Account Verification Code when Sharing on OneDrive/Sharepoint

Question

I am curious to know why I occasionaly get sent an Account Verification Code when I share a document/site etc on Sharepoint/OneDrive. I share often and it doesn't come up all the time. However, the code seems pointless because the person I share it to can still open the document etc without the verification code. This is the message I get (along with the code):

For security purposes, you must enter the code below to verify your account to access "...". The code will only work for 15 minutes and if you request a new code, this code will stop working.

Answer 1

Hi Rachael Cooper：

Based on your description, we understand that you want to know why you occasionally get sent an Account Verification Code when I share a document/site etc. on SharePoint/OneDrive.

It depends on the type of recipient:

Recipients who provide a verification code

When users share files or folders, recipients will be asked to enter a verification code if they have:

• A work or school account in Azure AD from another organization
• An email address that is not a Microsoft account or a work or school account in Azure AD.

If the recipient has a work or school account, they only need to enter the code the first time. Then they will be added as a guest and can sign in with their organization's username and password.

If the recipient does not have a work or school account, they need to use a code each time they access the file or folder, and they are not added to your directory.

Recipients who do not need to authenticate.

Anyone with the link (inside or outside your organization) can access files and folders without having to sign in or provide a code. These links can be freely passed around and are valid until the link is deleted or expires (if you have set an expiration date). You cannot verify the identity of the people using these links, but their IP address is recorded in audit logs when they access or edit shared content.

People who access files and folders through "Anyone" links are not added to your organization's directory, and you can't assign them licenses. They also cannot access sites using an "Anyone" link. They can only view or edit the specific file or folder for which they have an "Anyone" link.

More information for you to reference:External sharing overview - SharePoint in Microsoft 365 | Microsoft Docs

Hope this will help you.

Tin

Answer 2

Thanks for your information.

So if I share something to someone with a work account in the same organization as me, this verification code shouldn't come up?

Answer 3

Hi Rachael Cooper：

In short word, anyone with the link (inside or outside your organization) can access files and folders without having to sign in or provide a code. These links can be freely passed around and are valid until the link is deleted or expires.

That means  if I share something via OneDrive/Sharepoint with the setting that Any one with this link can view, this verification code shouldn't come up.

More information for you to reference:Share OneDrive files and folders - Office Support (microsoft.com)

Hope this will help you.

Tin

Answer 4

Thank you.

Is there anything I can do so that the verification code doesn't come up when I share? It doesn't happen often but if I can prevent it then that would be great.

Answer 5

Hi Rachael Cooper：

If I share something via OneDrive/Sharepoint with the setting that Any one with this link can view, this verification code shouldn't come up.

More information for you to reference:Share OneDrive files and folders - Office Support (microsoft.com)

Hope this will help you.

Tin