Permission & Access Issues

Fix the Anyone Sharing Option Disabled Issue in SharePoint

Muhammad Talha Oct 21, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to share a file or folder using an anonymous link, but the option to allow anyone with the link to access it is unavailable.

How to Fix the Anyone Sharing Option Disabled Issue in SharePoint

Product: Microsoft SharePoint / OneDrive
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to share a document or folder with external users who do not have a Microsoft account.
Observed behavior: The 'Anyone with the link' option is greyed out, disabled, or completely missing in the sharing dialog box.

Before you start

You must have Microsoft 365 Administrator or SharePoint Administrator privileges to modify organization-level and site-level external sharing policies.

Solution 1Recommended

Adjust Organization-Level External Sharing Settings

Enable anonymous sharing links across your Microsoft 365 organization so that the option becomes globally available.

If the highest level of sharing is restricted in your Microsoft 365 tenant, the 'Anyone' option will be blocked for all SharePoint sites and OneDrive accounts, regardless of individual site settings.

Access SharePoint Admin Center

Navigate to Sharing Policies

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

Change Sharing Level

Under the 'External sharing' section, drag the sliders for both SharePoint and OneDrive up to 'Anyone' (the most permissive level).

Save Changes

Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click 'Save' to apply the new organization-wide sharing policy.

Adjust Organization-Level External Sharing Settings

Propagation Time: It may take a few minutes for the updated sharing policies to propagate across all SharePoint sites and OneDrive accounts.

Solution 2

Enable 'Anyone' Links at the Site Level

Configure the specific SharePoint site's sharing settings to allow anonymous guest links.

Solution 3

Deactivate Limited-Access User Permission Lockdown Mode

Turn off the site collection feature that prevents anonymous users from accessing application pages and shared documents.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the 'Anyone' link greyed out in OneDrive but works in SharePoint?

OneDrive has its own external sharing settings in the Microsoft 365 admin center. Even if SharePoint allows 'Anyone' links globally, OneDrive's sharing level might be set to a more restrictive level, such as 'New and existing guests'. An administrator must adjust the OneDrive slider to match SharePoint.

Can a regular user fix the disabled Anyone sharing option?

No, regular users do not have the necessary permissions to change these settings. You must contact your Microsoft 365 or SharePoint Administrator to adjust the organization-level or site-level sharing policies.

Does disabling Limited-access user permission lockdown mode affect site security?

Yes, deactivating this feature allows users to share files and folders anonymously if the broader sharing settings permit it. Administrators should evaluate their organization's security and compliance policies before making this change.

Document & File Issues