Allow Shared Link Recipients to Change Permissions (Edit → View Only)
Doug Adams
Feature Request: Allow Shared Link Recipients to Change Permissions (Edit → View Only)
Context:
I build on the Gamma API and currently distribute generated presentations as view-only links. Edit via API isn't available yet, but I realized there's actually a simpler path that would solve the same problem.
The idea:
If I set a generated gamma to allow editing, the person receiving the link can open it in the Gamma app and customize it themselves. That's a great flow. The issue is what happens next — when they're done editing and want to share it with their own clients, they have no way to change the permission from edit to view only before forwarding the link. Sharing settings are controlled by the originating account, not the recipient.
What I'm asking for:
Allow link recipients who have edit access to downgrade the sharing permission to view only when they're ready to forward it. Nothing broader than that — just edit → view only, so they can clean up the link before it goes further.
Why this matters:
The demand to edit would be high in this flow. To edit a gamma you need a Gamma account — even a free one — so this would naturally push a large number of link recipients into the Gamma ecosystem. That's a real acquisition driver.
It also effectively solves the "edit via API" need for my use case. I don't need API-level editing if my users can edit themselves and control the permissions before sharing downstream. The flow works — it just needs that one permission handoff.
Nik Payne (Gamma design)
Doug Adams this is super thoughtful, and I totally get the workflow: you want recipients to be able to do their edits, then “lock it down” to view-only before they pass it to their clients. I’ll pass this along to the team.
Quick clarifier so we design it right: when they downgrade to view-only, should that apply just to that specific shared link, or should it change the doc’s sharing setting globally for everyone who has the link? Also, do you want the recipient to be able to re-upgrade back to edit later, or strictly one-way edit → view-only?
Doug Adams
Nik Payne (Gamma design) i think it would apply to everyone who has the link from that point on - only the first recipient would have the sbility to change.
I expect it would be a default setting the original account holder has as an option - currently i can seledt a few permissions (view, edit/comment, etc), it would just be an additional permission (allow first recipient to adjust permissions).
There are several use cases particularly via links delivered via api where logically only that first recipient would like to edit and be in control of permissions, then no one else after that.
I think that user would be able to change it back to edit (in case they want to make additional edits), but most likely would edit however they like and then share to whoevever else.
Basically the original account owner is passing the permissions settings onto the first link recipient to control.
Nik Payne (Gamma design)
Doug Adams: Thanks! I passed this along to the API/connectors pm