Request access to a file
last updated at: 12 Oct 2026
When you follow a link to a file you do not have access to, Eigen shows a "You need access" screen instead of the file. From there you can send the owner a request, and they can grant you access without you needing to contact them separately.
Request access
- Open the link to the file.
- On the "You need access" screen, you will see the owner's name. Check that you are signed in with the right account. Your email address is shown at the bottom of the screen.
- If you want to add a note, click Add a message and type it in the box that appears.
- Click Request access.
The button changes to Access requested, confirming the request was sent. You do not need to do anything else. The owner will receive a notification and can grant access from there.
What happens next
The owner receives a notification in Eigen. Clicking it opens the Share dialog for the file, with your email address already filled in, so they can add you with a few clicks.
Depending on how the server is set up, they may also receive an email about the request.
A file on a team's Drive has no single owner. Every member of the team receives the notification, and the email if the server sends one, unless an admin turned off Notify members for the team. Then nobody is told, and the screen still says Access requested.
Once the owner has shared the file with you, open the link again. The file will open normally.
You must be signed in to Eigen to request access. If you are signed in as the wrong account, sign out first and sign back in with the account you want to use.
If you signed in as a guest, with a one-time code sent to your email address, the screen has no Request access button. Ask the owner to share the file with you instead.
If the owner does not respond
Eigen has no way to follow up on a request automatically. If you do not hear back, reach out to the owner directly using the name shown on the "You need access" screen.