What this lesson fixes
Use a real Google Sheets workbook and its /copy link to diagnose copy-permission failures. The key distinction is that a copy link changes the destination screen; it does not bypass the source spreadsheet's sharing rules.
Learning objectives
Open the practice workbook
Practice in your own copy
Make your own Google Sheets copy with the same data, formulas, formatting, filter and frozen header. The original remains unchanged.
Sign in to Google. If the original is not publicly shared, download the full workbook and import it into Google Sheets, or paste the example data into your own sheet.
Troubleshoot copy permission step by step
Step 1: Open the normal spreadsheet link first. If Google Sheets shows Request access or the file cannot open, fix source-file access before testing /copy. A /copy URL cannot grant permission that the source file does not already provide.
Step 2: Click Share in the top-right corner. Under People with access, confirm the affected Google account is present when the file is Restricted. Verify its role is appropriate for the workflow; copying does not require Editor merely because the recipient needs their own editable copy.
Step 3: In the same Share dialog, inspect General access. Restricted means the recipient must be explicitly granted access. If link-based distribution is intentional, the owner can choose an appropriate Anyone with the link role. Do not broaden access merely to work around a one-person account problem.
Step 4: After source access works, open the practice Copy link. If the Make a copy screen appears, the source access path is working. If Google instead reports that copying/downloading is disabled, the file owner must review the sharing settings that control whether viewers and commenters may download, print, or copy; recipients cannot override an owner restriction.
Step 5: Retest while signed in to the exact Google account that was granted access. Multiple signed-in accounts are a common reason the edit link works in one session while the /copy test appears to fail in another.
Checkpoint
| Symptom | What it means | Next check |
|---|---|---|
| Request access before copy screen | Source file is not accessible to this account | Share > People with access / General access |
| Make a copy screen appears | Source access permits the copy flow | Create the copy in the intended account |
| Copy/download is disabled | Owner policy blocks viewer/commenter copying | Owner reviews sharing settings; recipient cannot bypass it |
| Works in one account only | Account mismatch | Retest with the granted Google account |
A /copy URL is a convenience route, not a permission bypass. Diagnose source access first, then owner copy restrictions, then account mismatch.
Common mistakes and fixes
Also avoid treating /edit and /copy as separate permission systems. They reference the same source spreadsheet. Test the normal link first, then the copy link, using the same account so the comparison is meaningful.
Independent practice
Using the practice links, describe the correct diagnosis for three cases: Request access appears, Make a copy appears, or Google reports copying is disabled. For each case, identify whether the recipient or the owner must act and which sharing control should be checked.
Key takeaways
- ✓A /copy link does not bypass source spreadsheet permissions.
- ✓Test the normal spreadsheet link before diagnosing the copy link.
- ✓Use Share to verify People with access and General access.
- ✓An owner-disabled copy/download policy must be changed by the owner; recipients cannot bypass it.
- ✓Retest with the exact Google account that received access and avoid broader permissions than necessary.
Check your understanding
Answer four questions about the practice sheet.
Next lesson
Continue with the next troubleshooting lesson to fix charts that do not update when new rows are added.
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