How do you make a file in Teams private

Hi @Amy Stallings, 

Good day! Thank you for reaching out to Microsoft Q&A forum and sharing the issue you're experiencing. 

I understand you're looking to make a file private that currently lives in the General channel of your Microsoft Teams workspace. I’m happy to guide you through a solution that suits your situation. 

Unfortunately, in Microsoft Teams, there’s no way to restrict access to a single file within a standard channel like General. Here is some workarounds to make a file private: 

1. Move the File to a Private Channel 

This is the most straightforward way to control access. 

• Create a Private Channel within the same team (if not already created). 
• Go to the General channel > Files tab and locate the file. 
• Click the three dots (…) next to the file name and select “Open in SharePoint.” 
• In SharePoint, click “Move to” and choose the private channel’s folder. 
• Once moved, only members of the private channel will have access to the file. 

2. Adjust Permissions in SharePoint 

If you prefer to keep the file in its current location but limit access: 

• In the General channel’s Files tab, click “Open in SharePoint.” 
• Locate the file and click the three dots (…) > Manage Access. 
• Remove access for users who should no longer view the file. 
• Use “Grant Access” to share the file only with specific individuals. 

Please note: Changing permissions in SharePoint may affect how others interact with the file. We recommend informing your team to avoid confusion. 

3. Re-upload the File to OneDrive or a Private Folder 

This method is useful if you want to share the file privately without altering the original. 

• Download the file from the General channel. 
• Upload it to your OneDrive or a secure SharePoint folder. 
• Use the “Share” button to send it to specific people with view or edit permissions. 

If you need help choosing the best option or walking through the steps, I’d be happy to assist further. Please let me know what works best for you. 

Thank you again for your patience and for choosing Microsoft Q&A forum. Please let me know if there’s anything else I can assist you with. I’m here to support you every step of the way. 

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