Inviting Users to Your SharePoint site

This KB Article References: SharePoint
This Information is Intended for: Instructors, Guests, Researchers, Staff, Students
Created: 10/29/2013 Last Updated: 04/08/2024

You can directly add users to your site or you can invite them to collaborate via email.  If you're working with an external user, it's best to email them an invite. 

Every SharePoint site has 3 default groups:

  • Visitors - assigned Read permission level
  • Members - assigned Edit permission level
  • Owners - assigned Full Control permission level

Inviting Users to Your SharePoint Site

Inviting users will send them an email that has a link to the site and a personal message from you.  

For Stony Brook users, use their @stonybrook.edu email address; for SBU Medicine users, please ensure that you use their @stonybrookmedicine or @LISVH.org email; for External users, use any email address you have for them (i.e. Yahoo, Gmail, etc.).

To invite users to your site:

  1. Click the Share button at the top right of your screen
  2. Enter their email addresses, a personal message and then click Options to give them Visitor, Member or Owner access

Checking the Status of an External User's Invitation

Directly Adding Users to Your SharePoint Site

This method will send out a link to all collaborators without a message.

  1. Click on Settings (gear) > Site Settings 
  2. Under Users and Permissions click Site Permissions
  3. Click on the group you'd like to add people to (e.g., Viewers)
  4. Click New and then Add users to this group
  5. In the Share box that opens, enter the email address(es) of those you want to share with (as you type, suggested email address(es) appear below--click on one to add it), and optionally a message
    Please note: When adding a SBU Medicine or LISVH (Long Island State Veterans Home) employee, type in the entire email address including the @stonybrookmedicine.edu or @lisvh.org (eg. John.Smith@stonybrookmedicine.edu) and choose the corresponding account.
  6. Click Share
    share add user from suggested users after typing email address
  7. Users will receive a link to your site and can sign in using their campus email address; non Stony Brook (external) users can register for a Microsoft Account