--- title: "Sharing Files and Folders (Shared Links)" slug: "sharing-files" updated: 2026-02-23T19:34:46Z published: 2026-02-23T19:34:46Z --- > ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.nasuni.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Sharing Files and Folders (Shared Links) “Shared links” enable you to share files and folders with individuals outside your organization or with internal users who would otherwise not have access to the content you want them to view. For information on creating links for internal users, see [Permalinks](/v1/docs/permalinks). Users can create shared links for files or folders that they have access to, allowing those items to be previewed and downloaded by other users. They might also allow users to modify the contents of those folders. Users can add passwords and set expiration dates for each shared link, according to their organization’s sharing policies. > ***NOTE****: Sharing a folder also shares all the content within that directory, including sub-folders.* > [!TIP] > ***Tip****: With a Basic license, each user can create at most one shared link per folder or file. This is not overridable via config.ini. With an Advanced license, each user can create up to 250 shared links per folder or file for each user. This is overridable via config.ini.* Web Access administrators determine which users and groups can create shared links through Share properties. They can also set expiration and password policies, as well as view and manage existing shared links. For more information, see [Shared Link Permissions](/v1/docs/shared-link-permissions) and [Shared Links Management](/v1/docs/admin-tasks-for-web-access). ## Creating a shared link To create a shared link within Web Access, follow these steps: 1. Locate the file or folder that you want to share. 2. Select **Manage Links** from either the right-click menu of the item or by using the context button in the top right, which becomes available when a single item is selected. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/2adf6ce2-c120-4520-b135-0fc4463ddde3/Images/Documentation/manage-links.png) 3. On the **Manage links** page, you see any existing links already created for that item. To create a new shared link, click **Create new**. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/2adf6ce2-c120-4520-b135-0fc4463ddde3/Images/Documentation/Screenshot 2025-05-09 at 11.02.57.png) 4. Review the settings for protection and expiration and click **Create**. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/2adf6ce2-c120-4520-b135-0fc4463ddde3/Images/Documentation/create-link.png) > ***Note****: The “Protect Link” and “Set Expiration Date” options are only available if they have been configured on the Web Access pane when creating or editing SMB (CIFS) shares on the NMC.* 1. After a shared link is created, you are presented with the URL of the shared link. You can copy and paste the link wherever you want to send it (such as in a message or an email). ![](https://cdn.document360.io/2adf6ce2-c120-4520-b135-0fc4463ddde3/Images/Documentation/Screenshot 2025-05-09 at 11.00.29.png) > ***NOTE****: After a shared link is created, the shared link cannot be modified.* ## Securing shared links Users have the option to secure their shared links in many different ways. ### Modify Folder Contents When creating a shared link for a folder, you can also allow the folder contents to be modified. If the permission is available, in the **Create link** dialog box, the “**Users accessing this link can**” option appears. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/2adf6ce2-c120-4520-b135-0fc4463ddde3/Images/Documentation/modify-folder-contents.png) Selecting “**View folder contents**” gives users the ability to: - Browse the specified folder. - Preview files in the specified folder. - Download files and folders from the specified folder. Selecting “**Modify folder contents**” gives users the ability to: - Delete files and folders in the specified folder. - Create files and folders in the specified folder. - Update files and folders in the specified folder. ### Expiration Dates By setting an expiration date on a shared link, you can specify how long the shared link remains active. When a shared link expires, that link no longer provides access to the associated content. The person trying to use the expired shared link receives an error message. ### Passwords When protecting shared links with a password, Web Access requires the user to use a complex password. When the password is required, the password is sent to the user configuring the shared link via email if the user has entered their email address. In addition, that same password is sent to any other email addresses that the user has entered. Otherwise, the password must be shared by other means, such as a chat application. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/2adf6ce2-c120-4520-b135-0fc4463ddde3/Images/Documentation/Screenshot 2025-05-08 at 14.26.39.png) Password requirements: - Must contain an uppercase letter. - Must contain a lowercase letter. - Must contain a digit. - Must contain a special character. - Must be at least 8 characters long. ### Email Links > ***Note****: This feature requires an Advanced Web Access license.* Shared links can be automatically emailed when the shared link is created. Adding an email address to the **Send Link To** field allows you to send shared links directly to the inboxes of those you want to share with. Sharing via email is optional, unless the **One-time passcode** protection type is selected. Sharing via email is limited to 100 email addresses. If your link has no protection, or is protected by a password, the **Send Link To** field is optional. If the link is protected via the **One-time passcode** protection type, this field must include at least one email address to send the link to. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/2adf6ce2-c120-4520-b135-0fc4463ddde3/Images/Documentation/Screenshot 2025-05-08 at 14.58.07.png) ### One-time Passcode > ***Note****: This feature requires an Advanced Web Access license.* A one-time passcode secures links by asking recipients to enter a challenge code when they open the link. The shared link and challenge codes are sent through email, requiring that the recipients' email addresses be entered when the link is created. Each recipient receives a unique shared link. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/2adf6ce2-c120-4520-b135-0fc4463ddde3/Images/Documentation/Screenshot 2025-05-08 at 14.35.57.png) When a recipient clicks their unique shared link, they are directed to an access page for passcode verification, and a temporary, time-limited passcode is emailed only to that recipient. A shared link secured by a one-time passcode cannot be used by someone who was not emailed it directly, because they do not see the challenge code. ## Managing Links The **Shares** view indicates which files and folders have shared links, denoted by a share ![](https://cdn.document360.io/2adf6ce2-c120-4520-b135-0fc4463ddde3/Images/Documentation/image-09NZH2PX.png) symbol. Hovering over the symbol displays the number of shared links. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/2adf6ce2-c120-4520-b135-0fc4463ddde3/Images/Documentation/shares-folder-links.png) To view and manage the shared items, select the **Manage Links** button in the top menu or right-click menu of the item. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/2adf6ce2-c120-4520-b135-0fc4463ddde3/Images/Documentation/manage-links.png) This opens the “**Manage links**” page, where you can make any necessary changes. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/2adf6ce2-c120-4520-b135-0fc4463ddde3/Images/Documentation/image-CWZ1UD6Z.png) ## “Your Shared Items” The **Your Shared Items** page, available from the left navigation bar, lists all of the items for which there are shared links. The number of shared links created by this user for each item is displayed on the right. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/2adf6ce2-c120-4520-b135-0fc4463ddde3/Images/Documentation/your-shared-items(1).png) To sort by any of the columns, click on the column title. To open the **Manage Links** dialog, click on an item.