Request access to a canvas or project
Send an access request from the right account, understand what the owner must approve, and recover from unavailable links.
Use Request access when a canvas or project link is valid but your current ALLO account has not been given access. The request always tells the owner who is asking. An optional message explains why. It does not grant access by itself.
Send the request from the account that needs access
Each request is tied to the ALLO account that submits it. Sign in with the email that should receive access before you continue.
- Open the canvas or project link.
- Sign in or create an account if ALLO asks you to.
- Optional, but recommended: on the You need access page, add a short message that tells the owner what you need to do.
- Choose Request access.
An empty request still sends your account identity. Access requested means the request was sent, not that the canvas or project is open. Wait for the owner to invite your account, then open the invitation from Inbox or find the work in Shared with me.
Include the job and permission you need: “Please give me comment access for the pricing review” is more useful than “Please let me in.”
What the access request records
An access request gives the owner enough context to review one blocked entry attempt. It does not make the access decision.
| The request sends or records | The request does not do |
|---|---|
| The ALLO account identity that submitted the request. | Grant access automatically. |
| The optional message, only when the requester provided one. | Let the requester select view, comment, or edit permission. |
| The specific canvas or project named by the request. | Replace the owner's invitation from Share or the project member screen. |
This boundary is why the submitting account matters. If the request comes from the wrong account, it identifies the wrong account to the owner. If the requester leaves the message empty, the owner still receives the account and resource context, but no extra explanation. In every case, the owner must finish the normal invitation flow before the work opens.
The owner still has to send an invitation
The resource owner receives the request in Inbox and by email. The Inbox item shows the requester and includes their message when they provided one. Review access opens the normal canvas Share dialog or project member screen with the requester's email filled in.
Opening Review access is not approval. The owner must choose the right permission and send the invitation. Until that happens, the requester remains blocked.
If you own the work, review the request before inviting anyone:
- Confirm the requester's email and any message they provided.
- Choose the access offered by the canvas Share dialog or project member screen for the job they need to do.
- Send the invitation from Share or the project member screen.
For canvas permissions and share links, see Share a canvas.
When Request access is disabled
Some workspaces do not accept access requests from this page. In that state, the message field and Request access button are disabled, and ALLO tells you to contact the workspace admin.
Send the admin or owner the exact link, your ALLO account email, and the permission you need. They must invite you directly. Retrying the disabled button will not create a request.
Recover from an expired or invalid link
| What you see | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| The link is expired | The link is no longer a usable access path. | Ask the owner for a fresh share link. |
| You don't have access | The link is invalid, unavailable, or not usable by the current account. | Sign in with the intended account, then ask the owner to confirm the work still exists and resend the current link. |
| A sign-in or sign-up page | ALLO needs an account before it can send a request. | Sign in with the email that should be invited, then reopen the original link. |
| Access requested, but the work still will not open | The owner has not sent the invitation, or it was sent to another email. | Ask the owner to finish the invitation and confirm the recipient email. |
| Contact us if you still have a problem or You don't have permission after submitting | The request did not complete. | Reopen the current link, confirm your signed-in account, and try once more. If it still fails, ask the owner to invite you directly. |
A private canvas, page, object, comment, or chat link only points to a location. It does not grant access. If someone sent a precise link before sharing the canvas, ask them to grant access first instead of resending the same link.
When access still does not open the work
After the owner sends the invitation, confirm that you are signed in with the invited email and refresh once. If the same account still cannot open work that the owner confirms exists, follow When you can't access work.
Contact support after the owner confirms the invitation and permission. Include the exact link, your account email, the workspace name, the expected permission, and a screenshot of the error.
Related guides
- Share a canvas
- Private links and share links in Canvas
- Shared with me overview
- Use Inbox
- Members, guests, and external collaborators
- When you can't access work