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To remove a Google Sheet’s public web version, stop publishing it: open the spreadsheet on a computer and go to File > Share > Publish to web, then open Published content & settings and select Stop publishing. This removes the published web view; changing access to the underlying spreadsheet or deleting its Drive file are separate actions.
Stop publishing the spreadsheet
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Open the spreadsheet in Google Sheets on a computer.
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Select File > Share > Publish to web.
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Open Published content & settings.
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Select Stop publishing and confirm if prompted.
Google’s guidance is direct: “To remove a file from the web, you must stop publishing it.” Google Docs Editors Help
Choose the action that matches your goal
| Action | What it changes | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Stop publishing | Removes the web-published version. | Use this to take down the public web view. |
| Change sharing permissions | Controls who can access the source spreadsheet. | Use this if named collaborators or other file-access users should no longer have access. |
| Delete the Drive file | Deletes or removes the source file from a Drive account; it does not necessarily remove it for other collaborators. | Use this only if you intend to remove the spreadsheet itself, not just its published view. |
Google treats publication and file sharing as separate controls. To review source-file access, open the spreadsheet’s Share settings and adjust the relevant people or permissions. Google’s sharing guidance explains that deleting a shared file you do not own removes it from your Drive, while other collaborators may still access it.
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Check exposure if the sheet contained sensitive information
A published spreadsheet can show cell values, formatting, and charts; viewers cannot see or edit its formulas. Publication may cover the whole spreadsheet or only selected sheets, and changes to published content can take a few minutes to appear. Google advises against publishing private or sensitive information. Google’s publishing guidance
After stopping publication, review the source spreadsheet’s sharing settings and consider which sheets were included in the publication scope. Stopping publication is not evidence that anyone’s saved screenshots or copies have been erased.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.If “Stop publishing” is unavailable
Check that the correct spreadsheet is open and that you are in its Publish to web dialog under Published content & settings. For a work or school account, an administrator may have disabled publishing; Google recommends contacting the administrator when publishing is unavailable. Google Docs Editors Help
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