To make a Google Sheets file public, click Share, change General access from Restricted to Anyone with the link, keep the role as Viewer, and click Copy link. Anyone with that link can open the sheet without signing in. For a read-only web page or embed that updates automatically, use File > Share > Publish to web instead.
Quick Answer
Share > General access: Anyone with the link > Viewer > Copy link > Done.
Share With Anyone Who Has the Link
- Open the spreadsheet and click Share (top right).
- Under General access, change Restricted to Anyone with the link.
- Choose the role: Viewer, Commenter or Editor. Viewer is safest for public sharing.
- Click Copy link, then Done, and paste the link wherever you want to share it.
Publish to the Web
- Click File > Share > Publish to web.
- Choose the entire document or one sheet, and a format (web page, CSV, PDF and others).
- Click Publish and copy the link, or open the Embed tab for code to put on a website.
Which Option Fits?
| Option | Viewers see | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Anyone with the link (Viewer) | The live spreadsheet, read-only | Sharing with a group |
| Anyone with the link (Editor) | The live spreadsheet, editable | Open collaboration; risky if the link spreads |
| Publish to web | A clean web page or CSV that updates | Websites, dashboards, data feeds |
| Make a copy link | A prompt to copy the file | Templates (change /edit in the URL to /copy) |
Protect Your Data
- Remove personal or confidential data before sharing publicly.
- In Share settings (gear icon), turn off Viewers and commenters can see the option to download, print, and copy if you want to limit that.
- Stop publishing any time under File > Share > Publish to web > Stop publishing.
To build a summary tab, learn how to link cells between sheets.
Cleaning up your Google accounts? See how to delete a draft campaign in Google Ads.
Troubleshooting
- Anyone with the link isn’t available: Work or school accounts may limit sharing outside the organization. Ask your admin.
- People still need access: Check that General access saved, and that you shared the right file.
- Want a slide version? See inserting a Google Sheet into Slides.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the public find my sheet in search engines?
Link sharing doesn’t list it anywhere, but anyone with the link can open it. Published pages can be indexed if linked publicly.
How do I make it private again?
Share > General access > Restricted.
Summary
- Share > General access > Anyone with the link.
- Choose Viewer and copy the link.
- Use Publish to web for embeds and web pages.
- Switch back to Restricted to stop sharing.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.