Permission & Access Issues

How to Allow External Users to Upload Files to a SharePoint Library

Jason Miller Oct 21, 2026 868 views

Question details

Determine whether people without a Microsoft account can upload documents directly to an organization's SharePoint library and explore methods to facilitate this.

Can External Users Upload Files to a SharePoint Library?

Product: Microsoft SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Collaborating with external clients, partners, or vendors who need to submit files to a corporate SharePoint document library but do not have a company Microsoft account.
Observed behavior: External users are blocked from uploading files directly to the SharePoint library due to default tenant policies restricting anonymous or guest access.

Before you start

Verify your organization's data security and external sharing policies with your IT department before requesting or enabling external file uploads in Microsoft 365.

Solution 1Recommended

Method 1: Enable External Sharing and Guest Access via Administrator

Use this solution if you need external users to frequently upload files directly to SharePoint and your organization allows guest access.

By default, SharePoint restricts external uploads to protect organizational data. To allow external users to upload files, a SharePoint or Microsoft 365 Administrator must adjust the tenant-level external sharing settings.

Once the administrator enables 'Anyone' links or specific guest access with edit permissions, external users will be able to access the shared folder and upload files without needing a Microsoft account.

Contact your IT Administrator

Reach out to your Microsoft 365 or SharePoint administrator to request that external sharing be enabled for your specific SharePoint site or document library.

Configure Sharing Settings (For Admins)

Admins should navigate to the SharePoint Admin Center, select 'Policies' > 'Sharing', and adjust the external sharing slider to 'Anyone' or 'New and existing guests' as dictated by company policy.

Share the Folder with Edit Permissions

Once enabled, navigate to your SharePoint document library, select the folder you want external users to upload to, click 'Share', select 'Anyone with the link', check 'Allow editing', and send the link to the external users.

Security Consideration: Using 'Anyone' links with edit permissions means anyone who has the link can upload or modify files. Use this feature carefully and set expiration dates on the links.

Solution 2

Method 2: Use an Internal Authorized User as a Proxy

Use this solution when administrative policies strictly prohibit external guest access or anonymous uploads to SharePoint.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Simplify External Collaboration with WPS Office

If SharePoint tenant restrictions make external collaboration difficult, WPS Office provides an excellent, lightweight alternative. Easily share documents with clients and external partners via secure links without navigating complex administrator policies or requiring specific accounts.

1. Open your Document in WPS: Launch WPS Office and open the document, spreadsheet, or presentation you wish to collaborate on.
2. Click the Share Button: Locate and click the 'Share' button in the upper right corner of the WPS Office interface.
3. Configure Permissions and Send: Set the link permissions to allow editing or viewing, generate the shareable link, and send it directly to your external partners.

Generate secure, accessible links to share files instantly with external users.Seamless compatibility with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint file formats.Bypass complex tenant-level permission settings while maintaining file security.Free, lightweight, and user-friendly cross-platform Office suite.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Can external users upload to SharePoint without creating a Microsoft account?

Yes, provided the SharePoint administrator has enabled 'Anyone' links for the site and the folder is shared with 'Allow editing' checked. External users can then click the link and upload files directly through their web browser without logging in.

Why is the 'Share with external users' option grayed out in SharePoint?

This option is grayed out when the organization-level sharing settings in the Microsoft 365 Admin Center restrict external sharing. An administrator must modify the tenant policies to re-enable this feature.

Does emailing an attachment to a Teams channel automatically save it to the SharePoint library?

While Teams is backed by SharePoint, emailing an attachment to a Teams channel email address routes it to the 'Email Messages' folder within the default Shared Documents library. It does not automatically categorize or place it into specific organized folders, and its success depends on the channel's email integration settings.

What is the 'Request Files' feature in SharePoint?

The 'Request Files' feature allows users to create a special link to a folder where others can upload files without seeing the folder's contents. However, this feature is primarily available in OneDrive for Business and requires specific administrative settings to function in SharePoint.

Document & File Issues