OneDrive for Business external sharing links send users to request access for external guests: Fix Guide

When you share a file or folder from OneDrive for Business with an external guest, the recipient might see a Request Access page instead of the content. This happens even though you set the link to Anyone or Specific people. The problem is usually caused by a mismatch between the sharing link type and the tenant-wide external sharing policy, or a missing guest account in Microsoft Entra ID. This guide explains the root causes and provides step-by-step fixes so your external recipients can open shared OneDrive links without seeing a request access prompt.

Why External Guests See a Request Access Page for Shared OneDrive Links

The Request Access page appears when the external guest does not have a valid guest account in your Microsoft Entra ID, or when the sharing link type does not match the tenant policy for external sharing. OneDrive for Business uses Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD) to authenticate external users. If the recipient is not already added as a guest in your directory, they are prompted to request access instead of seeing the file.

Another common cause is the Anyone link type being disabled at the tenant level. Even if you select Anyone in the OneDrive share dialog, the tenant policy might restrict sharing to New and existing guests or Existing guests only. In those cases, the system treats the link as a Specific people link and requires the recipient to be authenticated as a guest.

Additionally, if the sharing link has an expiration date or a password set, external guests who do not meet those conditions will also see the request access screen. The fix involves checking three areas: the tenant-level sharing policy, the link type you are sending, and the guest account status in Microsoft Entra ID.

Steps to Fix External Sharing Links That Redirect to Request Access

Method 1: Use the Anyone Link Type for Unauthenticated External Access

The Anyone link type allows external users to open the file without signing in or having a guest account. This bypasses the request access screen entirely. Use this method when you want to share with people outside your organization who do not need to be added as guests.

1. Open the OneDrive file or folder
   Navigate to the item you want to share in OneDrive for Business. Click the circle to the left of the item to select it.
2. Click the Share button
   In the toolbar at the top of the OneDrive page, click Share. The share dialog opens.
3. Change link settings
   In the share dialog, click the gear icon or the link settings dropdown. If you see a link type listed, click it to open the link settings panel.
4. Select Anyone with the link
   In the link settings panel, choose Anyone with the link. This option means anyone who receives the link can open the file without authentication.
5. Set permissions and expiration
   Use the dropdown to choose Can view or Can edit. Set an expiration date if needed. Click Apply.
6. Copy and send the link
   Click Copy and paste the link into an email or message. The recipient will now open the file directly without seeing a request access page.

Method 2: Add the External Guest to Microsoft Entra ID Before Sharing

If you must use the Specific people link type, add the guest to your Microsoft Entra ID first. This ensures the recipient is recognized and authenticated when they click the link.

1. Open the Microsoft 365 admin center
   Go to admin.microsoft.com and sign in with a Global Administrator or User Administrator account.
2. Go to Users > Active users
   In the left navigation, expand Users and click Active users. Then click the Guest users tab at the top.
3. Add a new guest user
   Click Add guest user. Enter the external recipient’s email address and a display name. You can optionally include a message.
4. Send the invitation
   Click Send invitation. The guest will receive an email with a link to accept the invitation. They must accept before they can access any shared items.
5. Wait for acceptance and then share
   After the guest accepts the invitation, share the OneDrive file using the Specific people link type. Enter the guest’s email address in the share dialog. The link will now open without a request access prompt.

Method 3: Adjust the Tenant-Level External Sharing Policy

If the Anyone option is missing or grayed out in the share dialog, the tenant policy restricts it. You can change the policy in the SharePoint admin center, which also controls OneDrive sharing.

1. Open the SharePoint admin center
   Go to admin.microsoft.com/SharePoint and sign in with a SharePoint Administrator or Global Administrator account.
2. Go to Policies > Sharing
   In the left navigation, click Policies and then click Sharing. This page controls external sharing for SharePoint and OneDrive.
3. Select the OneDrive sharing option
   Under External sharing, find the OneDrive section. Choose Anyone to allow unauthenticated sharing. If you need more control, select New and existing guests to allow authenticated sharing with any external user, or Existing guests to restrict sharing to users already in your directory.
4. Set link expiration and permissions
   Below the external sharing level, configure the default link type, expiration days, and permission options. For example, set Anyone links to expire after 30 days and allow only view permissions.
5. Click Save
   Click Save at the bottom of the page. The new policy applies to all OneDrive sites within 15 minutes. Users may need to sign out and sign back in for the changes to appear in the share dialog.

If External Guests Still See Request Access After These Fixes

The Guest Account Has Not Accepted the Invitation

When you add a guest via Microsoft Entra ID, the guest must click the acceptance link in the invitation email before they can access shared content. If they try to open the shared link before accepting, they see a request access page. Ask the guest to check their email inbox for the invitation from Microsoft and click Accept. After that, the shared link will work.

The Sharing Link Has Expired or Requires a Password

If you set an expiration date on the sharing link and the guest tries to open it after that date, OneDrive redirects them to a request access page. Similarly, if you set a password on the link and the guest does not enter the correct password, they see the same page. Create a new link without an expiration or password, or share the correct password separately.

The Recipient Uses a Personal Email Address That Conflicts with a Work Account

Some external users have a personal Microsoft account that uses the same email address as their work account. When they click the link, OneDrive might try to authenticate them with the wrong identity. Ask the guest to open a private browser window or sign out of all Microsoft accounts before clicking the link. Then they can sign in with the account that received the invitation.

Anyone Link vs Specific People Link for External Guests: Key Differences

Item	Anyone Link	Specific People Link
Authentication required	None	Guest must have a Microsoft Entra ID account and accept invitation
Guest account needed	No	Yes, must be added and accepted before access
Request access page	Does not appear	Appears if guest has not accepted invitation or account is missing
Best for	Quick sharing with anyone outside your org	Controlled sharing with known external collaborators
Tenant policy control	Must be enabled at tenant level	Works with New and existing guests or Existing guests policies

After reviewing and adjusting your tenant policy, link type, and guest account status, external recipients should open your shared OneDrive links without seeing the request access page. For ongoing collaboration, consider using the Specific people link with a pre-invited guest account to maintain control over who accesses your files. If you frequently share with external users, set a default link type of Anyone with a short expiration to balance convenience and security.