Do you need to ask people to upload files? Perhaps you have some clients that need to upload files to you. If these people were all part of your company or organization and you were using Microsoft 365 for Business, you could look at using Microsoft Forms. If these people are not part of your organization you could use OneDrive for Business or Enterprise and use the Request Files feature. This article discusses Request Files. There is a Microsoft article called Create a File Request.

Note the difference between OneDrive and OneDrive for Business. Request Files will only work with OneDrive for Business. If you sign up for Microsoft 365 Personal, Home and Student or Family, you get OneDrive, not OneDrive for Business.

For the people uploading, there is no login or password required. It is easy to use and it’s browser-based. They don’t need to have their own OneDrive. It works on mobile devices – both Andriod and iPhone. It works on the PC and the Mac. You can upload files over 1 gigabyte. For the person creating the folder, all of the files are in one place, in one folder. You can set a time limit for the link to expire. When people upload files, they are required to provide the first and last name which will then be automatically put at the front of each file they upload as part of the file name, thereby distinguishing each person’s files. This is particularly helpful when you are providing the link to many people. People that are uploading cannot delete or rename their files, or even view their files. People uploading cannot see the files of the other people who have uploaded to the same folder. They cannot even see the list of files. People uploading files can share that link, if they want. And again, each person uploading file can never see the files that others have uploaded using that same link. They are private and only the person creating the folder can see all of the files.

Learning with a Video

For more information you can have a look at the video called OneDrive for Business: Request Files feature is awesome! It’s by Chris Menard.

To set this up you need to log into your OneDrive for business account. Create a new folder and give it an appropriate name. What you get is a link. You can send this link in an email. When the person clicks on the link they see a simple page that shows the name of your folder. There is also a button that says Select files. Once clicked it presents an Open dialog box for the user to browse out and select their files to upload. You can select multiple files.

Each link will last at most 30 days. You cannot extend that, but you can shorten it. Once you know you have all the files you need you can manage the access of the folder and select the x icon (remove link). That’s to the right of the Copy button at the top.