Are you facing the frustrating problem of the “Owner” option missing on Google Drive? Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered! In this article, I’ll share with you four effective solutions to resolve this issue and regain control of your files. So let’s dive in!
The Case: The Missing “Owner” Option on Google Drive
“I’ve been trying to change the owner of a video file on my Google Drive, but it’s not working. As you can see in the screenshot, the ‘Owner’ option is missing. Please help!”
Why Did the “Owner” Option Disappear from Google Drive?
Google Drive is one of the most popular cloud storage services offered by Google. It comes with a handy advantage: both account owners and non-owners can access and collaborate on files and folders in real-time. Moreover, you can find shared files not only by their filename but also by the people you’ve shared them with.
However, many users have reported encountering a situation where the “Owner” option is missing on Google Drive. This could be due to the following reasons:
- The person who owns the file is the only one who can transfer ownership. It’s possible that you don’t have the authority to transfer ownership.
- In Google Drive, ownership transfer is limited to documents, images, etc., but not video files. Personal Gmail accounts can only transfer ownership of folders, Google Docs/Sheets/Slides/Forms/Drawings, and Google My Maps.
- If your account is a G Suite account, you can only transfer ownership within the company’s G Suite domain.
- Temporary technical issues caused by network problems on the user’s end or Google Drive bugs.
How to Solve the Disappearing “Owner” Option Issue on Google Drive?
If you’re experiencing the missing “Owner” option on Google Drive, here are four effective solutions to fix it.
Solution 1: Check the File Ownership
First, it’s crucial to verify if you are the file’s owner. You can check the file ownership by following these steps:
- Open Google Drive.
- Right-click on the folder.
- Click on “Share.”
- Click on “Advanced,” and you will see a list of user email addresses.
- The word “Owner” will appear next to the owner’s email address.
Solution 2: Reset the Sharing
Try rectifying the error by sharing the file again:
- Access Account A.
- Select the folder and right-click on “Share.”
- Click on “Advanced” and choose User B to remove.
- Save the changes, and then share again.
Solution 3: Check the Domain Name
Make sure that the domain name of the account you want to transfer ownership to is of the form @domain-name.com or a @gmail.com account. If your account is a G Suite account, you can only transfer ownership within the company’s G Suite domain.
Solution 4: Use the Alternative Google Drive Desktop Application
While the above solutions may temporarily resolve the problem, it’s inevitable for Google Drive to encounter issues again. Therefore, if you’re tired of dealing with such problems on Google Drive, you can use CBackup to backup and sync your files on Google Drive. You can also use it to back up files between different Google Drive accounts (the number of accounts is unlimited).
Follow the steps below to learn how to use CBackup to back up files on Google Drive:
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Download the CBackup client, create a free account, and log in.
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Under the “Storage” tab, add and authorize your Google Drive account. You can also add other accounts you want to sync in the same way.
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When you want to perform a backup task, click on “Backup” on the left side of the page, then click on “PC to Public Cloud Backup.”
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Select the files from your PC to back up and set “Google Drive” as the backup destination.
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Click on “Start Backup” to back up your computer data to Google Drive and avoid losing the “Owner” option on Google Drive.
Learn More About CBackup
- Cloud-to-Cloud Backup: You can back up your Google Drive files to other cloud storage accounts through the CBackup website in advance, so you no longer have to worry about data loss when Google service encounters issues.
- Scheduler: After creating a backup task, you can set a schedule (if you frequently use Google Drive, I recommend daily backups). This also allows syncing between two cloud storage accounts.
- File Filter: Unlike using Google Drive sharing, CBackup supports unlimited file storage and versions. However, if you only need to back up certain files, the file filter function is what you need.
- Restoration: You can use CBackup as an alternative for every authorized cloud storage to avoid any issues. When hardware or servers fail, the restoration function can quickly restore data from backup files.
Extra Tip: Can You Change the Owner of a Google Drive Folder?
Google Drive allows you to change the owner of certain types of files. Here are the steps to follow:
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Go to drive.google.com.
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Choose the file or folder you want to transfer to another owner.
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Click on the share icon or click on the More menu and select “Share…”.
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If the new owner already has access, proceed to step 5. Otherwise, follow these steps:
- Enter the new owner’s email address in the “Invite people” field.
- Click on “Share & save.”
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Click on the drop-down menu to the right of the new owner’s name and choose “Owner.”
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Click on “Save changes.”
Points to Consider Before Transferring Ownership
As the owner of a file, you have significant control over it, but once you change the owner, your control changes. Before transferring ownership, be aware of what you cannot do:
- Remove collaborators.
- Share with as many people as you want.
- Modify visibility options.
- Allow collaborators to modify access privileges for others.
- Permanently delete something from Google Drive. Once deleted, no one can access it, including those it was shared with.
Summary
In general, the disappearance of the “Owner” option on Google Drive can be resolved by following the aforementioned solutions. However, as cloud backup services are prone to issues, fixing them can be time-consuming and laborious. I highly recommend using CBackup as an alternative tool to back up and protect your data. This way, you can also access and manage your files in case of any issues.
Check out CBackup for more information!
