A Google Drive shortcut places a reference to an existing file or folder in another location. Use it when several projects need to find the same current original. Making independent copies instead can create conflicting versions and unclear ownership.
Create the shortcut in the intended folder
In Drive on a computer, find the original and confirm its contents. Right-click it, choose Organize, then Add shortcut. Select the destination folder and confirm the action. Open the new shortcut afterward to check that it points to the intended item.
A shortcut is not a duplicate of the target’s contents. Changes to the original remain visible when you open it through the shortcut. You cannot build a chain by creating a shortcut to another shortcut; choose the original target instead.
Check both visibility and target access
The shortcut’s title can be visible to people who can access its containing folder. Those people do not automatically gain permission to open the target. Check whether the title itself reveals sensitive information before placing the shortcut in a shared location.
If collaborators need the original, ask its owner to grant the appropriate access separately. A shortcut into a widely shared folder should not be used as a reason to broaden the original’s permissions beyond the actual project audience.
Maintain one authoritative original
Use a clear shortcut name and tell collaborators where the original is maintained. If the shortcut later breaks, check whether the target was deleted, moved to Trash, or made inaccessible. Recreating the shortcut will not repair a missing target or removed permission. Remove an obsolete shortcut only after confirming that it is the reference item you intend to remove, rather than the original file.
References
Reviewed against the linked official product guidance on November 3, 2026. Features, limits, screen labels, and access can vary by account, platform, region, and organization policy.