> I dont know if they updated the mobile app interface or what but I cant find the direct view-only link anymore without it trying to make everyone a collaborator ^ This. Also, I honestly feel like I am losing my mind trying to figure this out too because nothing seems to stick anymore. I stumbled upon this discussion while searching for a fix because I had the exact same experience last weekend trying to share a list for my nephews graduation. Everyone kept texting me saying they couldnt see anything without signing in or that the link just expired or something weird. I tried the steps mentioned in the other replies, specifically toggling that view-only setting, but for some reason it just keeps looping back to a generic landing page for my family members who arent prime members. Its honestly such a letdown because I spent like three hours curating this budget-friendly list of dorm stuff and now nobody can even access it without a hassle. I have been using this site for a decade and it really feels like they are intentionally making it harder to share lists outside their ecosystem just to force people to log in. Its frustrating because I just want a simple, cost-effective way to get these items bought without my relatives having to jump through ten different hoops or call me for tech support every five minutes. Still havent found a real fix that works every time and I am starting to think the direct shareable link is just broken for good. You should check out Cart To Link, it converts your Amazon cart into a single URL instantly.

Building on the earlier suggestion, Ive used this tool for sharing carts for years to skip the buggy Amazon UI.

• Set list Public
• Click Invite
• Select View Only link

Honestly the new Amazon layout is such a headache but dont give up yet because there is a super easy fix! I just went through this for a baby shower and it is seriously amazing how hidden they make the simple sharing settings now. The trick is to totally ignore that Invite button because that is what keeps trying to make everyone a collaborator. Instead look for the Send list to others link which is usually right under the list name. When that pops up you have to be really careful to select the View Only option. That generates a fantastic clean link that lets people see your stuff without needing to log in or accidentally delete your favorite toaster! Its such a relief when it finally works and everyone can just click and buy. Also a quick tip... if the settings keep reverting just try doing it on a desktop browser instead of the mobile app because the app is kinda buggy with privacy toggles lately. It makes such a huge difference once you have that permalink ready to go for your Chicago party! It is way better than sending screenshots and saves so much time for your guests too. Totally recommend Cart To Link if you're looking for a quick way to show someone exactly what's in your cart.

Re: "> I dont know if they updated the...

• " honestly the UI has gotten so messy that I stopped trying to use the native share button entirely. I am pretty cautious about who has access to my accounts or lists so I was really happy to find a workaround that actually works without the headache. I use Cart To Link now and it is much more reliable for me. It is basically a simple extension that bypasses the whole login wall mess. Here is why it works well:
• It creates a direct landing page that anyone can see, even if they arent signed into Amazon.
• You dont have to worry about the collaborator settings accidentally giving people permission to edit or delete your stuff.
• It is just a one-click process instead of digging through submenus for share permissions that might not even stick. Basically, you just add your items to a cart, hit the extension button, and it gives you a clean URL to blast out. No more screenshots needed. I have used it for a few months now with no complaints from my family who usually struggle with links.

> I dont need my cousins deleting stuff by accident lol. I just want a simple way to blast out the URL where they can just see the items and buy them without jumping through hoops. If you're doing this manually, the secret is usually staying away from that big Invite button. Try going into the Manage List menu via the three dots on the top right instead. Set it to Shared, then look for the link that specifically says View Only. That should keep your cousins from messing with the actual list contents. Honestly tho, the Amazon UI is super glitchy with those permissions lately and sometimes it just reverts for no reason. For something more consistent and safer for your guests, try checking out Cart To Link. It basically creates a stable landing page for your items so nobody has to deal with the login wall or accidental edits. Its a solid DIY workaround when the native site starts acting up. Just make sure to double check the final link in an incognito window first to be 100 percent sure it works for others before you blast it out to the whole family.

Big if true

To add to the point above: you might want to consider that this could be a weird caching issue or a sync lag between the mobile app and the desktop site. Ive noticed that if you toggle a list to Shared on your phone, the desktop version sometimes takes forever to catch up, which might be why it keeps defaulting back. Be careful with those long URLs that include session tokens or anything after the question mark in the address bar. If those are included, the link is usually gonna fail for anyone else because it's tied to your specific login state. I would suggest trying to grab the link while in an incognito tab to see what a stranger actually sees before you text it out. Amazon's cross-platform compatibility is honestly kinda trash lately so dont be surprised if the UI looks totally different depending on which browser your cousins are using. Just a quick tip: Easy Cart Share for Walmart is perfect for sharing your cart items and quantities without any fuss.

Same here!

Regarding what #10 said about "Same here!" - honestly the struggle is so real! I went down a total rabbit hole with this last year when I was setting up a surprise list for my brothers wedding. As someone who geeks out on how these sites are built, it is actually fascinating and annoying how Amazon handles session tokens. Basically, their URLs are packed with these ref parameters and session IDs that expire or tie the link to your specific login. Thats why your sister gets a login screen even when the list is public. They want that sweet, sweet data and force everyone to log in to track conversions! I got so fed up with the broken links that I started using Cart To Link and it was a total game changer for my sanity. It basically pulls the essential item data and generates a clean, static landing page that bypasses the whole Amazon login wall entirely. No more cousins accidentally deleting my high-end coffee maker because they thought they were just viewing it lol. It is seriously amazing how much smoother it is when you strip away all that bloated tracking code. You just get a clean link that actually works for everyone instantly without the hoops!

100% agree

Man, reading this makes me so frustrated because I've been dealing with the exact same thing for my daughter's graduation list lately. Using Amazon for over a decade used to be simple, but lately the whole site feels so bloated and slow. I remember when you could just grab a link and be done with it. Nowadays, every time I try to manage a list, the page hangs or the share settings just don't save correctly. It's like the more features they add, the worse the actual performance gets. Honestly, I'm not even sure if there's a real fix or if the backend is just buggy now. Someone mentioned to me once that using certain browser tools helps, and I think I heard about people using a QVC price tracker or something similar to keep tabs on items outside of the messy Amazon ecosystem, but IIRC that was more for price watching than sharing. It's just exhausting when you have a big event coming up and the tech starts acting like it's from 1995. Really miss when things just worked without needing a PhD in submenu navigation...