The practiced news is that Microsoft rolled out a new 'request file' feature in December 2019. So although you notwithstanding can't request files from people outside your organisation using Microsoft Forms, you tin using OneDrive.

In this article we'll look at how y'all tin can get other people to upload files to your OneDrive account. We'll also wait at the limitations of this new characteristic and alternatives.

First up, you can merely use the 'request files' feature of OneDrive if you take a OneDrive for work or school account. The feature is not available for Office 365 Authorities, Part 365 operated by 21Vianet, OneDrive for dwelling, or Office 365 Frg.

If you lot accept whatsoever of these Microsoft products, you'll need to work with either a competitor production, or file upload software that natively integrates with Microsoft OneDrive.

Requesting files using OneDrive

Withal, if you practice have a business or schoolhouse business relationship then the process of requesting files is fairly straightforward:

  • Cull the binder you want to upload files to and select 'request files'
  • Describe what files yous are requesting
  • Send a link to people or enter their emails
  • Yous'll receive a notification email whenever someone uploads files to your file asking folder

For screenshots and more information see Microsoft's help documentation.

Security considerations

For this characteristic to work you lot demand to 'enable Anyone links in OneDrive'.

Allow users to share files and folders by using links that let anyone who has the link access the files or folders without authenticating. This setting too allows users to share sites with new and existing guests who authenticate.

This setting is for your arrangement overall: "The OneDrive setting tin can be more restrictive than the SharePoint setting, just not more permissive". Then if you apply SharePoint besides, and then yous'll need to be as permissive for that platform.

Enabling this link for your entire organisation can lead to security issues, of which Microsoft is aware: "When you allow anonymous users to upload files, you're at an increased risk of someone uploading a malicious file."

Y'all also risk unathorised sharing of sensitive information:

When Anyone sharing is enabled for your organization, the default sharing link is commonly ready toAnyone. While this can be convenient for users, it can increase the risk of unintentional unauthenticated sharing. If a user forgets to alter the link type while sharing a sensitive document, they might accidentally create a sharing link that doesn't require hallmark.

Microsoft suggests a few ways to mitigate this risk:

  • Set a fourth dimension limit on links
  • Irresolute the default link to ane that works for people inside your organisation. Users who desire to share with other people would then have to specifically select that pick.
  • Change permissions for files and for folders to view-only
  • Create a data loss prevention (DLP) dominion

For more information, see Microsoft's article 'All-time practises for sharing files and folders with unauthenticated users'.

Limitations of 'asking files' characteristic

Aside from the security issues, which tin be managed to an extent, in that location are a few major limitations with this new feature. The principal i is that it is quite a basic feature.

The upload form that is sent to people via a link is restricted in terms of design, as well as ability to collect text-only data. It is also quite unhelpful if you want to collect multiple files.

In the example beneath, you lot can say who is requesting files, and add a description. Merely that's about information technology.

In contrast, specialised file upload page software allows y'all to create a file request similar this:

multi-page form example

Using this upload folio, y'all can:

  • Add together your branding and logo
  • Collect different types of information, from phone numbers and dropdown options to dates and longer-form text
  • Create multiple dropzones to make information technology easier for people to know what to upload
  • Utilize conditional logic and then your clients but encounter questions relevant to them
  • Create multi-page forms to meliorate your response rate

File upload services vs OneDrive 'file request' feature

The obvious reward of the 'file request' feature is that it is now included with OneDrive, if you have a business or school account.

It is a decent feature if y'all want to collect files from people who will be okay with a fairly basic user experience, and trust your visitor or organisation already. This would be the case for schools running a competition, for case, who want to invite digital entries.

The key points in favour of this characteristic are:

  • Anyone can send you a file
  • All the files sent to y'all are saved in a unmarried folder that you choose
  • People who respond to your asking tin can just upload files and not view or edit other files  (if you select this option)
  • Although there might be some security issues, Microsoft advises on how to overcome these

In contrast, file upload services price coin ($49/month for a squad plan, for case). However, their job is specifically to make information technology as easy and intuitive for you lot to gather all types of content from anyone. So you do get a lot of additional functionality, which should be plenty to justify the price:

  • Power to embed your upload form in your website
  • Much more control over customising your upload form
  • Forms looks expert on mobiles
  • Ability to create a form that allows you to get together text data as well every bit files
  • Set upwards automatic electronic mail sequence to transport reminder emails and then on
  • Bank-level encryption and countersign-protection if you need it

A file upload service, similar File Asking Pro, besides natively integrates with OneDrive and SharePoint. If you set up dynamic file organisation, yous tin can also send files to your Microsoft cloud account already organised into subfolders by whatever value yous choose.

If yous're non sure which choice to choose, you tin always sign upward for a gratis trial for a file upload service, and see how you get on.  Nada beats testing an actual service to see if it suits your specific setup and requirements.