Hi there! As a SharePoint power user and administrator, I’ve noticed an interesting issue when it comes to default sharing links in Office 365 Group-based sites and Communication sites. It appears that when the default Sharing Link type is set to “People with Existing Access,” links generated by default are View links instead of Edit links, despite the policy specifying Edit links.

I’ve confirmed this behavior in multiple tenants, and it’s worth noting that other link types, such as Read or Contribute, do work as expected. This got me thinking – what’s going on here? Is there something I’m missing?

After digging into the issue, I discovered that the root cause is related to how SharePoint handles permissions and access. When a site is created in an Office 365 Group or Communication site, the default sharing link type is set to “People with Existing Access.” This means that any links generated by default will only grant view-level access to users who already have access to the site.

The reason for this behavior is that SharePoint is designed to provide a secure and controlled environment for collaboration. By default, users can only edit content if they have explicit permission to do so. In the case of Office 365 Group-based sites and Communication sites, the default sharing link type is set to “People with Existing Access” to ensure that only authorized users can access the site and its contents.

While this behavior makes sense from a security standpoint, it can be inconvenient for users who need to edit content but don’t have explicit permission to do so. In these cases, users will need to request explicit permission from the site owner or an administrator in order to gain edit access.

So, what’s the solution? Unfortunately, there isn’t one yet – at least not one that I’m aware of. However, there are a few workarounds that you can consider:

1. Use a different sharing link type: If you need to generate Edit links by default, you can set the default sharing link type to “Anyone with the Link” or “Specific People.” This will allow users to access the site and its contents without needing explicit permission, but be aware that this may reduce the security of your site.

2. Request explicit permission: If you need to edit content in a site with the default sharing link type set to “People with Existing Access,” you’ll need to request explicit permission from the site owner or an administrator. This can be done by sending a request through the SharePoint interface or by contacting the site owner or administrator directly.

3. Use a third-party solution: There are several third-party solutions available that can help you generate Edit links by default. These solutions typically work by modifying the SharePoint API to allow for customized sharing link types and permissions. However, be aware that these solutions may require additional setup and configuration, and may not be supported by Microsoft.

In conclusion, while the inability to generate Edit links by default in Office 365 Group-based sites and Communication sites can be inconvenient, it’s important to remember that this behavior is designed to provide a secure and controlled environment for collaboration. If you need to edit content in these types of sites, consider using a different sharing link type or requesting explicit permission from the site owner or an administrator.