How to Get Direct or Permanent Link for OneDrive Files?

Update for 2024 -  OneDrive Direct Download Link Generator for 2024 Breaking API Change

Microsoft OneDrive Direct File Download URL Maker

I get asked all the time to by my clients to provide a way to direct download URL to a file and NOT preview the file, especially if the file is large. It's often very confusing for novice users to have preview mode of file, such as PDF files which launch a separate user interface. Moreover, if the file is over 100Mb, the preview appears too slowly for most users, and they'll abandon the file.

So I came up with this mini "App", it takes a OneDrive Share Link and returns the direct download URL for that file.

Enjoy! The original download maker since 2014.

Microsoft OneDrive Direct File Download URL Maker

1. Right-click on item in Onedrive, Choose Embed.

For images, this does NOT work. Embed gives you the direct URL of the image (see below).

2. Click Generate button

3. Get Embed code from Onedrive as in picture above. i.e.: <iframe src="https://onedrive.live.com/embed?cid=8F99649728BEB2F3&resid=8F99649728BEB2F3%211010&authkey=AFo8ZQ_-qj84DEQ" width="98" height="120" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe>  see instructions below, if you don't know how. NOTE : For images there an extra step below.

Copy Embed Code (red arrow 3) and paste into text-box below. Click Get embed link button. This will fill 3.1, then click Get Download Link.

This will produce, extract the File Embed Link which looks like: https://onedrive.live.com/embed?cid=8F99649728BEB2F3&resid=8F99649728BEB2F3%211010&authkey=AFo8ZQ_-qj84DEQ and populate the text-box below. To proceed click "Get Download Link" button.

3.1 Alternatively, you can paste (ctrl-v) your OneDrive File Embed Link in text-box below and click "Get Download Link" button below


4. Now, Click on Get Download Link button.

Text-box will be highlighted so you can copy the full link. To copy, right-click and choose  "Copy" or simply (ctrl-c) to copy link. Note: Entire URL is automatic selected for your convenience.

 


Now you can Paste (ctrl-v) and share the OneDrive Direct Download Link in your email ;)

For Images, you get a direct url

1. Right-click on image and select Embed. The Copy the URL to embed image now gives you direct download URL, but is super long.
   
   So you do not need to do the above! 

You can also remove everything after the ? 

https://wyztwg.by.files.1drv.com/y4mucnXH4ZIfty_kXg9nYvgjHKJMw-XkCLfcBvI7ipNMNidsCjSMyNcw4cFyNlB0WKO9M-VNquASIbFp9DlTJPrjpqk2ex4GmzoVcA_2OOAp1G1ZiGK_U_UPjmfTj_hmtd41HascgLLyjTbEKJlDzXfFhyOXPngJ_ovCRPxL14pt1B0er3HaJvRxjkpru0z85Wiua9JhMP-BvbADeKnISGTqQ?width=1082&height=539&cropmode=none

to

https://wyztwg.by.files.1drv.com/y4mucnXH4ZIfty_kXg9nYvgjHKJMw-XkCLfcBvI7ipNMNidsCjSMyNcw4cFyNlB0WKO9M-VNquASIbFp9DlTJPrjpqk2ex4GmzoVcA_2OOAp1G1ZiGK_U_UPjmfTj_hmtd41HascgLLyjTbEKJlDzXfFhyOXPngJ_ovCRPxL14pt1B0er3HaJvRxjkpru0z85Wiua9JhMP-BvbADeKnISGTqQ

Using OneDrive as a CDN

Bonus : For images, read Using OneDrive as a Content Delivery Network (CDN)  plausibility post.