FAQs
By default, Google Docs saves your version history as you work on a document. This allows you to track the changes you've made and return to an earlier version of the document if you need to. When you share a Google document, others can view its version history, which might reveal changes you'd prefer to keep private.
How do you check if someone viewed your Google Doc? ›
Viewing who has seen your Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides and when they have viewed them is easy with the Activity Dashboard feature. This feature also shows the trend of views and comments, as well as a sharing history. -Select the Tools menu > Activity Dashboard.
How to check activity on drive? ›
Access past activity
- On your computer, go to drive.google.com.
- On the left click My Drive.
- In the upper right, click Info .
- Select an option. To access: Recent changes, select an option: Click Activity. Scroll down the right side. The activity of a specific file or folder, click the file or folder.
Why can't I see the activity dashboard on Google Docs? ›
If you don't see Activity dashboard or the privacy settings: If the file isn't owned by a Google Account through work or school, no one can see the view history.
Can you check other people's browsing history? ›
The short answer is: yes. Regular internet users won't see your internet history, but several other parties can, and you shouldn't take your online privacy lightly.
How can I hide version history? ›
A note that the only way to restrict a person from seeing the Doc version history is only to give them View Only permissions in some way. Either by sharing a public link to the Doc or by giving them View Only permissions. If they have editing permissions in any way, they will be able to see the version history.
Can you see if someone opened your file in Google Drive? ›
Technically speaking, you should be able to see who viewed your document under "View history." If you aren't seeing that, it might have something to do with the admin settings for your organization, which may be set so that only the activity of the people in your domain are shown there.
How can I tell if someone has accessed my Google Photos? ›
Solution 1: Check Google Account Activity
Monitoring the activity on your Google account is a simple way to track who is accessing your Google photos. You can use this method to check for suspicious activity related to your account.
How do I know if someone downloaded files from Google Drive? ›
First click on the "Downloads" tab on the project page. The total number of downloads for a particular file can be found in the "DownloadCount" column.
How to check doc history? ›
On your computer, open a document, spreadsheet, or presentation. Choose an option: At the top, click File. Version history.
Important:
- On your computer, find the file or folder in Google Drive.
- To find out If a file or folder is shared: Right click the file or folder. On the right side of file, click More. . ...
- A panel opens and shows who owns and has access to the file.
- If you have permission to make changes, click Manage access.
How can I tell if someone has viewed my Google Doc? ›
See Who Viewed a Google Doc
- Select the Activity dashboard icon (jagged arrow) on the top right or Tools > Activity dashboard from the menu.
- Confirm that Viewers is selected on the left side.
- Use the All viewers tab on the right to see who has viewed the document. You'll see their name and when they last viewed it.
Can viewers see edit history? ›
Can Google Doc viewers see edit history? Users with Edit access to a file can view its full history including changes made by colleagues via the revision history feature. They can also revert to earlier versions of the file and see which person made specific edits.
Why is my Google activity not showing everything? ›
If your searches, websites you've visited, or other activity don't show in My Activity, make sure that: You're signed in. Activity is saved only when you're signed in to your Google Account. Your device is online.
Can someone see the version history of a Word document? ›
View version history from within a Microsoft Office document
If you are working with a Microsoft Office document, such as a Word, Excel, orPowerPoint file, you can view version history from the app view rather than returning to the list or library to view the history.
Can other people see your history? ›
Can anyone see what you search for on Google? If you've wondered “Can anyone see my search history?”, the answer is yes. The search engine itself, your web browser, your internet service provider (ISP), some advertisers, website owners, app owners, and, in some cases, authorities can see what you search for on Google.
Can viewers on Google Drive see version history? ›
Users with view-only access to a Google Docs document can view the current copy, but can't see the version history or roll back changes. To switch your document to view-only mode, open your document and click the "Share" button in the top-right corner.
Can other phones see my history? ›
Generally, someone cannot see your browser history from another phone, but there are ways to achieve this, such as syncing your browser or using spyware. Your browser history can give someone an insight into what you have been up to while surfing the internet.