How to See Who Has Viewed a Google Doc (2024)

> Google Apps

This article explains how to see who has viewed a document you’ve shared in Google Docs. This check is handy for making sure everyone who is supposed to review the document does so. The feature is available to Google Workspace subscribers using a business, enterprise, education, or nonprofit plan.

See Who Viewed a Google Doc

To see who has viewed a document, visit Google Docs and sign in with your Google account. Then, open the document.

1. Select theActivity dashboardicon (jagged arrow) on the top right orTools>Activity dashboardfrom the menu.

   

2. Confirm thatViewersis selected on the left side.

3. Use theAll viewerstab on the right to see who has viewed the document. You’ll see their name and when they last viewed it.

   

Additional Dashboard Viewing Features

SelectViewersand use theShared withtab to see everyone you have shared the document with to find out who else needs to review it.

You can also use the Email column to send a message to those you’ve shared the document with as a reminder.

SelectViewer trendto see the unique daily viewers. Choose a particular day on the column chart to see how many viewers were captured that day.

Don’t See Any Viewing Activity?

If you don't see any Viewers and believe you should, consider these reasons.

• You can only see activity for files owned by a Google account with the Activity Dashboard feature.
• You can only see activity after you have access to the Activity Dashboard.
• The document may have too many views or viewers to display the Activity Dashboard details.
• The people you expect to view the document might have opted out of displaying their View History (see below).
• You or the Admin may have View History turned off (see below).
  

Turn on Activity Dashboard View History

If you are the Admin for the Google account and want to be sure that you have View History turned on for Google Docs, visit your Google Admin Console and log in.

1. In the left-hand navigation, expandApps>Google Workspaceand selectDrive and Docs.

2. Scroll down to and selectActivity dashboard settings.

   

3. Confirm that Users’ view history is turned on. If not, click theediticon (pencil) to the right, chooseOn (recommended) and clickSave.
   

   

   Depending on your workspace, you may see the option able to turn on Access to view history for other users to see Viewers and Viewer Trends in the Activity Dashboard.

Turn on Individual View History

To help someone you expect to review the document display their View History or to display yours, open the document in Google Docs and follow these steps.

1. SelectTools>Activity dashboardfrom the menu.

2. ChoosePrivacy settingson the left.

3. Turn on one or both toggles on the right. The Account setting toggle displays view history for all Google documents while the Document setting displays it only for the current one.

4. SelectSave.

   

Seeing who viewed a Google Doc is a convenient way to make sure everyone reviews the document. To see who edited a document you’ve shared, you can also look at the revision history.