The short version: a share link works like a spare key. Whoever holds it can usually open your file. In each app, share with named people when you can, and stop old shares you no longer need.
What a share link is
A share link is a web address that points to a file or folder in your online storage. If the person you give it to passes it on, the next person can open the door too.
You will see three terms:
- Link sharing means anyone who has the link can open the file. Apps often say “Anyone with the link”.
- Shared with specific people means you name each person. The app checks who is opening the file.
- Expiration date is a day you pick. After that day, the link stops working.
Why it matters
Links get forwarded and pasted into group chats. Most are harmless, like a trip photo. A few hold more, like a passport scan.
Dropbox
Who can open it. When you add people by email, Dropbox says they must have a Dropbox account and be logged in. A link made with Copy link is different. Dropbox says anyone with a view-only link can preview the file.
Share with named people. On dropbox.com, hover over the file and click Share. Click Add people, type the email address, choose can view or can edit, then click Share.
Passwords and expiration dates. Dropbox says these are available on some paid plans. On a free plan, delete the link when you are done.
See and stop old shares. On dropbox.com, click Shared in the left sidebar (if you don’t see it, click More first). Click the more options button next to an item, then Share, then the settings icon. Click Link for editing or Link for viewing, then Delete link and Delete. Dropbox says a deleted link stops working for everyone. If you only remove a person, they could get back in with the link, so delete the link too. Menu names can vary.
OneDrive
Who can open it. Microsoft says OneDrive files are private until you share them. A link set to Anyone works for anyone who gets it, even if it is forwarded.
Share with named people. On onedrive.com, select the file’s circle, then Share. Type the names or email addresses in Name, group or email, then select Send. To check who the link is for, open the settings gear icon. Specific people gives access only to the people you list.
Passwords and expiration dates. In the link settings you will see Set password and Set expiration date. Microsoft says these are only for Microsoft 365 subscribers.
See and stop old shares. On onedrive.com, select Shared in the navigation. Select one item, then Info at the top right, then Manage access. Click the X next to a link, then Remove link.
iCloud
iOS is the iPhone’s system software, and the steps differ by version.
Photos (shared albums). A shared album is a group of photos that people you choose can see. On iPhone, open Photos, tap Collections, then scroll to Shared Albums.
- With iOS 27 or later, Sharing Options let you invite and approve each person, or share the album with a link. Apple says you can also let anyone with the link join without approval.
- With iOS 26 or earlier, you invite people from your contacts. The setting Public Website is different. Apple says it publishes the photos to a website that anyone can see.
To stop, open an album you created and tap Manage Shared Album (iOS 27 or later), or the More button and then the album name (iOS 26 or earlier). Tap a person, then choose Remove Participant or Remove Subscriber. To end the album, tap the More button, then Delete Shared Album, then Delete. Apple says this deletes its photos for everyone, so save the ones you want first.
Files (iCloud Drive). iCloud Drive is Apple’s online storage for files. In the Files app, touch and hold a file or folder.
- With iOS 27 or later, tap the share icon, tap the menu under the item’s name, then tap Share a Link. Choose People you choose or Anyone with the link.
- With iOS 26, tap the share icon, choose to collaborate, then choose Only invited people or Anyone with the link.
To see what you have shared, tap Shared in the Files app. To stop, touch and hold the item, tap Manage Shared File or Manage Shared Folder, then Stop Sharing. Apple says the link stops working. The same choices are on iCloud.com, at icloud.com/iclouddrive.
A WhatsApp message is a copy, not a key. Once sent, the other person has it and can forward it. WhatsApp lets you forward to up to five chats at a time.
View once. You can send a photo, video or voice message that disappears after the person opens it once. Pick the photo or video, tap the View Once icon (a number 1 in a circle), then send. WhatsApp says the person cannot forward, copy or screenshot it. WhatsApp also says someone can still photograph the screen with another device.
Disappearing messages. You can set new messages to disappear after 24 hours, 7 days or 90 days. A forwarded copy does not disappear in a chat without the setting. A backup made earlier keeps the message. In a group, anyone can keep a message.
Who can add you to groups. By default, anyone with your phone number can add you to a group. To change this, open Settings. On Android, tap the three dots at the top first. On iPhone, tap Settings or your profile picture. Then tap Privacy, then Groups. Choose My Contacts, or My Contacts Except….
Take back a message. Within two days, tap and hold a message you sent, tap Delete, then Delete for Everyone. WhatsApp says you are not told if it failed. To stop sharing your live location in every chat, open Settings (on Android, tap the three dots first), then Privacy, then Live location, then tap Stop sharing.
Google Docs and Drive
Google has its own “Anyone with the link” setting. See our guide on Google Docs “Anyone with the link”.
IDs and passports
When you can, show an ID in person instead of sending a photo of it. If you must send it:
- Ask why they need it and how they will protect it. The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) suggests these questions before you give out a Social Security number.
- Share it with one named person, as view only. Remove access when they have it.
- If someone you did not expect asks for an ID, stop. Call the company on a number you already know.
Related words: anyone with the link, cloud storage, privacy settings. For the rest of your accounts, see the 30-minute account cleanup.
Do this today (about 8 minutes)
- Pick one service you use: Dropbox, OneDrive, iCloud or WhatsApp.
- Open its list of shares. In Dropbox: Shared. In OneDrive: Shared. In iCloud: Photos, Collections, Shared Albums, or Files, Shared. In WhatsApp: Settings, Privacy, Groups (on Android, tap the three dots first).
- Stop sharing one old link or album that you no longer need. (In WhatsApp, set Groups to My Contacts.)
Never read a code out to someone who contacts you. Do not send a share link or a photo of your ID to someone you do not know.
Checked: 27 October 2026, against each company’s help pages (Dropbox, OneDrive, iCloud for iOS 27 and iOS 26, and WhatsApp for Android and iPhone). Dropbox steps re-checked 3 November 2026. Settings screens change. If yours looks different, search the company’s help page. Our disclosure: SafeinAI has no affiliate links and earns nothing from the sites or tools named on this page. If this ever changes we will say so here, on this page.
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