File Sharing Problems

How to Create a Public QR Code Landing Page for SharePoint PDFs

Maira Mehtab Sep 21, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to generate a single QR code that directs users to a public landing page containing multiple PDF files.

Product: Microsoft SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Distributing multiple PDF documents via a printed QR code to an audience that does not have organizational Microsoft accounts.
Observed behavior: The current file sharing link prompts visitors to log in with a work account, blocking external access to the PDFs.

Before you start

Verify with your IT department that organizational policies permit anonymous external sharing, as 'Anyone with the link' options are often disabled by default in enterprise SharePoint environments.

Solution 1Recommended

Group PDFs in a Shared Folder with an 'Anyone' Link

Create a single SharePoint folder to act as your landing page, place all PDFs inside, and generate an anonymous sharing link to convert into a QR code.

SharePoint does not offer a dedicated 'QR code landing page' feature. However, a standard SharePoint folder can perfectly serve this purpose. By enabling external sharing, you can allow anyone scanning the code to view the folder's contents without signing in.

Configure External Sharing (Admins Only)

If you are a SharePoint administrator, log in to the SharePoint admin center. Locate your site under 'Active sites', select it, and change the external sharing setting to 'Anyone'.

Create a Central Folder

Navigate to your SharePoint document library. Click on the 'New' dropdown menu, select 'Folder', give it an appropriate name, and upload all the required PDF files into this new folder.

Generate the Anonymous Link

Select the newly created folder and click 'Share'. Click the gear icon or link settings, choose 'Anyone with the link can view', and click 'Apply'. Copy the generated link.

Create the QR Code

Paste the copied URL into a free QR code generator. Alternatively, open the link in Microsoft Edge, click the address bar, and select the 'Create QR Code' icon to generate and download the image.

Tenant Policy Restrictions: If the 'Anyone with the link' option is grayed out, your organization's tenant or site policies restrict anonymous sharing. You must request an exception from your IT administrator.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my SharePoint sharing link ask external users for a work account?

By default, SharePoint sharing links are often restricted to 'People in your organization'. Unless external, anonymous sharing is explicitly enabled by your administrator, external users will be prompted to authenticate.

Can I generate a QR code directly within the SharePoint interface?

No, SharePoint does not currently feature a native QR code generator. You must copy the sharing link and use an external QR code generator or the built-in QR generator found in browsers like Microsoft Edge.

How do I make multiple PDFs accessible from just one QR code scan?

Instead of sharing individual files, organize all the PDFs into a single folder within your document library. Generate a sharing link for that folder, which will act as a unified landing page when the QR code is scanned.

What should I do if the 'Anyone with the link' option is grayed out or unavailable?

This indicates that your organization's IT policy has disabled anonymous external sharing for security reasons. You will need to contact your SharePoint Administrator to enable this capability for your specific site.

Document & File Issues