Fix Safari Downloading Empty GUID Files from SharePoint Folders
Question details
Safari users receive a small, empty file with a GUID-like name when opening a shared read-only SharePoint folder.
- Product
- SharePoint / Safari
- Device & OS
- Mac, iPhone (iOS/macOS)
- Scenario
- Accessing a shared SharePoint folder with read-only permissions via the Safari browser.
- Observed behavior
- Safari automatically downloads an empty file named with a GUID instead of simply rendering the folder contents, unlike Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox.
Ensure that you have the exact SharePoint link being accessed and test it in an alternative browser to confirm the issue is isolated to Safari's security handling.
Troubleshoot Safari Compatibility and Folder Upload Methods
Verify how the folder was originally uploaded and document your environment to resolve Safari-specific security handling of hidden downloads.
Because this issue specifically targets users on macOS and iOS devices utilizing Safari, it is highly likely a compatibility or strict security issue involving a hidden background download. Safari's rendering engine may occasionally misinterpret SharePoint's synchronization requests.
Open the same SharePoint share link using Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Microsoft Edge. If the folder opens normally without downloading an empty GUID file, the issue is confirmed to be isolated to Safari.
Determine if the shared folder was uploaded directly to the SharePoint document library or if the share link was created from a synchronized OneDrive folder on a desktop. Direct uploads to the SharePoint web interface often bypass background synchronization glitches.
Ensure your Mac or iPhone is running the latest version of macOS or iOS. Older Safari versions may incorrectly handle SharePoint background API requests as hidden file downloads.
If the issue persists, take screenshots of the downloaded file and document your exact macOS, iOS, SharePoint, and OneDrive versions. Provide these details to your Microsoft 365 administrator or IT support to escalate the compatibility bug.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Safari download an empty file from SharePoint?
Safari sometimes misinterprets background data requests or hidden folder-sync triggers in SharePoint as downloadable files due to its strict security handling mechanisms. This results in the automatic download of a small, empty file with a GUID name.
What is a GUID-named file?
A GUID (Globally Unique Identifier) is a 32-character alphanumeric string used by Microsoft systems to uniquely identify files, folders, or synchronization tasks. In this scenario, Safari is incorrectly downloading a system identifier file instead of rendering the target folder.
How can read-only users access the SharePoint folder without this issue?
Read-only users can easily bypass this Safari-specific issue by opening the shared SharePoint link using an alternative web browser, such as Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, or Mozilla Firefox on their Mac or iPhone.
