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

It seems like you're experiencing a frustrating issue where shared folders in OneDrive are syncing as internet shortcuts instead of actual folders. This problem might be related to syncing issues or a problem with how the OneDrive desktop client is handling your shared folders. Here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot and resolve this issue:

Check OneDrive Storage and Syncing Status

• Storage Space: Ensure you have enough available space in your OneDrive storage and on your local drive. If you're running out of space, OneDrive may not sync files correctly.
• Sync Status: Check the OneDrive sync status by clicking on the OneDrive icon in the taskbar. If there are any sync issues, the icon will show a red X or a yellow triangle. You may see an error message that provides more details about what's happening.

Check Folder Availability in the Cloud

• Go to the OneDrive web interface (https://onedrive.live.com/) and check if the shared folders still appear there as expected. If they do, it confirms that the issue is local to your PC.
• If the folders are missing or corrupted in the cloud, you may need to re-add them using the "Add shortcut to OneDrive" option again.

Clear the OneDrive Cache

Sometimes OneDrive may get stuck with syncing problems due to cached data. You can try clearing the cache to resolve this:

1. Close OneDrive:
   • Right-click the OneDrive icon in the taskbar and click Close OneDrive.
2. Clear OneDrive Cache:
   • Press Win + R to open the Run dialog.
   • Type %localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\ and hit Enter.
   • In this folder, delete the "cache" folder.
3. Restart OneDrive:
   • Open OneDrive again from the Start menu and let it sync the folders properly.

Check OneDrive File On-Demand Settings

File On-Demand allows you to access files without having them fully synced to your PC. However, it can sometimes cause issues with shared folders if it's not set up correctly. Here’s how to ensure File On-Demand is configured properly:

1. Open OneDrive Settings:
   • Right-click on the OneDrive icon in the taskbar and choose Settings.
2. Enable/Disable File On-Demand:
   • In the Settings tab, look for the Files On-Demand section. You can try toggling this setting off and on to see if it resolves the issue.
3. Re-sync Shared Folders:
   • After changing the setting, you may need to unlink and relink your OneDrive account or re-add the shared folders to force a fresh sync.

Re-link OneDrive Account

If syncing continues to fail, you can try unlinking and relinking your OneDrive account:

1. Unlink OneDrive:
   • Right-click the OneDrive icon and choose Settings > Account > Unlink this PC.
2. Re-link OneDrive:
   • After unlinking, sign back into OneDrive and let it sync your files again.

Check for Windows and OneDrive Updates

Ensure that your Windows PC and OneDrive are fully updated, as bugs and syncing issues are often resolved with updates.

• Check for Windows Updates:
  • Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and click Check for updates.
• Update OneDrive:
  • Ensure that OneDrive is running the latest version. You can check for OneDrive updates by clicking on the OneDrive icon in the taskbar, then going to Help & Settings > Settings > About.

Contact Microsoft Support

If none of the above solutions work, it might be time to contact Microsoft support. They can dive deeper into the issue and help resolve it directly.

Trying to help is nice, but here you reintroduce wrong clues and might make a lot of people lose their valuable time.

There is an ongoing migration, MS is handling that like a 2 people company and doesn't bother keeping its customer informed, so users have to wait and wait again (or leave), period.

There is NOTHING people can do to change that.

pCloud lifetime subscription looks interesting, if you want to / can leave.

Anyway I'm out of this thread, fed up of seeing people intervene without bothering to check the 5 latest answers or so.

Good luck everyone.

At the moment I think my account is being converted.

I am seeing either "Add new" or "Create or Upload" button at random times, but in the options screen I still always see search

Doesn't work... :(

If Microsoft caused all this trouble with a platform migration, then they are doing it wrong. I still had unaffected accounts, but now ALL of them are having this unfortunate problem. This was the most important one, which I work with every day. Unfortunately, it irreversibly compromises my productivity. And I am a 365 subscriber. I will have to leave OneDrive. This poorly done process is a huge disappointment. Microsoft made a big mistake!