Create Request Files for sharepoint folder programatically

Question

inside SharePoint we can create a folder and allow users to request files for anonymous users from the UI. now can we automate this creation and create this request for files using Graph API or SharePoint API?

Answer 1

Hi @john john Pter

Currently, I do not see a documented Microsoft Graph API or SharePoint REST API endpoint that creates the same Request files link that SharePoint/OneDrive creates from the UI.

The Request files feature allows users to choose a folder where others can upload files through a link. Uploaders can only upload files; they cannot view, edit, delete, download existing files, or see who else uploaded files. This behavior is different from a normal sharing link.

Microsoft documents PowerShell/admin controls for enabling or disabling the feature, such as:

Set-SPOTenant -CoreRequestFilesLinkEnabled $True
Set-SPOSite -RequestFilesLinkEnabled $True

and related expiration settings, but these commands manage whether the feature is available. They do not create a file request link for a specific folder.

Microsoft Graph does support creating sharing links for DriveItems through the createLink action, for example:

POST https://graph.microsoft.com/v1.0/drives/{driveId}/items/{itemId}/createLink

However, the documented link types are view, edit, and embed, and the documented scopes include anonymous, organization, and users. There is no documented requestFiles, uploadOnly, or equivalent link type in the Microsoft Graph v1.0 createLink API.

So, while you can programmatically create a folder and create normal sharing links, that is not the same as the SharePoint “Request files” upload-only link. A normal anonymous edit link may allow broader write access and does not represent the same restricted upload-only behavior described for Request files.

At this time, the supported approach is:

1. Enable Request files at the tenant/site level using SharePoint Online Management Shell.
2. Create the actual Request files link from the SharePoint or OneDrive UI.
3. If full programmatic creation is required, consider submitting feedback to Microsoft Graph/SharePoint because there does not appear to be a documented supported API for generating that specific request link today.

Please refer: Enable file requests in SharePoint or OneDrive

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