I’ve been shared on a file. How do I access it?

If you’ve been shared on a Google document or folder, but you do not have a Google account, it is easy to access this file. You will need to sign up for a Google account, and this can be done with your current email address. 

Google accounts don’t have to use Gmail addresses. A Google account is simply a unified sign-in system that gives you access to Google products, including Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Slides. You can associate any email address with a Google account.

This can be done in one of the two following ways:

Option 1:

Simply click the Open in Docs link in the email that was sent to you. On the next screen, there will be a red link titled Sign Up to Edit the file. (Note: You may have received a link that says “Open in Drive.” If so, follow the steps in option 2).

Option 2:

Follow this link: https://accounts.google.com/signupwithoutgmail

Once you are there, sign up for a Google account using your current email address. There is no need to create an account with a Gmail address.

After you have signed up, return to the original email you received, and click the Open in Docs link in the middle. This will open the Google Document for editing access. (Note: it may say Open in Drive/Sheets/Slides, but the process is the same)