Permission & Access Issues

How to Fix Unknown Guest Users Appearing in a Shared OneDrive Document

Ayan Masood Oct 1, 2026 869 views

Question details

Users notice automatically generated guest names viewing their shared OneDrive documents and want to know why this happens and how to manage access.

Why Unknown Guest Users Appear in a Shared OneDrive Document

Product: OneDrive
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Collaborating on or sharing files via public OneDrive links.
Observed behavior: Anonymous participants appear in the active document with randomly assigned guest names (such as plant names) instead of recognized account names.

Before you start

Ensure you are the owner of the document and are logged into your OneDrive account so you have the necessary permissions to modify the sharing and access settings.

Solution 1Recommended

Manage Access and Remove Anonymous Sharing Links

Stop sharing the document via open links and create a new, restricted share link specifically for your intended collaborators.

When a document is shared using an 'Anyone with the link' setting, OneDrive cannot verify the identity of the visitors. Consequently, it assigns automatic placeholder names to these unauthenticated users. To secure your document and ensure only known individuals access it, you must disable the anonymous link.

Open OneDrive Manage Access

Navigate to your OneDrive folder in your web browser, right-click the shared document, and select 'Manage Access' from the context menu.

Remove the Public Link

Locate the sharing link labeled 'Anyone with the link can view/edit'. Click the 'More options' (three dots) icon next to this link, and select 'Remove link' to immediately revoke anonymous access.

Share with Specific People

Click the 'Share' button again, open the link settings by clicking the gear icon, and select 'Specific people'. Enter the exact email addresses of the people you want to collaborate with and click 'Apply'.

Manage Access and Remove Anonymous Sharing Links

Security Improved: By restricting access to specific people, your collaborators will be prompted to sign in, and their real account names will be displayed while editing.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does OneDrive assign plant or animal names to my document visitors?

When an anonymous user accesses a document via a public sharing link without logging into a Microsoft account, OneDrive automatically assigns a generic guest name (like a plant or animal) to distinguish them in the active collaboration session.

Do unknown guest users mean my OneDrive account has been hacked?

No. These unknown guest names do not mean unauthorized accounts have hacked your system. They simply represent individuals who clicked the 'Anyone with the link' URL you previously generated, accessing the file without signing in.

How can I force visitors to show their real names when viewing my document?

To see real names, you must stop using anonymous sharing links. Instead, share the document using the 'Specific people' setting in the Manage Access menu. This requires recipients to authenticate with their own accounts before they can view or edit the file.

Document & File Issues