Quick answers to the questions we hear most about StretchDrive. For error-code specifics, see Troubleshooting StretchDrive Errors.
Access and setup
Why don't I see StretchDrive in the menu? You likely don't have the Files app enabled on your workspace membership. Workspace owners and admins always have Drive; other members need Files turned on. Ask an owner to enable it.
Is My Drive private? Yes — items in My Drive are visible only to you until you share them. Workspace owners and admins retain oversight for governance and recovery.
Can people outside my company use Drive? Not directly, but you can share a link (optionally with a password and expiry) so external recipients can view or download specific files without a workspace account.
Files and folders
What's the largest file I can upload? A single file can be up to 5 GB. Larger files upload in chunks and can resume if interrupted.
Why can't I name a file with a slash? Names can't contain / or \ (or be just ./..) because those characters are reserved for internal folder paths. Use a different separator like - or _.
What happens if I upload a file with the same name? If you upload over an existing file, StretchDrive keeps the old copy as a version — it doesn't overwrite it permanently — so you can roll back.
Can I move a folder into one of its own subfolders? No — StretchDrive blocks moves that would create a loop, with a clear message. Choose a destination outside the folder's own contents.
Sharing and permissions
What can each role do? Viewer = view/download; Commenter = view + comment; Editor = edit, upload versions, move, rename, share; Owner = full control including delete.
Why can't I give someone Owner? You can't grant a role higher than your own, and share links are capped at Editor. Only an Owner can grant Owner.
If I share a folder, do people get the files inside too? Yes. Folder permissions inherit to everything inside, now and in the future.
How do I stop sharing? Delete the person's permission, or revoke the share link. Revoked links stop working immediately.
Do share links expire? Only if you set an expiry. You can also add a password and turn downloads on or off.
Previews, editing, and versions
Which files can I preview in the browser? Text, Markdown, CSV/TSV, and code files render as formatted previews (first 2 MB); common images display inline. PDFs, video, and office documents download instead.
Can I edit files in StretchDrive? Yes — text and Markdown files open in StretchDocs, and CSV files open in StretchSheets, via Open in editor.
How do I go back to an earlier version? Open the file's Version history, pick the version, and choose Restore. Every version is kept, so nothing is lost.
Storage and recovery
How much storage do I get? 15 GB on Core/Starter/Free, 50 GB on Pro, 150 GB on Agency — shared across the whole organization.
I hit my quota — what now? Delete files you don't need, then empty Trash to reclaim space permanently, or upgrade the plan. Prune old versions too, since they count toward usage.
I deleted something — can I get it back? Yes, from Trash, until you permanently delete or empty it. Deleting a folder trashes its contents together, and restoring brings them back together.
Is my data isolated from other companies? Yes — every file belongs to one organization, storage is partitioned per tenant, and storage locations are never exposed to the browser.
Tips
- Share folders (not individual files) for ongoing access, thanks to inheritance.
- Use groups for permissions so access follows team membership.
- Preview before downloading to save time.
- Empty Trash deliberately — it's the step that frees quota and permanently removes data.
- Set expiry and passwords on any link that leaves your organization.
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