The good news is that Microsoft rolled out a new 'asking file' feature in December 2019. So although you yet can't asking files from people outside your arrangement using Microsoft Forms, yous can using OneDrive.

In this article we'll look at how you can get other people to upload files to your OneDrive account. We'll as well await at the limitations of this new characteristic and alternatives.

Outset upward, yous tin simply use the 'request files' feature of OneDrive if you have a OneDrive for work or schoolhouse account. The feature is not available for Office 365 Government, Part 365 operated past 21Vianet, OneDrive for habitation, or Office 365 Germany.

If y'all accept any of these Microsoft products, y'all'll demand to work with either a competitor product, or file upload software that natively integrates with Microsoft OneDrive.

Requesting files using OneDrive

However, if you exercise have a business or schoolhouse account and so the process of requesting files is fairly straightforward:

  • Cull the folder you lot want to upload files to and select 'request files'
  • Draw what files y'all are requesting
  • Send a link to people or enter their emails
  • You'll receive a notification email whenever someone uploads files to your file request folder

For screenshots and more information see Microsoft'due south aid documentation.

Security considerations

For this feature to work y'all need to 'enable Anyone links in OneDrive'.

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

This setting is for your organisation overall: "The OneDrive setting can be more restrictive than the SharePoint setting, simply not more than permissive". And then if you use SharePoint too, then you'll need to exist equally 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."

Yous too run a risk unathorised sharing of sensitive information:

When Anyone sharing is enabled for your organization, the default sharing link is usually set up toAnyone. While this can be convenient for users, it can increase the take a chance of unintentional unauthenticated sharing. If a user forgets to change the link type while sharing a sensitive document, they might accidentally create a sharing link that doesn't crave authentication.

Microsoft suggests a few means to mitigate this risk:

  • Ready a time limit on links
  • Changing the default link to one that works for people within your organisation. Users who desire to share with other people would and so have to specifically select that option.
  • Change permissions for files and for folders to view-simply
  • Create a data loss prevention (DLP) rule

For more information, run across Microsoft's article 'Best practises for sharing files and folders with unauthenticated users'.

Limitations of 'asking files' feature

Aside from the security bug, which tin be managed to an extent, there are a few major limitations with this new feature. The main i is that information technology is quite a basic feature.

The upload form that is sent to people via a link is restricted in terms of blueprint, likewise equally power to collect text-merely data. It is also quite unhelpful if you want to collect multiple files.

In the example below, you can say who is requesting files, and add a description. But that'southward nearly it.

In contrast, specialised file upload folio software allows you to create a file request similar this:

multi-page form example

Using this upload folio, you tin can:

  • Add 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 it easier for people to know what to upload
  • Use conditional logic and so your clients only encounter questions relevant to them
  • Create multi-page forms to improve 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.

Information technology is a decent feature if yous want to collect files from people who will be okay with a fairly basic user experience, and trust your company or system already. This would exist the case for schools running a contest, for case, who want to invite digital entries.

The cardinal points in favour of this characteristic are:

  • Anyone can transport you a file
  • All the files sent to you are saved in a single folder that you choose
  • People who respond to your request tin can only upload files and not view or edit other files  (if you select this option)
  • Although in that location might exist some security issues, Microsoft advises on how to overcome these

In contrast, file upload services toll money ($49/calendar month for a team plan, for example). However, their task is specifically to make it as piece of cake and intuitive for you to assemble all types of content from anyone. So you lot exercise get a lot of boosted functionality, which should exist enough to justify the price:

  • Ability to embed your upload form in your website
  • Much more control over customising your upload grade
  • Forms looks good on mobiles
  • Power to create a form that allows y'all to gather text data every bit well as files
  • Prepare up automated email sequence to send reminder emails and then on
  • Bank-level encryption and password-protection if you need it

A file upload service, like File Request Pro, also natively integrates with OneDrive and SharePoint. If you prepare dynamic file organisation, you tin also send files to your Microsoft cloud business relationship already organised into subfolders by whatever value yous cull.

If you're not sure which option to cull, you lot can always sign up for a complimentary trial for a file upload service, and come across how you become on.  Zippo beats testing an bodily service to see if it suits your specific setup and requirements.