Folders Shared with me are syncing as internet shortcut in OneDrive on Windows PC

Anonymous
2024-06-08T04:53:55+00:00

Hi. I had some folders shared from different users in my OneDrive account. I had added the folders to my OneDrive with Add Shortcut to OneDrive button from Shared folders in cloud. The account is logged into a windows pc and every files including the folders shared with my were syncing fine until yesterday. Yesterday night the shared folders were completely removed from the Windows pc and folders are replaced with internet shortcut. This is such a big mess. I have tried unlinking the account and linking it back, changing the location of OneDrive on my windows pc and tried to get a new folder shared to my account and adding it to OneDrive. Nothing works so far. OneDrive has a big part in my daily activities. Please help me resolve this.

Microsoft 365 and Office | OneDrive | For home | Windows

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
Anonymous
2025-03-13T06:07:22+00:00

Here is the statement from the Microsoft OneDrive product group (Redmond USA) about the OneDrive Personal problem:

***This is related to a backend migration we are doing and unfortunately, we don’t fully support syncing shared folders in the case where one user has migrated and the other has not. We’re doing everything possible to accelerate things so that it can be resolved as soon as possible for users of the feature. When the accounts are migrated, there is automated logic that makes them go back to a syncing folder within several days.***I have heard, that shared Folder issue is gone.
The best thing is: WAIT and do nothing

Was this answer helpful?

200+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments

3,079 additional answers

Sort by: Oldest
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2025-01-27T08:10:11+00:00

    Thank you for tests,

    I think the problem is related with this link issue. When user sees a link instead of real folder it cannot search it, because it does not see the files inside it. It is just a link, so no content is scanned for searching. Searching online does not work and on desktop apps.

    Microsoft , what is your response to this?

    Basic functionality is crippled.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2025-01-27T09:19:59+00:00

    Reply from support:

    "We understand that your added shared folders are acting as a shortcut and opening in a web browser when opened from File explorer. Our engineering team is aware of this issue now and working on resolving it as soon as possible. However, we do not have an ETA on when this issue will be resolved.

    As we are actively working on resolving the issue, please use the web interface to access and manage your shared folders in the meantime.

    We request your patience in the matter.

    Once again, we apologize for the inconvenience caused."

    This takes so long that i am willing to change the cloud provider.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2025-01-27T16:40:00+00:00

    Hey,

    With this bug/issue there is another thing which is totally insane.

    When you see a link(inside desktop app) instead of content of folder Microsoft advises to use the online version...BUT the online version can't search/find anything in the shared folders. !

    So Microsoft is sending me to online version which also does not have a basic functionality... YOU CAN'T SEARCH FOLDERS SHARED WITH YOU even online.

    Guys can you search folders and files in the Online OneDrive which are shared with you?

    Let's say that there is a folder which is shared with you. You add it to your OneDrive => then try to search for the files or folders which were in that shared folder...can you see it?

    I assume if you have url shortcut on desktop app , then you cannot search folders which are shared with you (even online)

    Insane!

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2025-01-28T07:50:05+00:00

    When you open the shared folder(s) in the browser, you can type your search terms in the search bar at the top ('search everything'). The search is very fast and it searches inside files too, incl. PDF files.

    The problems caused by the bug this thread is about are mainly:

    • No local sync, so no possibility to work on shared files offline
    • Complex file manipulations, e.g. copy or move files between folders.
    • Need to download files other than MS Office files to edit them, then re-upload, which is cumbersome + you lose all the benefit of file sharing.

    Like many respondents to this thread, I'm slowly losing faith in Microsoft solutions and ability to deliver. If it weren't for the Office licenses associated to this, I would already have switched to another product, like Google Drive or Dropbox.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments