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Sharing a SharePoint Folder with an external person.

This guide explains how to share a SharePoint folder with an external person using email initiation. The recipient will log in using a one-time code.


1. Locate the Folder and Initiate Sharing

  • Navigate to the SharePoint site where the folder is located (e.g https://mycompany.sharepoint.com/sites/mysite)
  • Find the folder you wish to share and click "Share this item with other people."

📌 Note: The external person will only have access to this folder and its subfolders.

Share this item


2. Enter the External Person’s Email Address

  • Type in the email address of the external person(s) you wish to invite.

Enter email


3. Confirm the Invitation

  • You will receive a warning prompt to confirm the invitation for the external person.

📌 Note: Some organizations have policies that restrict external sharing. If you encounter issues, raise a ticket at support@safetynet-it.com.

Confirm invitation


4. Set Sharing Permissions

  • Click the ✎ to adjust permissions:

    • Can Edit: Allows the person to read and modify files.
    • Can View: Allows viewing and downloading files.
    • Can't Download: Allows viewing but prevents downloading copies.

Set permissions


5. Send the Invitation

  • You can write an optional message before sending the invitation.
  • Choose Send an email to notify the person or Copy a link to share manually.

Send invitation


6. Recipient Receives the Invitation

  • The external person will receive an email with a link to access the shared folder.

Received email


7. One-Time Code Authentication

  • The recipient will be prompted to request a one-time code sent to their email.

Request one-time code


8. Enter the Verification Code

  • They will receive a code via email.
  • They must enter the code into the prompt in their browser.

Enter verification code


9. Access Granted

  • Once verified, they can access the folder.
  • They can revisit the link anytime to access the shared files.

Access granted