I have been experiencing an issue with the synchronization of shared OneDrive folders that started yesterday . Until now, I could successfully add shared folders to my OneDrive and have them sync locally, but now the folder is only appearing as a shortcut/link and is no longer treated as a regular folder in my OneDrive storage. Problem: Until yesterday, I could add shared folders to my OneDrive folder, and they would automatically sync so I could use the files directly on my PC. Since yesterday , the shared folder is now only appearing as a link/shortcut , and it is not syncing locally . The folder remains visible as an online link in the OneDrive Explorer, but I can't use it as a normal folder. This affects all shared folders , both from external users and internal ones. This change occurred suddenly on March 5, 2025 , and was not present before. What I have tried: Added the folder for synchronization again: This results in a link, not an actual sync. Updated the OneDrive client: I have installed the latest version of OneDrive, but the problem persists. Reinstalled OneDrive: I uninstalled and reinstalled OneDrive to fix any potential issues, but the problem remains. Cleared cache and stored credentials: This did not resolve the issue either. Checked the settings for a solution: I have reviewed all relevant options, but haven’t found a solution. Questions: Was this feature intentionally changed by Microsoft, or is this a bug? Is there any way to reverse this change or make shared folders sync locally again like before? Is it possible to sync shared folders without the online link appearing? What steps should I take to resolve this issue? Additional Information: I am using OneDrive for Personal and syncing multiple folders from different users. The files are still available online, but I am no longer able to use them offline as I did before. I would greatly appreciate your assistance in resolving this issue. Thank you for your support!

when can it fixed? it is really annoyed, i raise the problem to MS servvice center 3 time, what i got is to wait. 2 month already, when can i get solution?

This is just irresponsible the way this failure has been handled. MS starts charging more for our 365 Family Plan and at the same time degrades their cloud storage by no longer supporting local sync of shared folders. Evidently, they know full well that they've broken OneDrive, yet they don't bother to send an apology or just a heads up to paying customers that the failure is on their end, so customers at least know what's happening. How many hours have people wasted trying to figure out how to fix a problem that can't be fixed because MS broke it on their end. It's disrespectful. And how can it not be fixed yet when it worked for years? It's scary to think that I'm trusting my data with them in the face such incompetence...

I filed a ticket this morning and got a reply a few hours later (see below). Doesn't really provide much more information. Hello, Thank you for contacting OneDrive support. I hope you are doing good. We have read your concern about the shared folder. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this issue may have caused you. Currently this issue is occurring globally shared folder on PC/Mac redirecting on web this has been identified as a known issue. Our Engineering team has acknowledged it, and a bug report has been filed. We are diligently working to resolve the issue and minimize its impact on our global user base. It has been added to our development pipeline and is expected to be addressed in an upcoming product update. In the meantime, you may continue to access the shared files via the mounted folders, despite the suboptimal experience through the web browser where it functions correctly. We appreciate your assistance in identifying this problem. Please continue to check for updates to the app; we aim to release a fix shortly, although we cannot provide a specific ETA as the solution is currently being developed. The .url internet shortcuts will automatically convert back to a folder when the issue is resolved. This bug information has been updated in article link Add and sync shared folders to OneDrive for home: https://support.microsoft.com/office/add-and-sync-shared-folders-to-onedrive-for-home-8a63cd47-1526-4cd8-bd09-ee3f9bfc1504 Please be assured that we are working diligently to resolve the matter as quickly as possible. Your feedback is important to us. After this interaction you will receive a separate closure email with an opportunity to tell us about your experience. I look forward to your answer. We thank you for your understanding and thank you for choosing OneDrive. Looking forward to your response. Thanks, Akhil J. (OneDrive Support)

I completely agree with you, I'm having the same issue and can share that this works seamlessly with my work Microsoft account but not with my personal. These are the options I get on a shared folder for both accounts. Personal Work Despite paying for OneDrive, this is the experience we get. I'm so thrilled...

No, I do not have any relationship with Microsoft. I just wanted to provide information that my issue was fixed to give others an update with hopes that maybe theirs will start working too.

OneDrive – Shared folders can no longer sync locally since yesterday

Anonymous

I have been experiencing an issue with the synchronization of shared OneDrive folders that started yesterday. Until now, I could successfully add shared folders to my OneDrive and have them sync locally, but now the folder is only appearing as a shortcut/link and is no longer treated as a regular folder in my OneDrive storage.

Problem:

Until yesterday, I could add shared folders to my OneDrive folder, and they would automatically sync so I could use the files directly on my PC.
Since yesterday, the shared folder is now only appearing as a link/shortcut, and it is not syncing locally.
The folder remains visible as an online link in the OneDrive Explorer, but I can't use it as a normal folder.
This affects all shared folders, both from external users and internal ones.
This change occurred suddenly on March 5, 2025, and was not present before.

What I have tried:

Added the folder for synchronization again: This results in a link, not an actual sync.
Updated the OneDrive client: I have installed the latest version of OneDrive, but the problem persists.
Reinstalled OneDrive: I uninstalled and reinstalled OneDrive to fix any potential issues, but the problem remains.
Cleared cache and stored credentials: This did not resolve the issue either.
Checked the settings for a solution: I have reviewed all relevant options, but haven’t found a solution.

Questions:

Was this feature intentionally changed by Microsoft, or is this a bug?
Is there any way to reverse this change or make shared folders sync locally again like before?
Is it possible to sync shared folders without the online link appearing?
What steps should I take to resolve this issue?

Additional Information:

I am using OneDrive for Personal and syncing multiple folders from different users.
The files are still available online, but I am no longer able to use them offline as I did before.

I would greatly appreciate your assistance in resolving this issue. Thank you for your support!

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.

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137 answers

Anonymous

2025-05-07T08:45:11+00:00

when can it fixed? it is really annoyed, i raise the problem to MS servvice center 3 time, what i got is to wait. 2 month already, when can i get solution?
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Anonymous

2025-05-02T19:52:08+00:00

This is just irresponsible the way this failure has been handled. MS starts charging more for our 365 Family Plan and at the same time degrades their cloud storage by no longer supporting local sync of shared folders. Evidently, they know full well that they've broken OneDrive, yet they don't bother to send an apology or just a heads up to paying customers that the failure is on their end, so customers at least know what's happening. How many hours have people wasted trying to figure out how to fix a problem that can't be fixed because MS broke it on their end. It's disrespectful.

And how can it not be fixed yet when it worked for years? It's scary to think that I'm trusting my data with them in the face such incompetence...
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3 people found this answer helpful.

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Anonymous

2025-05-02T10:26:14+00:00

I filed a ticket this morning and got a reply a few hours later (see below). Doesn't really provide much more information.

Hello,

Thank you for contacting OneDrive support. I hope you are doing good.

We have read your concern about the shared folder. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this issue may have caused you.

Currently this issue is occurring globally shared folder on PC/Mac redirecting on web this has been identified as a known issue. Our Engineering team has acknowledged it, and a bug report has been filed. We are diligently working to resolve the issue and minimize its impact on our global user base. It has been added to our development pipeline and is expected to be addressed in an upcoming product update.

In the meantime, you may continue to access the shared files via the mounted folders, despite the suboptimal experience through the web browser where it functions correctly.

We appreciate your assistance in identifying this problem. Please continue to check for updates to the app; we aim to release a fix shortly, although we cannot provide a specific ETA as the solution is currently being developed.

The .url internet shortcuts will automatically convert back to a folder when the issue is resolved.

This bug information has been updated in article link Add and sync shared folders to OneDrive for home: https://support.microsoft.com/office/add-and-sync-shared-folders-to-onedrive-for-home-8a63cd47-1526-4cd8-bd09-ee3f9bfc1504

Please be assured that we are working diligently to resolve the matter as quickly as possible.

Your feedback is important to us. After this interaction you will receive a separate closure email with an opportunity to tell us about your experience.

I look forward to your answer. We thank you for your understanding and thank you for choosing OneDrive.

Looking forward to your response.

Thanks,

Akhil J.

(OneDrive Support)
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Anonymous

2025-05-01T21:42:52+00:00

I completely agree with you, I'm having the same issue and can share that this works seamlessly with my work Microsoft account but not with my personal.

These are the options I get on a shared folder for both accounts.

Personal

Work

Despite paying for OneDrive, this is the experience we get. I'm so thrilled...
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Anonymous

2025-05-01T21:05:40+00:00

No, I do not have any relationship with Microsoft. I just wanted to provide information that my issue was fixed to give others an update with hopes that maybe theirs will start working too.
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