How to Deliver PDF and MP3
Files in Moodle Using Google Drive (Without Showing the Direct Link)
Are you creating an online course but don’t have
enough storage on your educational platform?
Do you want to share files like PDFs or MP3 audios with your students without
letting them download them for free or share them around?
This post is your practical and free solution.
Today, you’ll learn how to use Google Drive to host your files and
then insert them into Moodle without showing the direct link to
students.
It’s not bulletproof security—but it's more than enough to protect your
materials from misuse.
Why Use Google Drive with
Moodle?
Moodle—especially if you're
using platforms like MooDIY—comes with very little storage space (as
little as 1 GB in some cases). And if you offer multiple levels or a lot of
resources, that space runs out quickly.
Google Drive
gives you:
- 15 GB of free storage per account
- Uploading of PDFs and MP3s without restrictions
- Controlled access (you decide who sees it)
- And best of all: No ads for your students
Step-by-Step: How to Host
Files on Google Drive and Use Them in Moodle
1. Upload Your File to Google
Drive
- Go to https://drive.google.com
- Click “New” > “File
upload”
- Select your PDF or MP3 and wait for the upload to
complete
2. Set the File to “Anyone
with the Link”
This step makes the file accessible—but not yet visible inside Moodle.
- Right-click the file
- Click “Get link”
- Change access from “Restricted” to “Anyone
with the link”
- Copy the link
3. (Optional but Useful)
Convert the Link into a Direct Download Link
The default Google Drive link looks like this:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AbCDEFGHIJKLM/view?usp=sharing
To make Moodle open it as a direct download (bypassing the Google Viewer),
change it like this:
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=download&id=1AbCDEFGHIJKLM
You just need to copy the file ID and insert it into this new
structure.
4. Insert the Link in Moodle
as a “URL Resource” or Embed It
Option 1: Use the Link as a Downloadable
Resource
- Go to your course in Moodle
- Click “Turn editing on”
- Click “Add an activity or resource”
- Select “URL” and click “Add”
- In the Name field, write something like “Download
PDF Level 1”
- In External URL, paste your modified link (from
step 3)
- Save changes
Option 2: Embed the File (Without Showing the
Link)
If you'd rather students view the file directly in the platform
without seeing the link:
- Open the file in Google Drive
- Click “Open with Google Viewer”
- Click the three-dot icon (⋮) and
choose “Embed item”
- Copy the <iframe>...</iframe> code
- In Moodle, add a “Label” or “Page”
- Paste the code in the HTML view (</> or
“source code” button)
This way, they see the content—but not the link.
BONUS: How to Prevent Students
from Sharing the Link
Although this method doesn’t fully block access sharing, it makes it
significantly harder:
- You don’t give students the direct file link
- The file is embedded inside Moodle, not
shared externally
- Only logged-in students can see it
- Add a usage policy in your course terms to
protect yourself even more
Conclusion: Simple, Free, and
Effective Protection for Your Digital Resources
You don’t need to pay for premium services or deal with complicated
systems.
Using Google Drive + Moodle, you can professionally deliver premium
content without exposing yourself to mass theft of your work.
Perfect for independent educators, small
academies, or digital course creators.
✍ Author:
AJC_IDEAS – Strategies to teach online, build courses from scratch, and
earn money without complications.
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