Forum Discussion
Karen Pierson
Sep 17, 2018Copper Contributor
External users can't open documents in desktop application
Hi all! We are having issues with external users not being able to open a shared doc in the desktop program - they can only edit/view in the browser. The "Open in Xprogram" button isn't even an optio...
- Sep 18, 2018
Hi all,
This behavior is expected (external users not getting the "Open in Office" option) whenever the external user is authenticating via the new one time passcode (OTP) method. You can see a better overview here: Documentation
There are two states an external user can be in today: If they are authenticating via OTP, then they do not have a real AAD account and thus cannot open in clients. This occurs when you share a file or folder with an external user who is not in your directory (i.e. they have never been shared to before).
Inviting a user to a site or a group or using the Azure B2B platform will create an account in AAD for the guest user. These users must have an MSA or AAD account to sign-in with to accept the invitation. They can use Office apps.
This is definitely something we're looking to improve and I definitely suggest you check out the "What's new in External Sharing & Collaboration with OneDrive & SharePoint" talk at Ignite next week ;)
baptistequidet
Aug 02, 2022Copper Contributor
Seriously, I'm shocked this issue is still going on.
We cannot share a document to external people, so what, are we supposed to work only with people from our organization, what is that ?
This tool is really s.. pardon my french Im french.
I look like stupid in front of my clients and providers.
It says in the sharepoint we can share with specific people, why isn't there an option to share with everyone who has the link?
I decide who I want to send it to.
We cannot share a document to external people, so what, are we supposed to work only with people from our organization, what is that ?
This tool is really s.. pardon my french Im french.
I look like stupid in front of my clients and providers.
It says in the sharepoint we can share with specific people, why isn't there an option to share with everyone who has the link?
I decide who I want to send it to.
- MagnusGoksoyrOLDProfileAug 02, 2022Bronze Contributor
baptistequidet This thread is a good mix of different challenges. Both "Sharing" and copying links are mentioned here. It also contains dialogs about linked files and relationships between files that may have different permission settings. Most of this has already been answered and most of the mentioned issues are about different configuration settings at the different companies asking the question and/or experiencing challenges.
The challenge you mention is probably not related to the original question in this thread. If you, in your organization, cannot share documents with external people (guests), it is most likely because your organization does not allow it in the central sharing settings. There is also the option to enable the functionality to share with anyone who has the link but this is something that most people, for quite understandable reasons, choose not to enable. It's not hard to open everything up but it brings other, less desired, challenges.
The best solution for you is probably to have a chat with those in your organization who are responsible for your configuration of Microsoft 365. They can certainly answer why your settings are the way they are. Kind regards, Magnus
- baptistequidetAug 02, 2022Copper Contributor
Thanks for your reply.
First point, most of the issues has been already replied, but most of the issues are still going on in online sharepoint, so my message is worth keeping in the conversation.
Second, you mentioned my message is not related to original question. I am pretty sure I face the same issue, and the people I send shared link are not able to access the file, even after writing in the access list their email address. You are mentioning that my organization is not allowing file to be accessed outside. Good news, I am the organization, so I should be aware of that, but in reality not.
Why is there an option saying to share links with specific people, if there is another setting somewhere else ( the organization ) that prevents sharing link ? How come we have a button stating something in onedrive, which is not actually executing the task it intends to ?I understand that there are multiple layers in the AAD or Microsoft 365 application accesses, though it is clear that the control over all those application is not defined very well. You cannot show to a user a specific action, if in reality, it is dependent of another action. So you should map all dependencies and make you don't give wrong information.
What is very obvious is that you expect your customers to test your applications that are not well designed, and you expect customers to raise all the bugs.
Very frustrating coming from a top tech company, sorry to say that.
- MagnusGoksoyrOLDProfileAug 02, 2022Bronze Contributor
Hello again baptistequidet
For it to be easier for me to understand, it would be nice if you could make a step-by-step description (preferably with screenshots) that shows how you do it and shows what it is that then doesn't work. Then I can see more clearly whether it is about "Sharing" or link copying and it will hopefully be easier for me to see and understand and be able to come up with some tips on possible settings that you may have to adjust. (sorry if I can be perceived as a bit slow-witted, but I have to excuse myself by saying that I'm Swedishand that I don't work at Microsoft. I work a lot with Microsoft 365 for many companies/organisations and I'm just a regular contributor to hopefully good solutions in this forum). Lets see if we can solve this together.