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!

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...

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?

Lee, Has there been any movement on this? How long is a "certain period of time"?

Hello Dear User Welcome to the Microsoft Community. I realize that you've encountered a problem with OneDrive shared folders and I understand how you feel. Thank you for taking the time to provide us with feedback on the shared folder anomaly issue. We are sorry that you are experiencing this issue, and we fully understand the distress this situation has caused to your work and life. We take the situation you described very seriously. At present, Microsoft has confirmed that this is a known issue, and the engineering team has now stepped in to deal with it, but as the fix needs to be synchronized to verify the stability of multiple platforms, the complete solution will still take a certain period of time. Please rest assured that this issue is always in the high-priority queue, and we will synchronize the latest developments through the official website and service push. Thank you again for your understanding and tolerance, your feedback is an important motivation for us to continue to optimize the experience. If you have any other questions please feel free to ask me, I will do my best to help you. Best Regards. Lee-MSFT | Microsoft Community Support Specialist When can we expect this problem to be resolved? I first have lost the synchronization of shared folders from one of my family members, now all the synchronization of shard folders from all my family members stop working! But the synchronization of shared folders between that 2 family members are working. So annoying!

So from reading through this thread, and other searches, it appears that MS are doing a backend migration of OneDrive servers which breaks the ability to have Shared Folders syncing locally...at least while the connected OneDrive's are on different versions of the backend. Supposedly presenting a web link is intended behaviour while backends are out of alignment and it will automatically fix itself once main + shared folder are hosted on the same backend version 😔🤞 Apparently this has been happening (so I guess that's how long the migration has been taking!) for some people since at least June 2024 Why is a shared OneDrive folder not syncing to my pc? - Microsoft Community Official info about this currently in the 'Important' box of Add shortcuts to shared folders in OneDrive - Microsoft Support I hope that consolidated info proves useful to others who find this reply

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

2025-05-02T19:52:08+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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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

2025-05-07T15:02:56+00:00

Lee,

Has there been any movement on this?

How long is a "certain period of time"?
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Anonymous

2025-05-08T12:09:04+00:00

Hello Dear User Welcome to the Microsoft Community.

I realize that you've encountered a problem with OneDrive shared folders and I understand how you feel.

Thank you for taking the time to provide us with feedback on the shared folder anomaly issue. We are sorry that you are experiencing this issue, and we fully understand the distress this situation has caused to your work and life.

We take the situation you described very seriously. At present, Microsoft has confirmed that this is a known issue, and the engineering team has now stepped in to deal with it, but as the fix needs to be synchronized to verify the stability of multiple platforms, the complete solution will still take a certain period of time. Please rest assured that this issue is always in the high-priority queue, and we will synchronize the latest developments through the official website and service push.

Thank you again for your understanding and tolerance, your feedback is an important motivation for us to continue to optimize the experience. If you have any other questions please feel free to ask me, I will do my best to help you.

Best Regards. Lee-MSFT | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

When can we expect this problem to be resolved?

I first have lost the synchronization of shared folders from one of my family members, now all the synchronization of shard folders from all my family members stop working!

But the synchronization of shared folders between that 2 family members are working. So annoying!
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Anonymous

2025-05-10T09:06:47+00:00

So from reading through this thread, and other searches, it appears that MS are doing a backend migration of OneDrive servers which breaks the ability to have Shared Folders syncing locally...at least while the connected OneDrive's are on different versions of the backend.

Supposedly presenting a web link is intended behaviour while backends are out of alignment and it will automatically fix itself once main + shared folder are hosted on the same backend version 😔🤞

Apparently this has been happening (so I guess that's how long the migration has been taking!) for some people since at least June 2024 Why is a shared OneDrive folder not syncing to my pc? - Microsoft Community

Official info about this currently in the 'Important' box of Add shortcuts to shared folders in OneDrive - Microsoft Support

I hope that consolidated info proves useful to others who find this reply
Was this answer helpful?

6 people found this answer helpful.

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