SharePoint Access Issue

Question

This has been going on since the first time my client began sharing SP folders for projects rather than using Dropbox. It is super duper annoying, and I'm quite flabbergasted that this hasn't been corrected.

Anyway, so the problem occurs after having been signed in to the folders shared with me. One week after signing in, when I try to access any folder instead of my list of documents I have a mostly blank page with an icon of a dropped ice cream cone, below which reads "Something went wrong" and "Please try again or refresh the page". 

Eventually I realized that shortly after trying to access a shared folder and getting this page, I am sent an email from SharePoint Online that reads "xxxxxxxx is your Microsoft SharePoint verification code". So here I am thinking, cool, it's basically reverifying my access, right?

WRONG! It just so happens that THERE IS NO PLACE TO ENTER THIS CODE that I was provided. 

Here is the fix that I would like, please choose one and implement it asap:

a) Stop kicking me out of folders once I have signed in and verified. Or...

b) Have an entry location to enter the provided access code so that I can actually be re-verified.

Microsoft, this problem with SharePoint is keeping me from doing my job, because I cannot access the project folders I need. To be honest, I have come to totally "not love" this unhelpful system of yours because these hassles of trying to get through your security protocols on a weekly basis is worse than the supposed issue of needing to secure the folders. I do love Dropbox, however, especially compared to this craziness, and amazingly enough have never experienced a breach of my secured files. Perhaps be more like Dropbox?

I look forward to a fix, although I don't think that I will hold my breath on how soon that may happen, if ever.

Answer 1

Hi RikkiNelson,

From your post, it appears you have been shared a SharePoint folder and you are an external user (i.e., either you are using a Microsoft account or a work or school account in Azure AD from another organization). When you try to access the shared folder after a week, it gives you an error and then you received a verification code but there’s no place the enter the code.

When users share with people outside the organization, an invitation is sent to the person in email, which contains a link to the shared item. 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 isn't 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.

When the folder was shared, you must have received an email with the folder link that looks like the image below. Please check if clicking the link in the email, asks you to enter the verification code.

If you still get the error, try accessing the folder in a different browser or open the browser in InPrivate mode.

Also, make sure you have accepted the invitation to access the link with the same account the folder originally was shared with.

If you continue to get the same error, please contact the owner of the shared folder to verify of they have removed the shared access or made any change in the permission.

Let us know the status.

Kind regards,

Neha

Answer 2

I have no clue what Azure AD is. My email address is attached to an MS account, and my browser is signed in to that same MS account; so, you'd think that I've met the conditions. Anyways, here is a screenshot of an invite email's share link:

When I click this for the first time, it takes me to a form to fill in my email address. Then it sends me a code, which I enter. I also click the "stay signed in" box. Then I have access to the shared folder, along with other folders likewise shared with me.

After 1 week, this is what I get when I try to access folder again:

I then usually get another email with a verification code to enter. However, I don't see where I should be entering any code here. Do you?

And yes, I try opening in different browser. Apparently MS SharePoint doesn't even like MS Edge, because that doesn't work either. 

Why does this have to be so difficult? Why can't the technology work like it is supposed to?

Answer 3

Hi RikkiNelson,

Please try opening the browser in inPrivate mode and then sign in to your email account to access the link from the invitation.As you mentioned you clicked the "stay signed in" box, I suppose it must be caching the old code for some reason.

Regards,

Neha

Answer 4

Hi RikkiNelson,

Did you check the above reply? If you still need help, please update us.

Regards,

Neha