How to See Who Has Viewed a Google Doc: Step-by-Step Guide - GeeksforGeeks (2024)

As a collaborative tool, Google Docs allows multiple users to edit and work on the same document simultaneously, ensuring no one loses track of the changes made. If you or your company use Google Docs, it can be helpful to know who viewed a document and when. Tracking this information ensures that everyone has read important drafts, terms and conditions, policies, procedures, or any other critical documents.

What You Need to Know Before Checking Document Views

Before you start, ensure you meet these requirements:

Google Account: The person viewing the document must be signed in with a Google account.

File Type: The file must be a Google Doc, Sheet, or Slide.

Google Workspace: This feature is available for Google Workspace users with the appropriate plans.

How To See Who Has Viewed A Google Doc

There are three key things you should know before you check to see who has looked at your file. The person viewing the file must have a Google account and be signed in to Google Workspace. The file must be a Google Doc, Sheet, or Slide.

Step 1: Open the Google Docs

To see who has looked at a file, go to Google Docs and log in with your Google account. After that, open the file.

Step 2: Go to Tools and Click on Activity Dashboard

The Activity Dashboard icon is a jagged line in the upper right corner. You can also go to Tools > Activity Dashboard from the menu.

Step 3: Select the Viewers option

Make sure that the Viewers option is chosen on the left.

To see who has looked at the file, click the “All Viewers” tab on the right. You’ll see their name and the most recent time they looked at it.

Requirements for Tracking Document Views

Google Workspace: You need a business or education account.

File Type: Must be a Google Doc, Sheet, or Slide.

Viewer Requirements: Viewers need to be signed in to their Google account.

Google Drive Viewer Tracking Limits

Plan Restrictions: Only users with enterprise, business, education, or nonprofit Google Workspace plans can use this feature.

Sharing Settings: If you shared the document with “anyone with the link” or made it public, you won’t be able to see who viewed it.

Edit Access: You need editing permissions to check viewing activity.

Google Drive Activity Dashboard File Viewing History Features

Viewers

Under the “Viewers” section, the “Shared with” tab displays the list of everyone you’ve explicitly shared the file with. Additionally, you can use the Email column to send a reminder message to the participants.

Viewer Trend

In the Viewer Trend section, you can see how many new people look at your file every day. On the column map, you can pick a day to see how many people looked at the file that day.

Comment Trend

You can see the total number of comments on the file and the trend over a specific time in this area. There is a drop-down option in the upper right corner of the screen that allows you to pick a different time.

Sharing History

With the sharing records, you can see when and with whom you sent the file.

Privacy Settings

You can turn on or off the viewing records for a single file (using Document Setting) or for all files (using Account Setting) in the privacy settings. Your View Past will not be shown on the Activity Dashboard if you turn it on.

Google Docs Vs. Microsoft Word

You can use both Google Docs and Microsoft Word to work with words, but there are some important differences between the two.

Lastly, both Google Docs and Microsoft Word have built-in tools for working together in real-time. In real-time, two or more people can work together on papers and share them.

Why there are zero views on Google Doc files

• Only files owned by Google accounts with Activity Dashboard show activity.
• The viewer may have viewed the file without a Google account.
• Viewers of the document may have kept their View History private.
• The Activity Dashboard only shows activity when you log in.
• You may have disabled the View History function or the file administrator.

Troubleshoot Viewing Activity

Learn how to troubleshoot issues related to viewing activity in Google Docs.

How to Enable Activity Dashboard See History

Enable View History in the Google Admin Console to track document activity.

Step 1: Open Docs

In the left-hand menu, go to Apps > Google Workspace. From the list that comes up, choose Drive and Docs.

Step 2: Go to Activity Dashboard Settings

On the “Settings for Drive and Docs” page, go to “Activity Dashboard Settings” and select “Activity Dashboard Settings.”

Step 3: Enable the Users View History

Make sure that Users’ View History is turned on. Click the pencil icon on the right, choose “ON,” and then click the “Save” button to make changes.

How to Enable View History for Individual or All Files

Open the document in Google Docs and follow the steps to show your View History or help someone you expect to look over the document show theirs.

Step 1: Open the Activity Dashboard and Select Privacy Settings in the Google Doc

You can track a Google Doc, Sheet, or Slide by opening it.

Click on the Activity Dashboard icon in the upper right area of the screen. It looks like an arrow pointing up. Or go to the drop-down button and choose Tools. Then, go to the Activity Dashboard.

Step 3: Turn on the Toggle and Save

To show the view history for the current document, toggle the “Document setting” option on the right and “Account setting” for all documents. Then click “Save.” to save the changes.

How to Check Who Made Changes to Your Google Docs

Track changes made to your Google Docs to see who edited the document.

Step 1: Open Google Doc

Open the Google Doc and choose “File” from the drop-down menu at the top of the screen.

Step 2: Go to Google Doc Version Icon

Click on the Version History icon to view changes.

Step 3: Click on All Versions and Select the File Version

Step 3: See the Version History

There will be a window on the right side of your screen that shows all the changes and saves you’ve made to the document. You can see when each change was made and who made it.

Note–

You can also look at the version of the document that was there before the changes were made. This function is helpful if you need to undo changes or check the differences between different versions of a file.

Learn how to see who shared your Google Docs and their actions.

Step 1: Go to Google Drive

Click on “My Drive” in the menu on the left side of Google Drive.

Step 2: Select the File

Click on the small “i” button in the top right corner of the screen after choosing the file.

Step 3: Go to Tools and Choose “Activity” tab

Select the “Activity” tab to see what people have done to share that file.

You can use the scroll bar on the right side of the screen to see who has shared the paper with other people and what else they have done.

Note-

Anyone with a personal Google (Gmail) account can see the “Version” and “Sharing” records of their Google Drive files. You don’t need a Google Workspace account to do this.

FAQ’s on How to See Who Has Viewed a Google Doc

Where is View in Google Docs?

Open a file on your computer, such as a presentation, a spreadsheet, or a presentation. Simply select the desired View by clicking the View button on the toolbar.

What does a viewer do in Google Docs?

People are allowed access to the file, but they cannot make any changes or share it with anybody else.

What if I Don’t See Any Viewing Activity?

These things should help you if you don’t see any Viewers-

• When you use the Activity Dashboard, you can only see what’s been done with files that belong to a Google account.
• After you log in to the Activity Dashboard, you can only see what people have done.
• The document may have too many views or viewers for the Activity Dashboard information to show up.
• People who want to see the documents have chosen not to show their View History.
• The View History feature might not be on for you or the Admin.

Open Google Drive, then browse through the folder you wish to share within Google Docs and select it. Simply right-click on it, then select the Share option. Enter the email address of the person or group that you want to share with, and then select whether you want them to have access to Editor, Viewer, or Commenter.