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yojimbo's avatar
yojimbo
Copper Contributor
Jun 20, 2025

QUICK way to create a link to a file in a shared folder

I set up a folder in my OneDrive space to be sharable. I can see that all of the files in that folder are shared as well. which is good. However when I try to generate a URL link to one of those files, I still have to go through several steps in a popup dialog that asks "anybody" vs. "specific people" and "edit" vs. "view". (Both seem to default to the wrong thing.) I just want to use the permissions already established for the entire folder, and quickly copy a link that I can paste somewhere. I'd prefer that no dialog show up at all -- just a link that I can copy, with the same properties as the parent folder. Neither the "Share" nor the "Copy Link" choices in the context menu does this. I have to change the properties every time.

Is there any faster way to do this?

In case it matters, I am utilizing the features of the OneDrive application for MacOS, and its extensions to the Finder tool there.

 

files

3 Replies

  • NikolinoDE's avatar
    NikolinoDE
    Gold Contributor
    Jun 21, 2025

    OneDrive does not currently default to inherited folder sharing settings when generating a link for a file, even if the file is already inside a shared folder. This behavior applies to both Windows and macOS (as in your screenshot).

     

    The “Default Link Settings” Workaround Works In:

    Only in OneDrive Web Interface (Not Supported In OneDrive Desktop Sync App)

    URL: https://onedrive.live.com

    If you:

    1. Open OneDrive in your browser (Edge/Chrome)
    2. Click Settings→ Options or OneDrive Settings
    3. Find “Link sharing settings” (sometimes under "Sharing" or "More settings")
    4. Set:
    • Who can access: (e.g. Anyone, People in your org, Specific People)
    • Permission: (View or Edit)

    These will then apply automatically when you click "Share" → "Copy Link" from the web interface.

     

    Hope this helps you

    • yojimbo's avatar
      yojimbo
      Copper Contributor
      Jun 22, 2025

      Thank you, Nikolino. This sounded like a great solution. Unfortunately I could not find "OneDrive Settings" or "Link sharing" settings anywhere. I went to Settings->Options and found nothing there. (I was using Chrome.) If you think of anything else, do let me know. - JH

       

      • NikolinoDE's avatar
        NikolinoDE
        Gold Contributor
        Jun 25, 2025

        OneDrive on macOS via Finder (desktop app) does not honor inherited folder permissions when generating links to files, and it does not offer a way to change the default link settings in the app itself.

        Here is a Quick Method (Web Interface Workaround) you can try:

        Use the OneDrive Web Interface to set default link behavior — these defaults only apply in the web UI.

        How to Set It:

         1. Go to: https://onedrive.live.com

         2. Click the Gear Icon → OneDrive Settings

         3. Look for "Link sharing" under:

        • “Sharing”
        • Or “More settings”

        4. Set:

        • Who can access: e.g., "Anyone with the link"
        • Permission: "View" (or "Edit" if desired)

        These settings will now be the default when you click Share → Copy Link in the web interface. No more popups or extra steps — just a clean, ready-to-copy link.

         

        Platform

        Default Link Behavior Setting?

        Supports Fast Link Copy?

         

        Web

        Yes

        Yes

         

        macOS Finder App

        No

        No

        My Mac knowledge is limited, but I hope I could help 🙂.

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