File Sharing Problems

How to Set Microsoft 365 Default Sharing Links to Allow Editing

Maira Mehtab Sep 27, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user wants to configure Microsoft 365 so that newly generated sharing links default to allowing recipients to edit the files, rather than just viewing them.

Product: Microsoft 365
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: An organization wants to streamline collaboration by making 'Edit' the default permission level whenever an employee shares a file or folder via a link.
Observed behavior: By default, Microsoft 365 sharing links are set to 'View' only, requiring users to manually change the permission settings to 'Edit' every time they share a document.

Before you start

Verify that you have SharePoint administrator privileges in your Microsoft 365 tenant, as individual end-users do not have the authorization to change this organization-wide setting.

Solution 1Recommended

Change Default Sharing Permissions via SharePoint Admin Center

A SharePoint administrator can update the default sharing link settings for the entire organization using the centralized admin center.

This configuration applies globally to all users within your Microsoft 365 environment. Once enabled, any new sharing link generated will grant editing rights by default, though individual users can still manually restrict specific links to view-only when necessary.

Access the SharePoint Admin Center

Log in to the Microsoft 365 admin center using your administrator credentials, open the navigation menu, and select 'SharePoint' to open the SharePoint admin center.

Navigate to Sharing Policies

In the left-hand navigation pane of the SharePoint admin center, expand the 'Policies' dropdown menu and click on 'Sharing'.

Modify Default Link Permissions

Scroll down to the 'File and folder links' section. Locate the option labeled 'Choose the permission that's selected by default for sharing links' and switch the selection from 'View' to 'Edit'.

Save the Configuration

Scroll to the bottom of the Sharing policies page and click the 'Save' button to apply your new default link permissions across the organization.

Administrative Access Required: If you do not see the 'Policies' or 'Sharing' options in your admin center, your account may lack the required SharePoint administrator role. Please contact your primary IT administrator.

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Looking for a Simpler Way to Share and Collaborate?

Managing enterprise admin settings in Microsoft 365 can be overly complex for standard collaboration. If you need a more straightforward, user-friendly solution, consider WPS Office. It provides an intuitive, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative that makes file sharing and co-editing effortless without requiring admin center configurations.

1. Open Your Document in WPS Office: Launch WPS Office and open the document, spreadsheet, or presentation you wish to collaborate on.
2. Click the Share Button: Locate and click the 'Share' button in the upper right corner of the application window.
3. Set Permissions Instantly: Select 'Anyone with the link can edit' from the dropdown menu, copy the link, and send it directly to your colleagues.

Completely free and lightweight Office suiteFully compatible with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint formatsIntuitive one-click link sharing with simple permission controlsReal-time co-authoring tools designed for modern teams

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can an individual user change their own default sharing link permissions in Microsoft 365?

No, the default sharing link permissions are controlled strictly at the organizational level by a SharePoint administrator. Individual users cannot change their personal default, but they can manually adjust the permission from 'View' to 'Edit' each time they generate a specific link.

Will changing the default sharing setting to 'Edit' affect previously generated links?

No, modifying the default link permission in the SharePoint admin center only applies to newly generated sharing links. All existing links will retain the permissions they were originally created with.

How do I share a file with view-only access after the default has been set to edit?

When generating a sharing link, click on the link settings gear icon before copying the link. You can manually uncheck the 'Allow editing' box to restrict that specific file or folder to view-only access.

Document & File Issues