If you have ever hit on a SharePoint link and it doesn’t respond. Then, you are not alone. Many SharePoint users have faced a similar issue and searching for the query why is my SharePoint link not working. It can be frustrating whether you are working on a small document or a crucial project. Broken links can slow down the productivity. In this guide, we will discuss the common reasons and solutions behind the SharePoint link not working.
Reasons & Solutions for SharePoint Links Not Working
There can be multiple reasons behind the SharePoint link not working issue. Let’s discuss each one in detail so that you can understand problems and their solutions deeply.
1. Permission Issues
One of the major reasons behind the why is my SharePoint link not working is permission. In SharePoint, permissions play a vital role. If users do not have the appropriate SharePoint Online permissions, then they will encounter errors while accessing the links. This type of issue mostly persists when the documents are shared with other team members or external users. When the SharePoint permissions are not set properly, then users face an access denied issue while opening the linked content.
Solution:- To resolve the Permission issue. You need to check the SharePoint permissions of the file or folder. Check its Access Level view or edit. Modify it as per requirement. Additionally, permissions can be inherited from the parent folders, so if you are modifying the parent folder permissions then do it wisely.
2. Broken or Renamed Links
Another cause of the SharePoint link not working can be renaming or moving files to a different location such as redirect SharePoint site to new URL. If the destination folder is moved or renamed without updating the link, the original link will break and not respond as per requirement.
For instance, if you have shared a link to a file, but it is renamed due to some project requirements or moved to another folder. When a user clicks on the link, then it shows an error or blank page because SharePoint failed to find the updated location of the file.
Solution:- To get rid of this issue, you need to update the link after renaming or moving the file. Otherwise, you can use the SharePoint document ID service to assign a unique ID for each document. It will maintain the link functionality even if the file is renamed or moved.
3. Browser Compatibility and Cache Issues
Sometimes the issue behind why is my SharePoint link not working is because of the browser. However, SharePoint is compatible with all the browsers and their versions. However, certain settings of the browser and their versions might cause problems.
For instance, older versions of Internet Explorer struggle to open SharePoint links properly. Google Chrome also blocks some content of the website for security purposes. Browser cache is also the culprit of the broken links. Cached data of SharePoint sometimes leads to errors.
Solution:- Test the link in the different browsers before sharing it with others. Also, clear your browse cache data if the browser cache creates an issue.
4. Incorrect URL Formatting
Sometimes, the issue of why is my SharePoint links are not working persists because of the incorrect URL formatting. If the URL includes special characters or spaces, it cannot open the URL.
Solution:- Cross-check the URL that you are sharing with the others. Ensure it contains the underscores only not any special characters such as spaces, or symbols.
Conclusion
Working with the broken SharePoint links can be frustrating, but using the right approach most of the issues can be resolved. Now, you are aware of the common causes and their solutions to get rid of the why is my SharePoint link not working issue? Although there can be multiple reasons behind the error now you can take the appropriate steps to resolve it.