How to Allow External Users to Upload Files in Microsoft Forms
Question details
Users need to collect file attachments from respondents outside their organization, but adding a file upload question to Microsoft Forms restricts the form to internal members only.
- Product
- Microsoft Forms
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Creating a public form meant to collect documents or images from external clients, partners, or anonymous users without corporate accounts.
- Observed behavior
- The 'Anyone can respond' option is immediately disabled and greyed out as soon as a File Upload question type is added to the form.
Verify that your organization's SharePoint or OneDrive sharing settings allow the creation of 'Anyone' links, as this is required to request files from external users.
Use a OneDrive File Request Link (Workaround)
Since native file uploads in Microsoft Forms are strictly limited to internal users, you can embed a secure public OneDrive File Request link directly inside your form's description.
Microsoft intentionally restricts the native file upload feature to organizational accounts to protect corporate storage environments. To bypass this without compromising security, you can utilize OneDrive's 'Request Files' feature, which allows external users to safely drop files into a designated folder without needing a Microsoft account.
Log into your Microsoft OneDrive account. Click on the 'New' button at the top and create a new folder specifically for receiving these external file uploads.
Select your newly created folder, click on the three-dot menu (More options), and choose 'Request files'. Enter a descriptive prompt (e.g., 'Please upload your documents here') and click 'Next'.
OneDrive will automatically generate a secure sharing link that allows anyone to upload files to this folder without seeing its contents. Click 'Copy link' to save it to your clipboard.
Open your Microsoft Form. Instead of selecting a 'File Upload' question, add a standard 'Text' question. In the question's subtitle or description field, paste the OneDrive file request link and instruct users to click it to upload their files before submitting the form.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Microsoft Forms block external file uploads?
Microsoft restricts this feature by default to prevent unauthorized or malicious files from being uploaded anonymously into a company's OneDrive or SharePoint storage. Requiring organizational login ensures accountability and safety.
Can I change the Microsoft Forms admin settings to allow external uploads?
No. Even if your Microsoft 365 tenant administrator allows global external sharing for OneDrive and SharePoint, the native file upload question inside Microsoft Forms is hard-coded to disable anonymous responses.
Where are the files stored when using the OneDrive file request workaround?
Files uploaded via the OneDrive file request link are deposited directly into the specific folder you created in your personal or business OneDrive. The external uploaders cannot view or edit any files inside that folder.
Does the OneDrive request link require respondents to have a Microsoft account?
No. As long as your organization's sharing policies permit 'Anyone with the link' access, external respondents can upload files using the request link completely anonymously, without an Outlook, Hotmail, or corporate Microsoft account.
