Dear colleagues, 

Microsoft is changing how some external users access files and folders shared from SharePoint and OneDrive. 

Starting in July 2026, some older SharePoint and OneDrive links shared with external recipients may stop working if the recipient previously accessed the content using an email passcode. If this happens, the recipient may see an “Access Denied” message. 

What to do if an external user can no longer access a shared file or folder: 

• • The person who originally shared a file or folder must share it again with the external recipient. 

• • The external recipient will be required to sign in using a Microsoft account instead of a one-time passcode. 

• • If the recipient does not already have a Microsoft account, they can create one using their existing email address (for example, Gmail, Yahoo, or another email provider) at:
    https://signup.live.com/ 

Please note that: 

• • Recipients do not need to create a new email address to obtain a Microsoft account. 

• • They can use their current email address to create and sign in with a Microsoft account. 

• • This change primarily affects external users who previously authenticated using email-based one-time passcodes rather than a Microsoft account. 

If you have any questions or concerns, please submit a ticket to the Enterprise Service Centre at (https://uoft.me/m365help). 

Kind regards, 

Enterprise Applications & Solutions Integration (EASI) 

Information Technology Services, University of Toronto