Permission & Access Issues

How to Fix SharePoint Link Prompting External Users for Password

Algirdas Jasaitis Sep 30, 2026 869 views

Question details

An external user is unexpectedly prompted to enter a password or sign in when attempting to open a SharePoint sharing link that should be accessible anonymously.

How to Fix SharePoint Sharing Link Prompting External Users for a Password

Product: Microsoft SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Sharing a document or folder via a link with external users who do not have a registered account in the organization's directory.
Observed behavior: The SharePoint sharing link requires authentication, forcing the external user to a sign-in page instead of granting direct access to the file.

Before you start

Verify with your IT administrator that your organization's SharePoint settings allow for anonymous 'Anyone' links, as tenant-level restrictions will override individual file permissions.

Solution 1Recommended

Recreate the Link with 'Anyone' Access and Use Incognito Mode

Generating a fresh 'Anyone' sharing link and testing it in a private browsing window can bypass cached credentials and improper permission setups.

Often, browsers cache previous Microsoft account sessions which can interfere with anonymous links. Opening the link in an Incognito or Private window ensures the browser isn't attempting to authenticate with a saved account.

Open an Incognito window

Have the external user open an Incognito (Chrome), InPrivate (Edge), or Private (Safari/Firefox) browser window to test the link.

Select the file in SharePoint

Navigate to your SharePoint document library, locate the file or folder you want to share, and select it.

Open Link settings

Click the 'Share' button, then click the gear icon to open the Link settings menu.

Configure Anyone access

Select the 'Anyone' option to allow access without signing in, then click 'Apply'.

Send the new link

Copy the newly generated sharing link and send it to the external user.

Recreate the Link with 'Anyone' Access and Use Incognito Mode

Link Generation Successful: If the 'Anyone' option is successfully applied, the recipient will be able to view or edit the file as a guest without needing a password.

Solution 2

Contact Microsoft 365 Support for Backend Investigation

If a properly configured 'Anyone' link still requires a sign-in, there may be a backend routing issue or policy conflict requiring administrator intervention.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the 'Anyone with the link' option grayed out in SharePoint?

This occurs when your organization's Microsoft 365 administrator has restricted external sharing at the tenant or site level. You must contact your IT department to enable anonymous link sharing for your SharePoint site.

Can external users edit a SharePoint document without creating an account?

Yes. If you create an 'Anyone' link and set the permissions to 'Allow editing', external users can modify the document anonymously as guests without signing in.

Why does using Incognito mode help external users access SharePoint links?

Browsers often cache previous logins from other Microsoft services (like personal Outlook or Teams accounts). Incognito mode prevents the browser from passing these incorrect credentials to SharePoint, allowing the anonymous link to function correctly.

Document & File Issues