gatlabs.com/knowledge/tech-tips/options-when-changing-ownership-of-a-file-in-google-drive/"
updated: "2023-11-30"
category: "Drive Audit & Management"
tags:
  - GAT Unlock
---

# Options when changing Ownership of a file in Google Drive

## File management functionality – Change ownership

[GAT Unlock](https://gatlabs.com/products/gat-unlock/) required

**File ownership change** – Admin can use **GAT+ and Unlock** to change Ownership of single or multiple files from One/Multiple owners to a new (one) Owner.

**NOTE: The transfer will work on both Active and Suspended accounts.**

### Single file change

Select the file you want to change ownership to.

Click on the **Apply permission change to this file** if you select an **individual file** (below)

![File management - Options when changing Ownership of a file in Google Drive 1](https://gatlabs.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/screenshot-uk.generalaudittool.com-2020.12.08-16_19_06.png)

### Multiple files change

Select the **File operations** button then **File management** if you want to make a **bulk change** on more than one file (below)

![](https://gatlabs.com/knowledge/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/2021-11-19-17_26_37-Window.png)

Both of those methods will open **File management.**

### File Management 

The actions the can be taken in the **File management** tabs are: 

- **General** – Change ownership of a files
- **Add** – Add additional users to Files, Folders, and Shared drives
- **Remove** – Remove users from Files, Folders, and Shared drives

![File management - Options when changing Ownership of a file in Google Drive 3](https://gatlabs.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/screenshot-uk.generalaudittool.com-2020.12.08-18_09_57.png)

In the **General** tab,** enter** the email of the **new** owner – **Change selected file’s owner: **

![](https://gatlabs.com/knowledge/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/2021-11-19-17_36_36-Window.png)

Menu with more options will be displayed.

- **Move file** – In Google Drive each file can have only one parent folder. By default when changing ownership to a new owner MyDrive **a shortcut** is created to the original file (this preserves permissions inherited from the folder where the file was placed).
  By choosing this option you are requesting to **move files directly** to new owner MyDrive (note: inherited permissions can be lost in the process).
- **Deny access for old owner** – By default when ownership is changed, the previous owner is added as an additional contributor
- **Untrash file** – If any files are in the Bin folder, they will be restored and taken out of the trash during the ownership transfer
- **Custom path** – Custom folder path for the files to be placed in, enter the folder name followed by the forward-slash (/), for example, folderX/

**Note:** By default when ownership is changed, the previous owner is added as an editor. If no custom path is selected the ownership change file will be located in the New owner's - MyDrive

Click **Next** to proceed 

![File management - Options when changing Ownership of a file in Google Drive 5](https://gatlabs.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/screenshot-uk.generalaudittool.com-2020.12.08-18_34_52.png)

Additional action can be taken alongside the ownership change such as **Add, Remove,** or **Replace** permissions.

In the **summary **tab, you can see the actions that will come into effect once you click on **Send request.**

### Security officer 

The security officer receives email notifications for the **approval** required.

![File management - Options when changing Ownership of a file in Google Drive 6](https://gatlabs.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/screenshot-mail.google.com-2020.12.08-18_38_13.png)

### Result 

When the request is approved:

- The **new owner** (receiver) will have those two folders (Folder1/Folder2) created in Drive and the **Files** will be inside.
- The **Two Files** will be **changed** to the **new owner** (user@domain.com) and added to MyDrive. 

![File management - Options when changing Ownership of a file in Google Drive 7](https://gatlabs.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/2020-12-08-18_53_13-My-Drive-Google-Drive.png)

The “changed ownership” files, will be in the **new owner MyDrive, **the folder structure will be the same as in the original owners, inside “folders” if it was in the original owner.

In the example above, the Location will be:

MyDrive (on the new owner) -> Folder1 -> Folder2 -> MyDrive (old owner-structure) -> File x (new docpass) and Folder ( For every …) (as it was in old owner location)

In the GAT+ menu on left, there is **Admin log** with all the changes done by Admin, most “actions” can be **Reverted **

![File management - Options when changing Ownership of a file in Google Drive 8](https://gatlabs.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/screenshot-uk.generalaudittool.com-2020.12.08-19_15_21.png)