There are two methods you can use to share a Google Doc anonymously. The first involves utilizing the built-in “publish to web” feature, which enables you to anonymously share your Google Docs documents through a web link or HTML embed.
Alternatively, the second method, which is highly effective and allows you to use all the sharing options in Google Docs, entails creating a new Google account under an alias and leveraging it to anonymously share your document.
In this article, we will provide you with a detailed tutorial that will take you step-by-step through both methods for sharing your Google Docs documents anonymously.
Method 1 – Using the Publish to Web Feature
1 – Open Google Docs and access the document you wish to share.
2 – At the top of the document, click on the “File” option in the menu.
3 – Hover your mouse pointer over “Share” and then select “Publish to Web.”
4 – In the Publish to Web popup window, select whether you want to share the document via a link or embed it using HTML.
5 – Once you’ve made your selection, click the “Publish” button.
6 – Click the “Okay” button in the popup that asks you “Are you sure you want to publish this selection?”
7 – For the link option, copy the provided link and share it with the desired individuals.
8 – If you choose the HTML option, copy the given HTML code and integrate it into your website.
Method 2 – Create an Anonymous Google Account Using an Alias
1 – Begin by coming up with an alias for your Google account name.
2 – Navigate to the Google Accounts page.
3 – Click on the “Create an Account” button located at the top right corner of the page.
4 – Enter your chosen alias in the first name and last name fields, then proceed to the next step.
5 – Enter a date of birth and select a gender for your anonymous account,
6 – You may select a pre-created email address or craft a custom Gmail address by clicking on the “create your own Gmail email address” option.
7 – Establish a secure password for your account and click “Next.”
8 – Google might request your phone number for verification purposes, but you can bypass this step by clicking “Skip” or “Verify Later.” If you cannot skip this step, enter your phone number as this information is not revealed when sharing a Google Docs document.
9 – With your anonymous Google account created, go to Google Docs and create the document you wish to share anonymously.
10 – When the document is ready, locate the “Share” button at the top right of the screen and click on it.
11 – Under the general access heading click on restricted.
12 – Modify the access settings to “Anyone with the link” for broader sharing.
13 – Distribute the document by utilizing the link option or adding individuals via their email addresses in the “Add People and Groups” field.
Frequently Asked Questions
To ensure anonymity while sharing a Google Doc, there are a couple of approaches you can take. One option is to utilize the “Publish to web” feature. This feature allows you to share the document without revealing your identity.
Another alternative is to create a Google account using an alias specifically for anonymous document sharing, which can further safeguard your identity.
When you share a Google Docs document as the owner, anyone who accesses the document will be able to see your name and email address. If you prefer not to have your name displayed in the document, you have two options. Firstly, you can utilize the “Publish to web” feature, which allows for anonymous sharing. Alternatively, you can use a secondary Google account that does not reveal your personal information.
On the other hand, if you are viewing a document shared by the owner through a link, your identity will appear as an anonymous animal. However, if the document owner added you to the document using your email address, your name will be visible when viewing the document.
If the document owner added you to the document using your email, you will need to open the shared document via its share link in an incognito window or sign out of your Google account.
However, if the document owner shared the document with you via its share link, you will automatically be represented as an anonymous animal when viewing the document.
