Share OneDrive files and folders

Go to the OneDrive website and sign in with your Microsoft account or your work or school account.
Sign in

Pick the files or folders you want to share by selecting its circle icon.

Select Share  at the top of the page.

Select Copy Link to copy the link.

To change the link permissions, select the settings gear icon, 

• Anyone gives access to anyone who receives this link, whether they receive it directly from you or forwarded from someone else. This may include people outside of your organization.

• People in <Your Organization> with the link gives anyone in your organization who has the link access to the file, whether they receive it directly from you or forwarded from someone else.

• People with existing access can be used by people who already have access to the document or folder. It does not change any permissions. Use this if you just want to send a link to somebody who already has access. 

• Specific people gives access only to the people you specify, although other people may already have access. If people forward the sharing invitation, only people who already have access to the item will be able to use the link.

  Notes: 

  • When sharing to a security or Microsoft 365 group with a "People in <Your Organization>" link, recipients must click on the link before they can access the item.

  • If a sharing option has been greyed out, your organization's admins may have restricted them. For example, they may choose to disable the Anyone option to prevent usable links being forwarded to others outside your organization.

Under Other settings, you can set any of the following options:

• Allow editing lets people who are signed in with a Microsoft Account edit the files or folders they have access to. If you're sharing a folder, people with Edit permissions can copy, move, edit, rename, share, and delete anything in the folder they have access to. Unchecking this box means that people can view, copy, or download your items without signing in. They can also forward the link to other people. However, they cannot make changes to the version on your OneDrive.

  Notes: 

  • Allow editing is turned on by default.

  • You can also set editing permissions on the previous screen by selecting the pencil icon to the right of the names you're sharing the file with. 

• Block download prevents people from downloading the file or folders they have access to. Unchecking this box means that people can download the files onto their devices. 

• Set expiration date lets you set a date for the link to expire. After the date you set, the link won't work anymore and you will need to create a new link for users requiring access to your file or folder.

  Notes: 

  • Only available to Microsoft 365 subscribers.

  • You can set expiration date for OneDrive folders only to Anyone sharing.

• Set password lets you set a password to access the file. When a user clicks the link, they will be prompted to enter a password before they can access the file. You'll need to provide this password separately to anyone you want to share the file with.

  Notes: 

  • Only available to Microsoft 365 subscribers.

  • You can set password for OneDrive folders only to Anyone sharing.

• Open in review mode only limits people to leaving comments and making suggestions on the file. 

  Notes: 

  • Only Word documents / files have this permission option.

  • If someone already has editing permissions for the document, selecting Open in review mode only will not prevent them from making edits. For them, the document will open in edit mode.

Once you have set all your link settings and permissions, select Apply. 

Select Copy and then select Send.

Paste the link and send the link where you want to send it, like an email, message, or post.

Go to the OneDrive website and sign in with your Microsoft account or your work or school account.
​​​​​​​Sign in

Pick the files or folders you want to share by selecting its circle icon.

Select Share  at the top of the page.

Select the settings gear icon  to open the link settings.

If you're using OneDrive for work or school, you can change the link permissions. Otherwise, skip this step.

Select an option for who you want to give access to with the link:

1. Anyone gives access to anyone who receives this link, whether they receive it directly from you or forwarded from someone else. This may include people outside of your organization.

2. People in <Your Organization> with the link gives anyone in your organization who has the link access to the file, whether they receive it directly from you or forwarded from someone else.

3. People with existing access can be used by people who already have access to the document or folder. It does not change any permissions. Use this if you just want to send a link to somebody who already has access. 

4. Specific people gives access only to the people you specify, although other people may already have access. If people forward the sharing invitation, only people who already have access to the item will be able to use the link.

   Notes: 

   • To track access and ensure security, you can only share with someone who is in your organization or has a Microsoft Account.

   • If a sharing option has been greyed out, your organization's admins may have restricted them. For example, they may choose to disable the Anyone option to prevent usable links being forwarded to others outside your organization.

   • If your Microsoft account is set with Family Safety, and your parent has turned off contact management, you can only share items with people who are already on your contact list.

Under More settings, you can set any of the following options:

• Allow editing lets people who are signed in with a Microsoft Account edit the files or folders they have access to. If you're sharing a folder, people with Edit permissions can copy, move, edit, rename, share, and delete anything in the folder they have access to. Unchecking this box means that people can view, copy, or download your items without signing in. They can also forward the link to other people. However, they cannot make changes to the version on your OneDrive.

  Notes: 

  • Allow editing is turned on by default.

  • You can also set editing permissions on the previous screen. Under Send link, next to the Name, group or email field, select the pencil icon to change the editing permissions for the people or groups you have entered. 

• Block download prevents people from downloading the file or folders they have access to. Unchecking this box means that people can download the files onto their devices. 

  Note: This option is only available for work or school accounts and if you don't allow editing.

• Set expiration date lets you set a date for the link to expire. After the date you set, the link won't work anymore and you will need to create a new link for users requiring access to your file or folder.

  Notes: 

  • Only available to Microsoft 365 subscribers.

  • You can set expiration date for OneDrive folders only to Anyone sharing.

• Set password lets you set a password to access the file. When a user clicks the link, they will be prompted to enter a password before they can access the file. You'll need to provide this password separately to anyone you want to share the file with.

  Notes: 

  • Only available to Microsoft 365 subscribers.

  • You can set password for OneDrive folders only to Anyone sharing.

• Open in review mode only limits people to leaving comments and making suggestions on the file. 

  Notes: 

  • Only Word documents and files have this permission option.

  • If someone already has editing permissions for the document, selecting Open in review mode only will not prevent them from making edits. For them, the document will open in edit mode.

Once you have set all your link settings and permissions, select Apply. 

In the Name, group or email field, start typing the email addresses or contact names of people you want to share with. When you begin to enter info in the box, you can also choose a contact from the list that appears.

Include a message below the Name, group or email field, if you want.

Select Send.