File Sharing Problems

Can External OneDrive Users Move Files with an Edit Link?

Chanuka Geekiyanage Oct 7, 2026 870 views

Question details

Users need to know if external guests can move files between subfolders in OneDrive using an edit link, particularly without requiring the guest to create a Microsoft account.

Can External OneDrive Users Move Files with an Edit Link?

Product: Microsoft OneDrive
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Sharing OneDrive folders with external users and granting them permission to reorganize or move files between subfolders.
Observed behavior: External guests with edit permissions may face restrictions when attempting to move files, depending on the link type used, tenant sharing policies, or organizational identity-verification requirements.

Before you start

You will need administrative access to the Microsoft 365 or SharePoint Admin Center to verify your organization's external sharing policies before troubleshooting individual folder permissions.

Solution 1Recommended

Configure External Sharing in SharePoint Admin Center

Tenant-level settings may block external guests from moving files. Administrators must verify that the organization's sharing policies allow anonymous or guest editing.

By default, edit permissions allow users to read, create, modify, and move files. However, organizational security policies often restrict these actions for external users.

To allow external users to move files seamlessly, an administrator must ensure the tenant policies permit external editing and, if required, anonymous links.

Open SharePoint Admin Center

Navigate to Sharing Policies

In the left navigation pane, expand 'Policies' and select 'Sharing'.

Adjust External Sharing Settings

Under the 'External sharing' section, adjust the slider for both SharePoint and OneDrive to 'Anyone' (for no sign-in required) or 'New and existing guests' depending on your organizational needs.

Save Changes

Scroll to the bottom of the page, click 'Save', and allow time for the policy changes to propagate across your tenant.

Configure External Sharing in SharePoint Admin Center

Solution 2

Generate an Appropriate Edit Link in OneDrive

If you want external users to move files without creating a Microsoft account, you must use an 'Anyone' link with edit permissions enabled.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the 'Anyone' sharing option greyed out in my OneDrive?

The 'Anyone' link option is greyed out when your organization's SharePoint admin center has restricted external sharing. An administrator must change the tenant-level policy to allow anonymous links.

Does moving files with an edit link change the file's original permissions?

Yes, when an external user moves a file between shared subfolders, the file inherits the permissions of the destination folder. If they move the file outside of the shared scope, they may lose access to it entirely.

Can external users move files without signing into a Microsoft account?

Yes, provided the folder was shared using an 'Anyone with the link can edit' link. However, enterprise policies can strictly require identity verification, forcing guests to authenticate via a one-time passcode or an active Microsoft account.

Document & File Issues