> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.scoutos.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Sharing Drive Files: Public and Password-Protected Links

> Share files from Scout Drive with a unique link. Create public or password-protected links, copy and rotate them, and let agents publish files automatically.

Every file in Scout Drive can be shared through a unique URL that lets others view or download it — no Scout account required. This makes Drive a natural place for agents that generate artifacts like reports, exports, and documents to publish their output and hand it off to users or external systems.

Files with an active share link display a globe icon (🌐) next to their name. The Drive panel lives in the left sidebar of your Studio workspace.

## How to Share a File

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Drive">
    Open **Drive** from the left sidebar of your Studio workspace.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Locate the file">
    Find the file you want to share in the file list.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open the file menu">
    Click the **···** menu on the file's row.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select Share">
    Choose **Share** to open the sharing options submenu.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Sharing Options

Drive offers two sharing modes. A checkmark indicates the active mode.

| Mode                   | Access                                      | Best for                                                        |
| ---------------------- | ------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Public**             | Anyone with the link — no login or password | Low-friction sharing with clients, teammates, or external tools |
| **Password Protected** | Anyone with the link plus the password      | Sensitive material like financial reports or client data        |

For **Password Protected** links, Scout generates the initial password, which you can change at any time.

## Copy the Share Link

Once sharing is active, click **Copy link** to copy the URL to your clipboard. The link stays live until you change the settings or disable sharing.

## Change the Password

For a password-protected file, click **Change password** to rotate the credentials. Scout immediately generates a new password, and the old one stops working right away. Rotate passwords whenever your audience changes.

## Stop Sharing

Click **Stop sharing** to instantly disable access. The link breaks, but the file itself stays untouched in your Drive.

<Note>
  Share links don't expire on their own. If access needs to end by a specific deadline, stop sharing manually.
</Note>

## The Globe Icon

Files with an active share link — public or password protected — show a globe icon (🌐) next to their name. Files without it remain private to your workspace.

## Let Your Agent Do It

Scout agents can create, save, publish, and link a file in a single conversation. This works for any file type the agent can produce — HTML, markdown, CSVs, or reports.

Try this prompt:

> "Create an HTML page and save it to Drive. Let's call it 'Scout Rocks' and make it very snazzy, bright, and glowy."

The agent generates the file, saves it to Drive, and can share it back as a link — no manual steps required.

## Best Practices

* Use password protection for sensitive material like financial reports or client data.
* Rotate passwords when your audience changes so old recipients lose access.
* Turn off sharing when you're finished — links don't expire on their own.
* Stop sharing manually if you need access to expire by a specific deadline.

## Next Steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Drive Overview" icon="hard-drive" href="/drive/overview">
    Learn how Scout Drive works, common use cases, and how to give agents file access.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Drive API Reference" icon="code" href="/drive/api-reference">
    Manage files and folders programmatically with the Drive REST API.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>