Sending a Drive link from Android and sending an actual file copy are different deliveries. Google specifically notes that dragging a Drive item into another app in supported split-screen workflows can insert a link. Confirm what the recipient needs before sending.
Choose a copy when a standalone file is required
For an ordinary uploaded file, use its permitted Download action and verify the local result. Then use an appropriate trusted Android application or file manager to share that local file through the authorized delivery channel.
If the current app offers a Send a copy action for the item, inspect the resulting share sheet and selected format rather than assuming every file type supports the same route. Native Google documents may need a supported editor export.
Inspect the outgoing delivery
Check whether the message contains an attachment or only a Drive URL. Confirm the filename, type, expected size where shown, and recipient. A link’s access depends on Drive permissions, while a copied attachment has a separate lifecycle after delivery.
Do not make the original public merely because an intended attachment was accidentally sent as a link. Correct the delivery method or narrow permission through the approved workflow.
Protect confidentiality and version clarity
Verify the local copy’s contents and label its version where needed. Future edits to the Drive original do not automatically update the sent copy. Removing Drive access does not retract an attachment already delivered. Respect owner-disabled downloads and organizational transfer rules. Keep the authoritative original clear so feedback on an emailed or messaged copy is not mistaken for edits saved in the shared Drive project.
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.