Password protect OneDrive folder

[BlueSkies]

Hi,

I have a OneDrive folder that we would like to share with an external party but would like to password-protect it.  I have seen the following info regarding how to do this, but when I share the folder I don't seem to see the password protect option in the Link Settings:

 

Steps to Password Protect a Shared Folder 

 

1. Open OneDrive in your web browser .
2. Select the file or folder: you want to share.
3. Click "Share" .
4. In the sharing panel, ensure the permission level is set to Anyone with the link.
5. If the option is still unavailable, check the link settings to ensure external sharing is enabled or disabled as appropriate for your account.
6. Locate and click the "Set password": option.
7. Create and confirm: your password.
8. Click "Share": to send the link to recipients.

 

 

Would someone be able to help me to see how to do this please?

 

Thanks

[NicholasEsping]

4 hours ago, BlueSkies said:

Hi,

I have a OneDrive folder that we would like to share with an external party but would like to password-protect it.  I have seen the following info regarding how to do this, but when I share the folder I don't seem to see the password protect option in the Link Settings:

 

Steps to Password Protect a Shared Folder 

 

1. Open OneDrive in your web browser .
2. Select the file or folder: you want to share.
3. Click "Share" .
4. In the sharing panel, ensure the permission level is set to Anyone with the link.
5. If the option is still unavailable, check the link settings to ensure external sharing is enabled or disabled as appropriate for your account.
6. Locate and click the "Set password": option.
7. Create and confirm: your password.
8. Click "Share": to send the link to recipients.

 

 

Would someone be able to help me to see how to do this please?

 

Thanks

Here is a screenshot you would just put a password in the set password box.

Edited August 26, 2025 by NicholasEsping

[BlueSkies]

Hi Nicholas,

 

Thanks, but the problem is that I don't have the set password option on the settings.  I can sent an expiry date/time, but not a password.  I'm just wondering if this is licence-related as we only have A1 (plus) here...

[NegativeKillDeath]

6 minutes ago, BlueSkies said:

Hi Nicholas,

 

Thanks, but the problem is that I don't have the set password option on the settings.  I can sent an expiry date/time, but not a password.  I'm just wondering if this is licence-related as we only have A1 (plus) here...

 

Nicholas example relates to a docx file not a folder, Where did you get the instructions in your original post from? It looks like an AI summary which maybe misleading. 

[BlueSkies]

I've tried both the folder and one of the documents inside it - each time, I can only see the expiry date/time option but not the password option as shown in the screenshot Nicholas posted.  And yes, it was an AI google search summary ... and it was all good until I couldn't see the option it mentioned - hence posting on here to get proper answers! 🙂

[NicholasEsping]

4 hours ago, BlueSkies said:

I've tried both the folder and one of the documents inside it - each time, I can only see the expiry date/time option but not the password option as shown in the screenshot Nicholas posted.  And yes, it was an AI google search summary ... and it was all good until I couldn't see the option it mentioned - hence posting on here to get proper answers! 🙂

I can do folders as well. My sharing settings are set to Most permissive for both SharePoint and OneDrive and we expire the links after 90 days. I am not seeing any check boxes or anything related to the Password box.

[BlueSkies]

Hi Nicholas,

 

Thanks for checking that out.  What licence do you have?  We are just A1 Plus here ...

 

 

[NicholasEsping]

2 minutes ago, BlueSkies said:

Hi Nicholas,

 

Thanks for checking that out.  What licence do you have?  We are just A1 Plus here ...

 

 

We have A5 here so it could definitely be a license thing, but I think that would be a weird setting to lock behind a license.

[BlueSkies]

I think Microsoft sometimes equals "weird"!! 😅

[Davit2005]

Another option might me to use a password protected zip file. 7-Zip can do that for you. I realize it means installing and managing an app 😞

Edited August 28, 2025 by Davit2005

[NegativeKillDeath]

The password option only shows if you are creating an Anyone link, presumably you are doing that? 

[BlueSkies]

3 hours ago, NegativeKillDeath said:

The password option only shows if you are creating an Anyone link, presumably you are doing that? 

Ah .. no ... I have created links for specific email addresses only.

 

So it looks like you can either share with specific people with no password on the shared folder - or with anyone and then password-protect it.

 

We have dropped a password-protected .zip file into the share now as that was the alternative.  It just makes it a bit more long-winded as you can't extract the .zip in OneDrive and need to download it first.  But that's OK.

 

Thanks for solving the password option puzzle! 🙂