Requesting Access to Shared Content
If a classmate, instructor, or study partner shares a private Scholarly link with you, you can request access without leaving the page. The owner gets an email, approves with one tap, and the content opens for you the moment they do.
When You'd See the Request Access Page
Open a link someone shared and you'll see the Request Access page when:
- The item is set to Private and you haven't been invited yet.
- The item was shared with you but the owner has since revoked access.
- You signed in with a different email than the one the owner invited.
Every shared content type supports requesting access:
- Flashcard decks
- PDFs
- AI Video Lectures
- AI Podcasts
- Recordings
- Research sessions
- AI Chat conversations
- Pages and notes
How to Request Access
- Open the shared link.
- On the Request Access page, sign in or create an account if you don't have one yet — Scholarly needs to know who to grant access to.
- Optionally add a short note for the owner — for example, "Hi, I'm in your study group. Can I get access?"
- Click Request access.
That's it. The owner gets an email notification and can approve in one tap. As soon as they do, the page you were viewing reloads with the content unlocked — no need to refresh manually or open a fresh link.
What the Owner Sees
The person who shared the content gets an email with:
- Who's asking — your name and email.
- What they want — the specific item you requested access to.
- The note you added (if any).
- Approve and Decline buttons that work directly from the email.
The owner can also manage requests later from the Share window of any item they own.
After Approval
Once the owner approves:
- The content opens for you immediately.
- You appear in the item's invite list, just like an emailed invite.
- The owner can revoke your access later — if that happens, you'll see the Request Access page again the next time you open the link.
After Denial
If the owner declines or doesn't respond, the Request Access page stays put. You can re-request at any time, and the owner can change their mind from the Share window.
Privacy
- Scholarly never reveals the contents of a private item until the owner grants access — even the title and description stay hidden.
- Your access request is only visible to the owner of that specific item.
Related
- Sharing and Collaboration — how to share your own materials and manage who has access.
- AI Chat and Voice Mode — sharing chats publicly or privately.
- Settings — control your profile and notification preferences.