File Sharing Problems

How to Create an Anonymous SharePoint Report Form with File Uploads

Maira Mehtab Oct 10, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user needs to set up an anonymous reporting system for policy breaches that captures incident details and allows respondents to upload supporting files without revealing their identity.

How to Create an Anonymous SharePoint Report Form with File Uploads

Product: SharePoint Online / Microsoft Forms
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Setting up a confidential whistleblowing or policy breach reporting form with file attachments.
Observed behavior: Users need to submit forms and files anonymously, but the default file-upload question in Microsoft Forms disables the anonymous submission option.

Before you start

Verify that your organization's Microsoft 365 sharing policies permit external sharing and that the 'Request Files' feature is enabled in OneDrive or SharePoint.

Solution 1Recommended

Use Microsoft Forms Combined with a OneDrive Request Files Link

Since native file uploads in Microsoft Forms require users to sign in, use a separate 'Request Files' link to collect attachments anonymously alongside your form.

Microsoft Forms allows for anonymous text and multiple-choice submissions, but adding a native file-upload question forces respondents to log in with an organizational account. To work around this limitation while remaining in the Microsoft 365 ecosystem, you can generate a secure 'Request Files' link in OneDrive or SharePoint and embed it directly into your anonymous form.

Configure the Microsoft Form for anonymity

Open Microsoft Forms, create a new form for your incident report, and go to the settings. Under 'Who can fill out this form', select 'Anyone can respond'. Do not add a file-upload question type.

Create a Request Files link

Navigate to your OneDrive for Business or a SharePoint document library. Create a dedicated folder for the report files, select the folder, click 'Request files' from the top menu, name the request, and copy the generated link.

Embed the link into your form

Return to your Microsoft Form. Add a 'Text' question or a new section with instructions for uploading supporting evidence. Paste the Request Files link into the description or subtitle area.

Use Microsoft Forms Combined with a OneDrive Request Files Link

Security Tip: Ensure you apply appropriate access controls and auditing to the destination SharePoint folder to protect sensitive whistleblowing data from unauthorized viewing.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why can't I add a file upload question to an anonymous Microsoft Form?

Microsoft Forms strictly requires respondents to sign in with an organizational account to upload files, ensuring backend file security and tracking. If you select 'Anyone can respond' in the form settings, the file upload option becomes greyed out.

Are files uploaded via the 'Request Files' feature truly anonymous?

Yes. If the user uploading the file is not signed in to a Microsoft account, the system will only prompt them to type a first and last name to label the file. The respondent can enter an alias (e.g., 'Anonymous User') to protect their identity.

How do I enable the 'Request Files' feature in SharePoint if it's missing?

The 'Request Files' functionality requires your organization's SharePoint administrator to enable 'Anyone' links (anonymous external sharing) at both the tenant and site levels. If you do not see the option, you must contact your IT administrator to adjust the sharing policies.

Document & File Issues