Forum Discussion
Your SharePoint Sharing Might Break in 2026
A major change is coming and it’s not getting enough attention.
Microsoft is moving away from simple OTP sharing and shifting to full Entra B2B. It sounds like a security upgrade, but it completely changes how external access works.
This isn’t a small tweak:
Existing sharing links may stop working as expected
External users will go through new authentication flows
Access will rely heavily on identity and guest policies
Yes, you get better control and visibility but also more friction if your setup isn’t ready.
If your organization relies on quick sharing links, this could become a real issue fast.
Curious how others are handling this:
Are you already using Entra B2B?
Seeing any access or adoption issues?
How are you balancing security vs usability?
1 Reply
The key correction is that OTP itself is not being retired. SharePoint is replacing its legacy OTP identity model with Microsoft Entra B2B, which can still use email OTP for guest authentication. Existing links remain usable when the recipient has a matching Entra B2B guest account, while recipients without one may receive access denied starting July 2026. Anyone or anonymous links are not affected. Administrators should use SharePoint external sharing reports to identify affected recipients, create missing guest accounts, and validate Conditional Access, cross tenant access, domain restrictions, and guest invitation policies before rollout.
