What is an anonymous link
Anonymous link refers to a type of sharing link in Microsoft 365 that allows anyone at all who has the link to access a file or folder without needing to sign in or be authenticated.
Table of contents
Anonymous links (also called Anyone links) in Microsoft 365 allow users to share files and folders without requiring the recipient to sign in or have a Microsoft account. Anyone who receives the link can access the content directly.
While anonymous links are convenient for quick sharing with external parties, they come with significant security risks, since there is no way to control who the link is forwarded to or who ultimately accesses the content.
Anonymous link settings in Microsoft 365
Administrators can control anonymous link usage at the tenant level through the SharePoint admin center. Settings include:
- Enabling or disabling anonymous links entirely
- Setting link expiration dates to limit how long links remain active
- Restricting permissions (e.g., view-only vs. edit access)
- Requiring a password to access shared content
Organizations that prioritize security often disable or restrict anonymous links to prevent uncontrolled data sharing and oversharing.
