ShareFile
View PDF

ShareFile Admin Guide

March 2, 2026
Contributed by: 
P

ShareFile offers best-in-class flexibility, allowing you to customize your account to fit your organization’s needs. As you get ready to roll out ShareFile, we recommend you take these 5 steps to ensure a smooth experience for both you as an admin and for your users who will be working in the tool every day.

  1. Activate and Configure Your ShareFile Account
  2. Using on-premises storage
  3. Configure Single Sign-on (SSO)
  4. Deploy ShareFile Apps and Tools
  5. Invite Users to Your ShareFile Account
  6. Additional Resources

Step 1: Activate and Configure your ShareFile Account

First start out by activating your account if not already done. You should have gotten a welcome e-mail to start that process. We recommend you first update your account settings.

Here are some key settings to review:

Check out more information on all Advanced Preferences.

Step 2: Using On-premises Storage

With ShareFile, you get the flexibility to determine where you store your data, whether in the ShareFile-managed cloud zones, on-premises, or a combination of both. With ShareFile-managed cloud storage zones, there’s no setup or ongoing management required; just pick a zone and go.

Here’s what you need to know if you are setting up an on-premises storage location for use with your ShareFile account:

ShareFile Storage Zone Controller

Once you set up your storage location(s), start creating your folder structure and migrating your data. Note that these articles apply to both using cloud and on-premises storage.

Step 3: Configure Single Sign-on (SSO)

Allow your users to sign into ShareFile with their company credentials by configuring single sign-on (SSO).

Configure SSO (Leveraging your existing SAML 2.0 or 3.0 identity provider (IdP)) Once you configure SSO, set up the User Management Tool to import your users from your Active Directory security group(s) or organizational unit(s). Not using Active Directory? Setup user accounts manually via the web UI.

TIP:

If you’re not ready to deploy to your end users, simply clear the “Notify Employees with Email” option when you create your provisioning rule.
Once you leverage these two options, onboarding your users will be a breeze! Want to discuss configuration and points of interest about ShareFile? Visit our forum where other ShareFile users ask questions and share ideas.

Step 4: Deploy ShareFile Apps and Tools

Determine the tools and apps you would like to roll out to your users. You can always use a web browser to access ShareFile but we make it even easier with our integrated client applications. Check out the below articles to learn more!

If you push out applications on behalf of your end users, use provide .MSI versions of our installations. Check out our downloads page for these .MSI files for mass distribution.

TIP:

Our ShareFile desktop application has GPO options for Windows! Use it to preconfigure options for the client for a better, more secure user experience.

Step 5: Invite Users to Your ShareFile Account

When you’re ready to roll out ShareFile to your end users:

  • Create and invite users: Create accounts for your end users, and automatically send them a welcome email with an account activation link. If you installed our User Management Tool (UMT), you may already have your users onboarded! Great work!
  • Communicate: Reach out to your users and provide simple instructions in getting to your ShareFile instance. We recommend this article to help with some basic for your users.
  • Getting Started with ShareFile: Adding a new technology tool can sometimes feel overwhelming, so have webinars to help focus on this topic. Check out our webinar and events page to sign up for free live webinars! These range from ‘Getting Started’ or more advanced ‘Expert’ level topics.
  • YouTube education videos: We have our own ShareFile YouTube Channel for past webinars and other training content. Check out videos based on your needs.
  • Need support or have issues? Chat with Support to start a case.

TIP:

If you configured single sign-on for ShareFile, you could send out your own email invitation blast by simply including your ShareFile URL.

Additional Resources

ShareFile Admin Guide
March 2, 2026
Contributed by: 
P
March 2, 2026
Contributed by: 
P

In this article

Site feedback | Privacy and legal terms | Cookie preferences

About Us | Awards | Press Releases | Media Coverage | Careers | Offices | Security Center | License Agreement | Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information

Copyright © Progress Software Corporation and/or its subsidiaries or affiliates. All Rights Reserved.

Progress and certain product names used herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of Progress Software Corporation and/or one of its subsidiaries or affiliates in the U.S. and/or other countries. See Trademarks for appropriate markings. All rights in any other trademarks contained herein are reserved by their respective owners and their inclusion does not imply an endorsement, affiliation, or sponsorship as between Progress and the respective owners.