While a file is locked, no one with any level of access can make modifications, comments, or suggestions; Basically, it’s in read-only mode until you unlock it. The company wrote in a blog post announcing the change that file locking began rolling out to rapid release domains yesterday and will do so for the next 15 days, while those on scheduled release domains will start seeing it on January 20. September, also with a 15-day implementation period.
Restricting a file in Google was already something that could be done with the Google Drive API or through file approvals – a similar feature that allows you, for example, to request approval of a draft that is locked for everyone to edit, regardless of whether they have editor access. The key difference here seems to be that you can lock the file at any time simply by right-clicking it, going to File Info, and selecting “Lock”.
But sometimes simple features like file locking bring the most satisfaction. After all, how many times have you wanted to do something with a file that you know should be possible? easy Even in 2023, do you have to go through some complicated process to make it happen?
