OneDrive shared folder shortcut stopped working as expected

Anonymous
2025-02-23T05:20:55+00:00

Update #2:

Found another thread that seem to be talking about the same issue: Issue with OneDrive Desktop App - Shared Folders Became Web Links

But none of them seem to provide solution to this problem.

Update:

Looks like there is already a post about this exact same issue; I don't know how I missed it when I was searching for existing issues. Anyway, here is the link: OneDrive shared folders are now a url shortcut (I need to fix it) - Microsoft Community

Found another one: Folders Shared with me are syncing as internet shortcut in OneDrive on - Microsoft Community

Looks like the issue is still active and there hasn't been any solution to it yet.

Hi there,

I have a shared folder from someone that I collaborate with and I use "Add shortcut to My Files" option so add the shortcut so that I can access it from my Explorer. This has been working great until yesterday. Starting yesterday, I stopped seeing the folder completely from my explorer; instead, I see an entry with the same name with type "Internet Shortcut". When I open it, a new browser instance opens and takes me to the OneDrive website. On the web interface, it opens the folder correctly.

Here are some screenshots:

In shared, I see the folder named "1-...", which is the folder that was shared to me. I then click the ... to open the menu and click "Add shortcut to My Files".

The folder is added correctly in My Files but it has the "shortcut" looking icon attached to the folder icon. Click the link takes me to the folder correctly.

In the explorer, however, it's showing up as "Internet Shortcut".

And therefore, I cannot access the content of that folder directly.

This seems to be a behavior change that I cannot rollback. It was very useful to be able to access the shared folder from explorer so I can read/write files directly from the app instead of having to download/download. Is this expected change?

Expected behavior:

A folder is created with name matching the shared folder name. Opening the folder shows the content of the folder.

Files can be read and write as if they were local files.

Actual behavior:

An "Internet shortcut" is created. Opening the shortcut takes me to the OneDrive page.

Files cannot be read and write directly.

Thanks in advance.

Microsoft 365 and Office | OneDrive | For home | Windows

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  1. Anonymous
    2025-04-11T14:57:07+00:00

    Yes, which is why I put a complaint in with BBB. And you asked what can BBB do, they can help facilitate someone higher up at Microsoft rather then just the person monitoring the community thread of this massive topic we are all on here about.

    Update from my BBB complaint. I got a response from Microsoft!!!! It is from their Escalation Support department. I have a over the phone meeting with them next Monday at 11am.

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  2. Anonymous
    2025-04-03T16:07:59+00:00

    I'm having the same problem, and it's really frustrating! When will there be a fix?

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  3. Anonymous
    2025-03-31T00:57:38+00:00

    Not sure what they can or will do but I can tell you I was looking on there and can see other things people are complaining to them about. Microsoft did address them so for me its worth trying. Not having these folders on my desktop is really messing my stuff up. and maybe if we all make the complaint on BBB they will look into it. We have all sat back and gave Microsoft plenty of time to figure this out. Plenty of time!!!

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  4. Anonymous
    2025-03-31T00:47:02+00:00

    Do you know there's a MASSIVE topic on the issue, still unresolved and also ignored?

    https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/msoffice/forum/all/folders-shared-with-me-are-syncing-as-internet/6abc9383-6072-4562-b4fa-370c4ea8ce49?page=247&messageId=f2b1b9ff-87f5-4843-b21b-09a7e51694cf

    What can BBB do against MS?

    Without a court order they'll just ignore the problem because it's very likely by design.

    They wouldn't do this if it were something hurting their bottom line.

    It's a very convenient way to kick out users that actually use their service without doing anything, since they clearly prefer people who pay but only keep a few MB of text files, I guess.

    Bonus points if they're still paying for AOL dial up.

    🤪

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  5. Anonymous
    2025-03-31T00:36:22+00:00

    You know what would be even better? I just filed a complaint with Better Business Bureau! First time I have ever had to complain about anything! I tried to be patient! I have been waiting since early February and now almost April. They have closed my requested repair order out without fixing. They email be back saying they are working on it. Well maybe if enough of us complain on BBB They might actually do what they should be doing!

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