How to make sure File Request link doesn't require LogIn?

Hi @Belle Zhu,

Thank you for posting your question in the Microsoft Q&A forum.

I would like to provide you with the following information:

When you use a mobile phone to open the link for uploading a file, the mobile device will automatically redirect you to the OneDrive application installed on the device.

To avoid this situation, you can ask your partners to copy and paste the link directly into a web browser, and then upload the file through the browser.

I hope this information is helpful.

If you have any questions or need further assistance, please feel free to share them in the comments on this post so I can continue to support you.

I look forward to continuing the conversation.

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File Request links in OneDrive/SharePoint are designed so that “anyone with the link can upload files; they don’t need to have OneDrive” and they cannot see or edit anything else in the folder.

However, whether a user is asked to sign in can depend on how sharing is configured in the tenant and how the link is being opened, especially on mobile:

1. Verify that “Anyone” links are enabled and used
   File Request relies on anonymous “Anyone” links. If the organization or site is configured more restrictively, users may be forced to authenticate. Admin steps (tenant level):
   • Ensure Anyone links are enabled for OneDrive/SharePoint external sharing.
   • Ensure folder permissions for the File Request target folder are set to View, edit, and upload or View and upload for Anyone links.
   • Confirm OneDriveRequestFilesLinkEnabled (for OneDrive) or CoreRequestFilesLinkEnabled (for SharePoint) is True via SharePoint Online Management Shell (Get-SPOTenant). If not, set it to True with Set-SPOTenant.
   If Anyone links are disabled or restricted (for example, only specific people or only people in the organization), recipients will be asked to sign in.
2. Understand mobile behavior with shared links
   On mobile, some links may open in the browser instead of the OneDrive app when Microsoft 365 needs more information to ensure the link is secure (for example, cross-tenant links or older link formats). In those cases, the service may prompt for sign-in to validate access. This can explain why the same link works anonymously on a laptop but prompts for sign-in on a phone.
3. How to minimize sign-in prompts for File Requests
   • Ensure the File Request link is created from a OneDrive for work or school account with File Request properly enabled.
   • Confirm the organization is not using settings like Allow only specific security groups for sharing, which would block anonymous access and force sign-in.
   • Share the File Request link exactly as generated by OneDrive/SharePoint (no URL rewriting or wrapping by other services).
4. What recipients should see when it works anonymously
   • When opening the File Request link, recipients should see a page asking for their name (if not signed in) and giving them Select files → Upload.
   • If they are signed in, their identity is recorded with the upload; if not, they can still upload after entering a name.

If users are still being prompted to sign in intermittently, the next step is for an admin to review the tenant’s external sharing and link policies to ensure Anyone links and File Requests are fully enabled and not overridden by more restrictive settings.

References:

• Create a file request
• Enable file requests in SharePoint or OneDrive
• Why don't all links that people share with me open in the OneDrive app?
• External or guest sharing in OneDrive, SharePoint, and Lists