Permission & Access Issues

How to Hide OneDrive Users from Each Other in a Shared Folder

Huda Qurayshi Oct 7, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to share folders or files in OneDrive with multiple people without the recipients being able to see who else has access.

How to Hide OneDrive Users from Each Other in a Shared Folder

Product: Microsoft OneDrive
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Sharing documents or folders with multiple clients or collaborators while maintaining strict user privacy and preventing them from seeing each other.
Observed behavior: When users are granted access via group permissions or broad sharing links, they can see other users who also have access to the same shared folder.

Before you start

Ensure you are the owner of the OneDrive folder, as only the owner has the administrative rights to modify advanced sharing permissions and delete existing access links.

Solution 1Recommended

Use "Specific People" Links for Individual Sharing

The most secure way to hide users from one another is to avoid group sharing and instead grant individual access using Specific People links.

By creating separate folders or assigning unique access links to individuals, you ensure that recipients only have access to what they explicitly need and cannot view other collaborators' details.

Select the Folder

Navigate to your OneDrive and select the folder or file you want to share.

Open Link Settings

Click the "Share" button at the top menu. Then, click the gear icon or the current link settings description (e.g., "Anyone with the link can edit") to open Link Settings.

Choose Specific People

Select the "Specific people" option, choose whether you want to allow editing, and click "Apply".

Send Invitations

Enter the email address of a single user and click "Send". To share with someone else, repeat this exact process by generating a new "Specific people" link instead of adding multiple emails to the same link.

Use "Specific People" Links for Individual Sharing

Best Practice: Creating completely separate folders for different users and using Specific People links is the safest method to guarantee complete privacy.

Solution 2

Remove Broad or Inherited Group Permissions

If the folder is already shared broadly, you must revoke any "Anyone" links or group access that exposes the user list.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hide the 'Manage Access' panel from users I share with in OneDrive?

Users with only 'View' or 'Edit' access cannot modify advanced permissions or view the full access list in the Manage Access panel. However, to completely prevent them from seeing active users, you must use individual 'Specific people' links rather than group access.

Why do people see each other when using an 'Anyone' link?

'Anyone' links do not require sign-in, but if users happen to be logged into their Microsoft accounts in their browser, their profile names and avatars may appear as active collaborators to others currently viewing the file.

Can I use BCC in an email to share a OneDrive link privately?

Yes, you can generate a 'Specific people' link, copy it, and paste it into an email using BCC for multiple recipients. OneDrive will verify their email addresses upon access, but they will not see the email addresses of other BCC recipients.

Does SharePoint offer better options for hiding users than OneDrive?

SharePoint offers more granular permission levels and site security settings, but the core principle remains the same. To completely hide users from one another, you still need to set up item-level permissions or separate folders.

Document & File Issues