---
title: Silently View Files from Your Users Google Drives
description: "# How to Silently View Google Drive View Files from Any Google Workspace User We are going to use a powerful search feature in the GAT+ Google Drive audit where GAT+ can identify the contents of documents. This feature is…"
url: "https://gatlabs.com/knowledge/tech-tips/silently-view-files-from-your-users-google-drives/"
updated: "2024-04-24"
category: "Drive Audit & Management"
tags:
  - GAT Unlock
---

# Silently View Files from Your Users Google Drives

# How to Silently View Google Drive View Files from Any Google Workspace User

We are going to use a powerful search feature in the GAT+ Google Drive audit where GAT+ can identify the contents of documents. This feature is called the ‘**File content search**’.

It allows admins/delegated auditors to use **words or sentences to search through all of the files across your domain** and it will **return documents that contain** them.

### Apply filter

Navigate to **GAT+ > Drive > File Content Search**

![](https://gatlabs.com/knowledge/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/File-content-search-Driive.png)

Fill in the necessary details

- **Query** - enter the Query you are searching for
- **Full text only**  - enable or disable by clicking on the checkmark
- **User/Group/Org.Unit** - select where to search the file, who are the users to search thru?
- **Search** **files** - Apply the filter
- **Previous searches** - select any of the previous searches that ran

![](https://gatlabs.com/knowledge/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/search-filter-applied-in-File-content-search.png)

In the example below, we search for a **File that contains** the sentence **"Test for auto share removal".**

Multiple other queries can be used.

![](https://gatlabs.com/knowledge/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/2022-01-04-18_06_04-GAT.png)

### Result

**Note**: It might take some time for the search to complete depending on the search performed and the number of files you have in your domain.

![](https://gatlabs.com/knowledge/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/2022-01-04-16_14_34-GAT.png)

The **result** files **will contain**the**sentence -  *"Test for auto share removal" .***Select the files you want to access, by clicking on the checkmarks beside the file title.

### Send request

**Select the files** needed -> **File operations** button -> **Create new access request **

![](https://gatlabs.com/knowledge/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/2022-01-04-18_10_28-GAT.png)

A pop-up window will be displayed.

- **Request access until** - pick a date until access to view the files will be granted
- **Message** - leave an (optional) Message to the Security officer
- **Send request **- to proceed

![](https://gatlabs.com/knowledge/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/2022-01-04-18_14_03-GAT.png)

### Security officer approval

When the request is sent, the **Security officer** will receive an email notification for approval.

![](https://gatlabs.com/knowledge/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/approval-email.png)

When "**click here**" the Security officer can Approve or Deny the request.

![](https://gatlabs.com/knowledge/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/2022-01-04-18_17_26-GAT.png)

When it is approved, an **email** will be sent to the **requester, **that it is approved.

![](https://gatlabs.com/knowledge/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/apprived-email.png)

### Access the files

When the request is approved, the Admin can click on the **"previous searches"** button and select the previous filter applied.

Click on the**green checkmark** under **Actions**

![](https://gatlabs.com/knowledge/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/2022-01-04-18_21_26-GAT.png)

This will filter back the previous search and show the result. This time, the **result will include the files we requested also access to**.

### View file content

From the right side under **Actions > (lock icon) option:**

- Download
- **Show File content **

![](https://gatlabs.com/knowledge/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/2022-01-04-18_25_22-GAT.png)

A carbon copy of the selected File will be **opened**, the **end-user will not see** that their file was accessed.

#### **Show file content **

**Show file content** - will open a new tab showing its content.

It will be a carbon copy of the file, not the actual file, therefore there will be no log of the file being accessed by Admin - as they will not be added to the actual file.

#### Admin Log

All of the above actions will be shown in the immutable Admin log.