Permission & Access Issues

Fix SharePoint Share with Anyone Link Disabled for Editors

Olivia Miller Oct 9, 2026 868 views

Question details

SharePoint users with standard Edit permissions are unable to generate anonymous "Share with anyone" links for documents and folders.

How to Fix SharePoint "Share with Anyone" Link Disabled for Editors

Product: Microsoft SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: A user is trying to create an anonymous external sharing link from a SharePoint site to share a file with external clients.
Observed behavior: The "Share with anyone" option is disabled or greyed out for users who only have Edit permissions, despite both tenant and site sharing policies allowing external sharing.

Before you start

Ensure you have SharePoint Administrator or Site Owner privileges before attempting to modify site permission levels and sharing policies.

Solution 1Recommended

Modify the Edit Permission Level in Site Settings

Adjust the default Edit permission level to allow users to manage permissions, which is technically required to generate anonymous sharing links.

The primary cause for this issue is that standard Edit permissions do not include the rights to manage permissions. To create an anonymous link, SharePoint requires the user to have permission to share access. By updating the Edit permission level, editors will regain this ability.

Access Site Permissions

Navigate to your SharePoint site, click the Gear icon (Settings) in the top right, and select 'Site permissions'. Then click 'Advanced permissions settings'.

Open Permission Levels

In the ribbon menu under the Permissions tab, click on the 'Permission Levels' button.

Edit the Permission Level

Click on the 'Edit' permission level from the list to open its specific settings and configuration options.

Enable Manage Permissions

Scroll down the list of site permissions, check the box next to 'Manage Permissions', and click 'Submit' or 'Save' at the bottom of the page.

Modify the Edit Permission Level in Site Settings

Security Consideration: Granting 'Manage Permissions' allows these users to alter site access levels. If you want stricter control, consider creating a custom permission level specifically for external sharing.

Solution 2

Verify Tenant and Site External Sharing Policies

Ensure that the global and site-specific external sharing settings in the Microsoft 365 admin center are properly configured to allow anonymous links.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is 'Share with anyone' greyed out for some users but not others?

This typically occurs because users with Full Control or Owner access natively have the rights to manage permissions. Users with standard Edit permissions lack the 'Manage Permissions' right required by SharePoint to create anonymous external links.

Does enabling 'Manage Permissions' for Editors pose a security risk?

Yes, granting 'Manage Permissions' allows those users to change site access levels for others. It is recommended to grant only the minimum required access or create a custom permission level specifically tailored for external sharing to minimize security risks.

How do I enable external sharing globally in Microsoft 365?

To enable global external sharing, go to the Microsoft 365 admin center, navigate to the SharePoint admin center, select Policies, then Sharing, and adjust the external sharing slider to allow 'Anyone' links for both SharePoint and OneDrive.

Document & File Issues