How can you share a Google Drive file with someone who does not have a Google account?

Sharing a Google Drive file with someone who does not have a Google account can be effectively accomplished by creating a shareable link. This method allows anyone with the link to access the file, regardless of whether they have a Google account. When you generate a shareable link, you can adjust the permissions to determine if the recipient can view, comment on, or edit the file. This flexibility makes it easy to collaborate with users who may not have a Google identity.

In contrast, sending an email invitation requires the recipient to have a Google account to accept and access the shared file. Exporting the file as a PDF simply converts it into a different format and does not facilitate the sharing process with a non-Google account holder. Uploading the file to a public folder does make it publicly accessible, but it's less targeted than shareable links since it might not be discernible to the intended recipient unless they know where to look. Thus, creating a shareable link is the most straightforward and effective method for sharing files with someone who does not have a Google account.