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!

Has the engineering team taken this problem seriously just now? It has been reported for over a year now. I could find one post from last July. Why is a shared OneDrive folder not syncing to my pc? - Microsoft Community Why is Microsoft reluctant to solve this? Does this issue require a media escalation?

Ostensibly the same issue as below, when will this be resolved? Shared OneDrive folders have disappeared from my local file explorer to be replaced by browser shortcuts. In recent weeks a number of folders I share with others, or which they share with me, have disappeared from my local file explorer and are now only available as shortcuts which open OneDrive in my browser when I click on them. I can no longer just save to them as I did before, and can't find a way to get them to appear in my folder again as they did before. Can anyone help with this? I have the same question (36) Report abuse Replies (2)  C Cherry.Z - MSFT Microsoft Agent | Moderator Replied on July 3, 2024 Report abuse Hi, Owl148 Thanks for raising your concerns in Microsoft Community. We are aware of the issue and are working on resolving it. The url files will automatically convert back to folders when the issue is resolved. For now, we recommend accessing shared folders that are in this state on OneDrive.com. Please refer to this information here: Add and sync shared folders to OneDrive for home - Microsoft Support Warm Regards, Cherry.Z | Microsoft Technical Support Specialist”

Hi Felix2405 We understand the inconvenience and hassle of not being able to access shared folders locally, and regret that we are unable to provide a satisfactory response at this time. -->Update<-- Microsoft has confirmed that this is a known issue and the engineering team has now stepped in to resolve the issue, but a full resolution will still take some time as synchronised fixes will be required to validate cross-platform stability. Please be assured that this issue is always in the high-priority queue and we will be synchronising the latest updates via our official website and service pushes. Fixes or workarounds for recent issues in OneDrive - Microsoft Support -->Behaviours to try<-- 📌This issue only occurs with certain Microsoft accounts, so new Microsoft accounts should be able to use OneDrive properly. 📌We also recommend that you try loading the shared folder as a network drive. Please note: This option does not work for all users and is only intended as a possibility to try. Please resolve the issue of being unable to access shared files on - Microsoft Community As a frontline support team, we collect cases and data from users (including you) on a daily basis. Like you, we will continue to monitor this issue for any developments. I hope I have provided you with an update on this matter. Please let me know if my response was helpful and I will close this thread. If you would like more information, please let me know in a reply. Always looking forward to your feedback. Best regards Ian.L-MSFT | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

Hi still the issue not resolved? I am also experiencing the same issue as discribed by Flex2504

I've also encountered this issue. Even more worryingly, files that I had uploaded onto OneDrive using the web browser (because simply dragging-and-dropping files onto the same shared folder on my local hard drive doesn't work anymore) have disappeared! I assume that when the owner of the shared folder opens their computer, that on their end, OneDrive does not see the recent files I dropped into that folder and so erases them. This issue needs to be fixed, or at least some notice should have been posted by Microsoft. Please let us know when and if the issue gets fixed. Otherwise, file sharing using OneDrive is not feasible.

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

2025-03-11T07:14:17+00:00

Has the engineering team taken this problem seriously just now? It has been reported for over a year now. I could find one post from last July. Why is a shared OneDrive folder not syncing to my pc? - Microsoft Community

Why is Microsoft reluctant to solve this? Does this issue require a media escalation?
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3 people found this answer helpful.

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Anonymous

2025-03-11T08:10:05+00:00

Ostensibly the same issue as below, when will this be resolved?

Shared OneDrive folders have disappeared from my local file explorer to be replaced by browser shortcuts.

In recent weeks a number of folders I share with others, or which they share with me, have disappeared from my local file explorer and are now only available as shortcuts which open OneDrive in my browser when I click on them. I can no longer just save to them as I did before, and can't find a way to get them to appear in my folder again as they did before. Can anyone help with this?

I have the same question (36) Report abuse

Replies (2) 

C

Cherry.Z - MSFT

Microsoft Agent | Moderator

Replied on July 3, 2024

Report abuse

Hi, Owl148

Thanks for raising your concerns in Microsoft Community.

We are aware of the issue and are working on resolving it. The url files will automatically convert back to folders when the issue is resolved. For now, we recommend accessing shared folders that are in this state on OneDrive.com.

Please refer to this information here:

Add and sync shared folders to OneDrive for home - Microsoft Support

Warm Regards,

Cherry.Z | Microsoft Technical Support Specialist”
Was this answer helpful?

2 people found this answer helpful.

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Anonymous

2025-03-12T05:18:23+00:00

Hi Felix2405

We understand the inconvenience and hassle of not being able to access shared folders locally, and regret that we are unable to provide a satisfactory response at this time.

-->Update<--

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a known issue and the engineering team has now stepped in to resolve the issue, but a full resolution will still take some time as synchronised fixes will be required to validate cross-platform stability. Please be assured that this issue is always in the high-priority queue and we will be synchronising the latest updates via our official website and service pushes.

Fixes or workarounds for recent issues in OneDrive - Microsoft Support

-->Behaviours to try<--

📌This issue only occurs with certain Microsoft accounts, so new Microsoft accounts should be able to use OneDrive properly.

📌We also recommend that you try loading the shared folder as a network drive. Please note: This option does not work for all users and is only intended as a possibility to try.

Please resolve the issue of being unable to access shared files on - Microsoft Community

As a frontline support team, we collect cases and datafrom users (including you) on a daily basis. Like you, we will continue to monitor this issuefor any developments. I hope I have provided you with an update on this matter.

Please let me know if my response was helpful and I will close this thread. If you would like more information, please let me know in a reply.

Always looking forward to your feedback.

Best regards

Ian.L-MSFT | Microsoft Community Support Specialist
Was this answer helpful?

5 people found this answer helpful.

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Anonymous

2025-03-12T06:01:52+00:00

Hi still the issue not resolved? I am also experiencing the same issue as discribed by Flex2504
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Anonymous

2025-03-12T14:13:18+00:00

I've also encountered this issue.

Even more worryingly, files that I had uploaded onto OneDrive using the web browser (because simply dragging-and-dropping files onto the same shared folder on my local hard drive doesn't work anymore) have disappeared! I assume that when the owner of the shared folder opens their computer, that on their end, OneDrive does not see the recent files I dropped into that folder and so erases them. This issue needs to be fixed, or at least some notice should have been posted by Microsoft. Please let us know when and if the issue gets fixed. Otherwise, file sharing using OneDrive is not feasible.
Was this answer helpful?

3 people found this answer helpful.

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