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External Access to Sharepoint Problem
Apologies, I am not technical and I am struggling to solve an issue with an external user that I am trying to grant access to a folder. They get the link and are shown as sharing on the file but they can't gain access without a password. This is not a condition that I have set?
This whole experience has been a bit of a nightmare, if I were techie then I have the feeling I would understand the advice and could solve the issue, but nothing seems written in plain english for a lay person!
1 Reply
When an external user tries to open a SharePoint link, Microsoft asks them for a verification code. Some people think it’s a password, but it’s not, it’s just a one‑time code to confirm their identity.
You didn’t turn this on. It’s automatically built into SharePoint for security.
Here’s what the external user normally experiences:
- They click the link you shared
- They enter the same email address you shared it with
- Microsoft emails them a one‑time verification code
- They enter the code and get access
This is how Microsoft checks that the right person is opening the link.
Why the user might not be able to access
1. They’re using a different email address
If you shared with email address removed for privacy reasons, but they try to open it using email address removed for privacy reasons, it won’t work.
2. The verification code email went to spam/junk
This is extremely common.
3. Their organisation blocks external sharing
Some companies have strict IT rules that prevent employees from opening external links.
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