Permission & Access Issues

How to Fix Microsoft Teams Files Repeatedly Asking for Access Requests

Algirdas Jasaitis Oct 9, 2026 870 views

Question details

A user is continuously prompted to request access to a Teams file shared by a specific colleague, even after the access has been granted multiple times.

How to Fix Microsoft Teams Files Repeatedly Asking for Access Requests

Product: Microsoft Teams / OneDrive
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to open a shared file in Microsoft Teams and encountering an endless loop of access requests.
Observed behavior: The shared file remains inaccessible and keeps asking for permission, despite the file owner repeatedly approving the access request.

Before you start

Ensure you can contact the file owner, as the primary solution requires them to adjust their personal OneDrive for Business or SharePoint site collection settings.

Solution 1Recommended

Remove User from the Owner's Site Collection and Reshare

This clears corrupted permission states in the file owner's OneDrive or SharePoint backend, allowing a fresh permission link to be established.

When a file is shared via Teams, the permissions are managed by the owner's OneDrive or SharePoint backend. A mismatch here can cause continuous access prompts.

Open OneDrive Settings

Ask the file owner to log into their Microsoft 365 account and open their OneDrive for Business settings.

Navigate to Site Settings

Go to 'OneDrive Settings' > 'More Settings', and click to open the old 'Site Settings' page.

Open People and Groups

On the Site Settings page, find and select 'People and Groups'.

Delete User from Site Collection

Select the affected user's Microsoft 365 account, click on 'Actions', and choose 'Delete users from site collection'. Confirm the prompt.

Reshare the File

Wait a few minutes for the backend to sync, then ask the file owner to share the Teams file with you again.

Remove User from the Owner's Site Collection and Reshare

No Data Loss: Removing a user from the site collection only deletes their permission records for that site, not their personal files or Microsoft 365 account.

Solution 2

Collect HAR Logs and Open a Support Ticket

If clearing permissions does not resolve the issue, backend intervention from Microsoft is required.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does this access issue happen with only one specific colleague?

It typically occurs due to a corrupted user profile cache or a permission mismatch exclusively within that specific colleague's OneDrive or SharePoint site collection backend.

Will deleting a user from the site collection delete their files or account?

No. Deleting a user from the site collection only removes their local permission records from that specific SharePoint site or OneDrive, allowing them to be cleanly re-added. Their account and personal files remain untouched.

What are HAR logs and why does Microsoft support need them?

HAR (HTTP Archive) logs record the web browser's interactions with the server. Microsoft support uses these logs to pinpoint exactly where the permission check fails during your file access request.

Document & File Issues