How to Share a SharePoint File Anonymously
Anonymous sharing — ‘Anyone with the link’ — has its uses, but it’s the riskiest sharing option in SharePoint. Use it deliberately, sparingly, and never for sensitive content.
What it is
An anonymous sharing link works for anyone on the internet who has the URL. No sign-in, no authentication, no identity. It’s effectively the digital equivalent of pinning a document to a public noticeboard — which is sometimes exactly what you want, but more often not.
The legitimate uses are rare but real: distributing public marketing materials, sharing event registration forms, providing public-facing reference documents. For everything else — internal documents, sensitive content, anything that requires accountability — use ‘Specific people’ or organisation-scoped links instead.
Many organisations restrict or disable anonymous sharing entirely at the tenant level. If you find you can’t create one, that’s almost always intentional. Talk to IT before assuming it’s a problem to solve.
The forwarding test
Before you share something anonymously, ask: would I be comfortable if this link ended up on a competitor’s desk? On social media? Forwarded to my mum? If the answer is yes — proceed. If the answer is no — use ‘Specific people’ instead. Anonymous links go where they go.
When to use this
- Public marketing content (press releases, public reports, brochures).
- Event registration or public-facing forms.
- Reference materials genuinely intended for the public.
- Almost nothing else.
How to do it
- Confirm the content is appropriate for fully public access.
- Click Share.
- Open Link settings.
- Choose Anyone with the link (if your tenant allows it).
- Set permission to Can view — never edit.
- Set an expiry date (if available).
- Copy the link and use it.
Best practices
- View-only, always. Anonymous edit access is almost never appropriate.
- Set expiry dates aggressively. Public links should be time-bound where possible.
- Disable download for sensitive-but-public content. The browser-only constraint reduces casual redistribution.
- Default to other link types. Anonymous should be the exception, not the default.
Common mistakes
- Using ‘Anyone with the link’ because it’s the easiest option. Easy now, regret later.
- Granting edit access anonymously. Now anyone in the world can change your file. Don’t.
- Forgetting to revoke anonymous links. They live forever unless someone disables them. Add expiry, then audit.
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Get the Sharing Handbook — $27 →FAQ
What is anonymous sharing in SharePoint?
Anonymous sharing means anyone with the link can access the file — no sign-in required, no email verification, no identity check. SharePoint calls this Anyone with the link. It’s the easiest sharing option and also the riskiest, because forwarded links work for any recipient without authentication.
How do I create an anonymous link in SharePoint?
Click Share, then Link settings. Choose Anyone with the link. Add an expiry date (essential), set view-only access if appropriate, and copy the link. Send it to whoever needs it. Anyone who gets the URL can access the file until expiry.
When should I use anonymous sharing in SharePoint?
Almost never. Legitimate uses: sharing non-sensitive public content (a marketing flyer, a public reference doc) where convenience matters and the recipient might not have a Microsoft account. For internal and confidential sharing, use ‘Specific people’ or ‘People in your organisation’ — never anonymous.
Can my SharePoint admin disable anonymous sharing?
Yes — and most should. In the SharePoint admin center, under Sharing, set the external sharing slider to New and existing guests or stricter. This disables ‘Anyone’ links across the whole tenant, forcing users to choose authenticated sharing. One of the highest-impact governance settings.