File Request Feature in SharePoint Folder Giving Error Message

Question

We use the Upload File Request Link across 41 different sites to upload files. Our organization has been utilizing this feature for about two years, and the links have a 30-day expiration date. We need to manually edit the expiration date every 20 days or so. Recently, we have encountered issues where the links appear to be active; however, after someone selects a file to upload, they receive an "unable to upload" error message. Additionally, some coworkers are unable to access the link at all, even though the access settings state that anyone with the link may enter. Is there a known issue going on or does anyone have any tips to fix this issue? Below are the error messages:

[Moderator note: personal info removed]

Answer 1

Dear @BLACK STACY L, 

Welcome to the Q&A Community.    

Thank you for sharing the details of the issue you’re experiencing with the Upload File Request links. I understand how important this feature is for your workflow, and I appreciate you bringing this to our attention. 

The File Request feature in OneDrive and SharePoint is designed with a default expiration period (typically 30 days). If links are manually updated or regenerated frequently, inconsistencies can occur. These issues can be caused by: 

• Expired or misconfigured link permissions. 
• Tenant-level sharing policy changes. 
• Browser cache or authentication conflicts. 

In the meantime, you refer to some workarounds to verify the issue:     

Note: These steps require administrator permission.  

• Verify tenant settings 

Log in to Microsoft 365 Admin Center > Show All > SharePoint. 

Navigate to Policies > Sharing. 

Please ensure:  

Anyone links are enabled. 

File Request feature is turned on. 

• Check expiration policy 

In SharePoint Admin Center, confirm the default expiration for links. 

Additional information is available in the following resources: 
Enable File Requests in SharePoint or OneDrive - SharePoint in Microsoft 365 | Microsoft Learn 

Create a file request - Microsoft Support  

For users getting “Access Denied”, ask them to:  

• Clear browser cache and cookies 

In Google Chrome: Go to Settings > Privacy and security > Clear browsing data.     

Select All time, check both Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files, then click Clear data.     

 

In Microsoft Edge: Go to Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Delete browsing data.     

Select All time, check both Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files, then click Clear now to proceed.     

    

 

• Try an alternative browser or an InPrivate or Incognito window 

In Google Chrome: Click on the vertical three-dot menu and select New Incognito Window.   

 

 

In Microsoft Edge: Click the horizontal three-dot menu and choose New InPrivate Window.   

 

If the issue still persists, the most effective way to identify the root cause and ensure a permanent resolution is to engage Microsoft Support. 
A technical support engineer can perform a remote session to investigate the situation, verify the backend configurations, and run any necessary synchronization tools to resolve the problem. If the issue requires further attention, they can escalate it to a specialized team for deeper analysis.     

As forum moderators, we don’t have access to the detailed logs or backend systems needed to troubleshoot this effectively due to privacy and security constraints. For that reason, the most efficient solution would be to contact Microsoft’s support team directly.     

• I sincerely recommend reaching out to your IT administrator to create a support ticket via Microsoft Admin Center > Support > Help & Support for further investigation.  

 

• Microsoft provides customer service phone numbers based on your region. The IT department can find the appropriate contact number here: Customer service phone numbers - Microsoft Support 

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. 

Thank you for your patience and understanding.  

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Answer 2

Thank you for your time and response. We found a workaround. We added the folders in our Department SharePoint, and there is a FORM feature now that you can designate on each folder that can create a link, and the FORM can include an upload feature. Thank you so much!