Keeping you safe online means protecting your information and respecting your privacy. That's why, in every product that we make, we focus on keeping your information secure, treating it responsibly and keeping you in control. Our teams work every day to make Google products safe no matter what you're doing – browsing the web, managing your inbox or getting directions.
Your information is protected by world-class security. You can always control your privacy settings in your Google Account.
- For general information about privacy on Google Docs, Sheets, Slides and Vids, keep reading this article.
- For more about privacy tools, visit the Google Safety Centre.
- For details about privacy in work and school accounts, use the Google Workspace security resources.
Important: When you turn on voice features, your web browser controls the speech-to-text service. Your web browser determines how your speech is processed and sends the text to the relevant Google service (e.g. Docs, Slides, Vids, etc.).
Privacy at a glance: How Google protects your Workspace files
- Private by default: When you create a new document, spreadsheet, presentation or video, it is set to Restricted by default. Only you and the specific people that you explicitly invite can access it.
- No AI model training on private files: Workspace does not scan your private content, including Docs, Sheets, Slides, Vids and Drive files, to train our foundational AI models, including Gemini.
- Search engines cannot index private links: Choosing 'Anyone with the link' allows people with the direct link to view your file, but search engines, like Google Search, do not crawl or index your document unless you publish the link on a publicly searchable web page.
- Quick privacy check: To audit your document's privacy at any time, click Share in the top right of your document and verify that General access is set to Restricted.
Workspace does not use your private content to train Gemini or foundational AI models
Your private work stays private
Workspace does not scan the content of your Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, Vids or Drive files to train foundational AI models, including Gemini. When you choose to interact with generative AI features in Google Workspace (such as 'Help me write' or Gemini side panel prompts), your inputs and generated suggestions are processed securely to provide the requested assistance and are handled in accordance with Google Workspace privacy commitments.
You decide what content is shared and with whom
The content that you save on Google Docs, Sheets, Slides and Vids is private to you, unless you choose to share it. Learn how to share or stop sharing files in Google Docs, Sheets, Slides and Vids.
Understanding link sharing and search indexing: When you change a file's general access to 'Anyone with the link', only individuals who possess the specific link URL can view or edit the file. Search engines do not automatically index or list your documents in search results. A document only becomes discoverable in search engines if someone posts that direct link on a public, crawlable website or forum.
A more helpful and personalised experience for you
When you use Google Docs, Sheets, Slides and Vids, we process some data to offer you better experiences in the product. Your information stays secure. You can always control your privacy settings in your Google Account.
Your content is stored securely
When you create a file in Google Docs, Sheets, Slides and Vids, and share it, it is stored securely in our world-class data centres. Data is encrypted in transit and at rest. If you choose to access these files offline, we store this info on your device.
Your Google Account comes with built-in security designed to detect and block threats like spam, phishing and malware. Your activity is stored using strong industry standards and practices.
Your name and email address help sync your data and keep you updated
To store your preferences, help you sign in, get files that you uploaded through other devices and inform you of service changes and user-to-user activity, we save your email address. In Google Slides, we also save your name, which is shown when you present.
Use your information to create and manage your Google Account
To create a brand new Google Account, we collect your name and phone number. When you manage your Google Account, you can choose to provide your physical address, upload your contacts or add a profile photo.
Google Docs, Sheets, Slides and Vids uses data to improve your experience
To provide services such as spam filtering, virus detection, malware protection and the ability to search for files within your individual account, we process your content.
To improve the performance and reliability of Google Docs, Sheets, Slides and Vids, and to help with troubleshooting in case of issues while you use Google Docs, Sheets, Slides and Vids, we collect performance data and crash analytics. We also save this info to help prevent abuse of our services and for analysis.
Google Docs, Sheets, Slides and Vids don't use your content for advertising
We don't use information in apps where you primarily store personal content – including Google Docs, Sheets, Slides and Vids – for advertising purposes. End of story.
Google respects your privacy. We access your private content only when we have your permission or are required to by law. With the Google Transparency Report, we share data about how the policies and actions of governments and corporations affect privacy, security and access to information.
If you have a work or school account, your organisation can review logs of actions taken by Google when accessing content. Learn how to view logs with Access Transparency. Learn how Google protects your organisation's security and privacy.
It's easy to view and control your data
With the Google Account Dashboard, you can see an overview of the Google products you use and the things you store, such as your emails and photos. And with My Activity, it's easy to see or delete data collected from your activity across Google services, including things you've searched for, viewed and watched. Learn how to view and control activity in your Google Account.
Control your search history
We store your search queries in Google Docs, Sheets, Slides and Vids to save you time by showing your recent searches.
To review or manage your Google Docs, Sheets, Slides and Vids search history, use My Activity.
Sync your services with your location
We save some location info to understand how your experience of the product may relate to geography, such as when you send feedback to Google, and to keep your account secure, such as if we notice that you have signed in from a new location.
You can take your data with you
Everyone should have access to the content they've shared with us – at any time and for any reason. That's why we created Download your data – so you can download your documents, spreadsheets and slides. It's your choice to make a copy of your data, back it up or even move it to another service.
You are always in control of the data saved to your Google Account. Learn how to download your data.
If you have a work or school account, your organisation can choose to download your data and to limit you from downloading it. Learn how an organisation can export its data.