Environment
U-M Google
Issue
Who are the "anonymous animals" or people I don't recognize viewing my Google document, spreadsheet, or presentation?
Resolution
Someone you don’t know might be looking at your file because:
- The file is shared with a mailing list.
- The file is shared with a person who doesn’t have a Google Account or isn’t signed in.
- Someone who can edit your file or has the link shared it with other people.
- Someone changed their Google Account name. You can see their email address when you click Share.
Limit how people can view your file
"Anonymous animals"
If you share or open a file with a link, you may not see the names of people who view it.
- People you didn’t invite individually will show as "anonymous animals" when they’re in the file.
- People you invite individually will show by name when they’re in the file.
You can only see other people’s names when you give them individual permission to view a file or if they are part of a mailing list.
If you restrict link sharing, you still might see multiple anonymous animals:
- When someone opens the file multiple times.
- It may take some time for people no longer viewing to disappear.
- If someone opens the link through a messenger service.
- Some services will check links for phishing, virus attacks, or malware.
- When someone uses a browser extension or script that automatically follows the link.
Additional Information
More about this can be found here: https://support.google.com/docs/answer/2494888
Need additional information or assistance? Contact the ITS Service Center.