> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://blog.lsonline.fr/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Exploring the "Request Files" feature of OneDrive - URL: https://blog.lsonline.fr/2020/01/04/exploring-the-request-files-feature-of-onedrive/ - Published: 2020-01-04T05:17:42.000Z - Updated: 2026-01-27T18:53:19.000Z - Description: How can the "Request Files" feature on OneDrive be useful into your organization and why does this feature improve your security? - Author: Laurent Sittler - Tags: OneDrive, Adoption, Getting Started, Security How can the "Request Files" feature on OneDrive be useful in your organization and why does this feature improve your security? This new feature of OneDrive rolled out last December and can be really useful to create a target folder and allow external people of your organization to deposit some files safely (for your organization). How can this feature be better than sharing a folder with each other? > \[note\]**Note** > > This feature is only available for OneDrive for Business > \[info\]**Important** > This feature is not available for Office 365 Government, Office 365 operated by 21Vianet, OneDrive for home, or Office 365 Germany. ## Share folder Without the "Request files" feature, to allow someone else to deposit/drop/upload something on your OneDrive, you have to share a folder. Sharing a folder with the native feature means: - Allow user(s) to see the content of this folder - Allow user(s) to edit the content of this folder (if you want them to be able to drop files) - The recipients have to have at least a Live ID account ![](https://blog.lsonline.fr/content/images/2020/01/Screen-Shot-2020-01-03-at-10.58.04.png) Allow editing when sharing folder to allow upload files on your OneDrive If you share this same folder with several users to let them upload files, all of them will have the exact same rights and will be able to access the content of each other... is this really what you want? ? *One solution consists of creating each time a shared folder to avoid this kind of use case...* ## Request files Now, you have an alternative since December 2019 to allow someone to drop files on your OneDrive (this feature is not available on SharePoint sites); you can create a "Request files"! ? Before explaining to you the benefits of this feature, I will show you how to use it. ### Prerequisites The external sharing for **Anyone** has to be enabled on your Tenant. To enable it, go to your Microsoft 365 Central Admin ⟩ SharePoint ⟩ from the left navigation, under Policies, click on **Sharing** link. ![](https://blog.lsonline.fr/content/images/2020/01/LsOnline-RequestFiles-Prerequisites-ShareWithAnyoneOneDrive.jpg) External Sharing level on Microsoft 365 Tenant > \[note\]**Note** > > To allow OneDrive at the most permissive sharing, SharePoint has to be set up at the same level too. Once configured, click on **Save**. > \[success\]**Tip** > > For more security and to avoid infinite external sharing links, set up a link expiration in day is recommended. ![](https://blog.lsonline.fr/content/images/2020/01/LsOnline-RequestFiles-ExpirationSharingLinks.jpg) Define an expiration option for anyone links of sharing For more information about external sharing, find below the link of Microsoft docs: [Turn external sharing on or off - SharePoint OnlineLearn how to change your SharePoint sharing settings.![](https://docs.microsoft.com/favicon.ico)Microsoft DocsMikePlumleyMSFT![](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/media/logos/logo-ms-social.png)](https://docs.microsoft.com/sharepoint/turn-external-sharing-on-or-off?ref=blog.lsonline.fr) ### Create a file request Here, are the steps to create a *Request files*: 1. From your *OneDrive*, create or use an existing folder 2. Select the folder for which you want to perform a *Request files* 3. From the `Command Bar` or the `Contextual Menu` (click on ellipsis), click on **Request Files** ![](https://blog.lsonline.fr/content/images/2020/01/LsOnline-RequestFiles-Buttons.jpg) Button actions to create a "Request files" > \[note\]**Note** > > Multiple selection is not supported 1. A modal dialog appears; specify a description of what kind of files is expected (for a project, a procedure, etc.) and click **Next** ![](https://blog.lsonline.fr/content/images/2020/01/LsOnline-RequestFiles-DescriptionMD.jpg) Enter a description to precise the purpose of your request files 1. Your **Request files** are ready now; you can use and share the provided link (via mail for example) and/or share it directly by specifying the mail addresses of the recipients ![](https://blog.lsonline.fr/content/images/2020/01/LsOnline-RequestFiles-SendFileRequest.jpg) Send your request files > \[warning\]**Warning** > > If you specify recipient(s), the behavior will not be the same for the user that performs the upload (see [Upload files as recipient](#request-files-recipient-chapter) part) ![](https://blog.lsonline.fr/content/images/2020/01/LsOnline-RequestFiles-RequestSendConfirmed.jpg) Confirmation of request files sent You will find the procedure and more on the following Microsoft support: [Create a file requestThis feature is currently rolling out and should be fully available by the end of December.![](https://www.microsoft.com/favicon.ico?v2)OneDrive![](https://support.office.com/SocImages/SOC_SharingImage_720x405.png)](https://support.office.com/en-us/article/create-a-file-request-f54aa7f8-2589-4421-b351-d415fc3b83af?ref=blog.lsonline.fr) ### Upload files as recipient As a recipient, if the invitation was sent directly via OneDrive, you should receive an email like this one: ![](https://blog.lsonline.fr/content/images/2020/01/LsOnline-RequestFiles-EmailRequestRecipients.jpg) Request files email 1. Click on the button **Upload Files** or use the link that was shared with you; that will open your favorite browser at this page: ![](https://blog.lsonline.fr/content/images/2020/01/LsOnline-RequestFile-RecipientInvitation.jpg) The first-page link of request files 1. Select file(s) to be uploaded; the next behavior changes in accordance with the invitation with the recipient(s) (left screenshot) or with no recipient specified (right screenshot) ![](https://blog.lsonline.fr/content/images/2020/01/LsOnline-RequestFiles-UploadWithSpecifiedRecipient.jpg) ![](https://blog.lsonline.fr/content/images/2020/01/LsOnline-RequestFiles-UploadWithNoRecipient.jpg) ![](https://blog.lsonline.fr/content/images/2020/01/LsOnline-RequestFiles-UploadSuccessWithSpecifiedRecipient.jpg) ![](https://blog.lsonline.fr/content/images/2020/01/LsOnline-RequestFiles-UploadSuccessWithNoRecipient.jpg) Upload files to the request folder as a specified user (left) and as anonymous/guest (right) 1. Click on **Upload** ### The result from the requester side As a requester, each time someone uploads file(s) via the link *Request Files*, an email is sent for notification. ![](https://blog.lsonline.fr/content/images/2020/01/LsOnline-RequestFiles-EmailNotif_WithRecipientRequest.jpg) ![](https://blog.lsonline.fr/content/images/2020/01/LsOnline-RequestFiles-EmailNotif_WithNoRecipientRequest.jpg) Mail notification once files were uploaded into the request folder > \[note\]**Note** > > Even if several files were uploaded, only the first one is mentioned into the mail Here, is the request folder with the uploaded files: ![](https://blog.lsonline.fr/content/images/2020/01/Screen-Shot-2020-01-03-at-14.40.49.png) Request folder with files Some notes about the behavior of the uploaded files: - If the *Request files* link has no recipient, each file is identified by a prefix which was inserted into the file name like: `FirstName_LastName_File name.ext` - If the *Request files* link has no recipient, the `Created By`, `Modified By` and `Activity` are identified by **Guest Contributor** - If the request files link has recipient(s), each file is identified by a prefix which was inserted into the file name like: `Full Name_File name.ext` - If the request files link has recipient(s), the `Created By`, `Modified By` and `Activity` are identified by a user name who uploaded the files ### Benefits - The people who have the link can not see the content of the folder and can not edit, download or delete something - Specific activity is dedicated to the dropped files - Each document has a prefix to identify easily who were uploading the files - The user profile is "anonymous" (without Live ID or Office 365 account) and if the shared link had no recipient specified, `Create By` and `Modified By` are identified by **Guest Contributor** - Like a *sharing* link, the *Request files* link expires automatically in accordance with the expiration option defined on the Tenant - A better user experience to drop some files easily and safety ### Point to consider Although this feature brings a lot of benefits, there are a few things to consider: - Anyone who knows that the link can upload files into your OneDrive without having himself a OneDrive account - Even if the recipient has a OneDrive account and is connected to his account, he can change the first name and last name - The prerequisites impact the sharing behavior of the whole Tenant - Once a request file was created, the permissions inheritance stopped. If the link is deleted, it is necessary to consider restoring the permissions inheritance [Restore inheritance after sharing or copying a link OneDrive/SharePoint OnlineWhat are the side effect when you are sharing/generate an access link of SharePoint item? Restore permissions inheritance after sharing file or folder to someone else who is internal or either external of your company on Office 365![](https://blog.lsonline.fr/assets/favicon/apple-touch-icon.png?v=9ffca1ef0e)LsOnlineLaurent Sittler![](https://blog.lsonline.fr/content/images/2019/05/LsOnline-Office365-SharingBehavior.jpg)](https://blog.lsonline.fr/2019/05/29/restore-inheritance-after-sharing-or-copying-a-link-onedrive-sharepoint-online/) --- More link(s): [Create a file request![](https://support.microsoft.com/apple-touch-icon.png)![](https://support.content.office.net/en-us/media/c72983bf-15a2-4fdd-9979-5ea5586f9688.png)](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/create-a-file-request-f54aa7f8-2589-4421-b351-d415fc3b83af?ref=blog.lsonline.fr) [OneDrive Roadmap Roundup- November 2019As we wrap up an exciting quarter filled with innovations and announcements, we have some great features to share with you. Here is the latest and greatest that landed in production in the month of November 2019\. Save for Later Request files Language localization for OneDrive emails Save for …![](https://gxcuf89792.i.lithium.com/html/assets/favicon2.ico)TECHCOMMUNITY.MICROSOFT.COMAnkita Kirti![](https://gxcuf89792.i.lithium.com/t5/image/serverpage/image-id/154210iB65054CBD1A7F0D2?v=1.0)](https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/Microsoft-OneDrive-Blog/OneDrive-Roadmap-Roundup-November-2019/ba-p/1054066?ref=blog.lsonline.fr) Hoping this post will help you ?