Link to Force Download a Document Instead of Opening It

Overview

This Knowledge Base article provides instructional steps to force download of a document instead of opening in client. 

Problem

Documents (Word/Excel/PowerPoint files/PDF file types) linked in SharePoint Online pages, navigation menu, lists, etc., open in the browser (or in client application) directly either in Read-only mode or in Edit mode, based on user permissions.

What if you want to force download a file instead of opening it in the browser with Microsoft Office Online applications?

Resolution

To Force Download a File: 

• Navigate to the SharePoint document library where your documents is
• Select the file
• Click on the “Copy link” button in the ribbon 
• Use the format to frame a force download link: https://<yourdomain>.sharepoint.com/sites/<yoursite>/_layouts/download.aspx?SourceUrl=<document-URL>
  • e.g. https://maricopa.sharepoint.com/sites/<SITE NAME>/_layouts/download.aspx. So for the Legal site the URL would be  https://maricopa.sharepoint.com/sites/Legal/_layouts/download.aspx?
  • e.g. The SourceURL is the link to the file. For your PDF the sourceurl is  https://maricopa.sharepoint.com/sites/Legal/BLC%20Documents/PSQS_form_060425.pdf 
• When a user clicks on the link, It downloads the file instead of opening it.

E.g. Change the URL on the page to  https://maricopa.sharepoint.com/sites/Legal/_layouts/download.aspx?SourceUrl=https://maricopa.sharepoint.com/sites/Legal/BLC%20Documents/PSQS_form_060425.pdf