Where to Store SharePoint Images for External Users
Question details
External visitors encounter broken image links on SharePoint pages due to inaccessible image storage locations or insufficient sharing permissions.
- Product
- SharePoint
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Designing and sharing SharePoint pages with external partners or clients.
- Observed behavior
- Images on the SharePoint site display as broken links or prompt for access requests when viewed by external users.
Ensure you have Site Owner or SharePoint Administrator privileges to modify document library permissions and external sharing settings.
Store Images in Site Assets and Verify Read Permissions
The most reliable way to ensure images load for external users is to store them in the site's default Site Assets folder with proper permissions.
Storing images in personal folders or restricted document libraries will cause them to break for guests. The Site Assets library is designed for storing media used on your SharePoint pages.
Navigate to Site Contents and open the 'Site Assets' document library. Upload your image files directly into this library rather than keeping them in a personal OneDrive folder.
Click the gear icon to open Site settings, select 'Site permissions', and ensure that external users or guests have at least 'Read' access to the library.
Select the image file, click the 'Share' or 'Manage access' icon, and verify that the link settings allow your external visitors to view the file.
After replacing the broken links with the new images from Site Assets, click 'Republish' on your SharePoint page to make the changes live for external users.
Configure External Sharing Settings in SharePoint Admin Center
If site-level permissions are correct but external users still cannot view images, the organization's global sharing settings may be blocking access.
Edit Your Documents Locally Before Uploading to SharePoint with WPS Office
While SharePoint is excellent for hosting sites and managing external access, creating and preparing your documents locally is faster with a dedicated office suite. WPS Office is a lightweight, highly compatible alternative to Microsoft Office that makes document creation effortless.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the free installation package for your operating system.
- 2. Install and setup: Run the installer and follow the quick on-screen instructions to set up the software.
- 3. Create and edit documents: Open your existing Microsoft Office files or create new ones, then save and upload them to your SharePoint document library.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do videos in the Site Assets folder still prompt external users for access?
Videos and large media files often require different streaming permissions or may inherit specific folder-level restrictions. Ensure the specific video file has explicit 'Read' permissions for external users, as default site settings may treat media files differently than standard images.
Can I use images stored in my OneDrive on a SharePoint site shared with external users?
No. If you link images from your personal OneDrive, external users will see a broken link because they do not have access to your private drive. Always upload images directly to a shared SharePoint document library like Site Assets.
How do I test if my SharePoint images are visible to external users?
The most accurate way to test is to share the page link directly with an external test email address. Alternatively, you can open the SharePoint page link in a private or incognito browsing window and log in with a guest account to verify.
