Guide Request Access

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 you get an email back the moment they do — reopen the link and the content is unlocked.

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

  1. Open the shared link.
  2. 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.
  3. Optionally add a short note for the owner — for example, "Hi, I'm in your study group. Can I get access?"
  4. Click Request access.

That's it. The owner gets an email notification and can approve in one tap. As soon as they do, you get an email letting you know — open the same link again and the content is unlocked.

What the Owner Sees

The person who shared the content gets an email naming who's asking and what they want access to, with a Review & approve link. That link opens Scholarly straight to the pending request inside the Share window, where the owner can see:

  • Who's asking — your name and email.
  • The note you added (if any).
  • Approve and Deny buttons to grant or refuse access in one tap.

The owner can also manage requests later from the Share window of any item they own.

After Approval

Once the owner approves:

  • You get an email, and reopening the link shows the content unlocked.
  • 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.
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