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!

After two months, all our family subscription accounts have been migrated to V2 and sharing is working again. The smaller the actual amount of data within the account has been, the earlier the migration took place. The execution and commination were really poor and annoying and trust into the services has suffered. In addition to that, I am quite sure, most occurrences of the issue could have been resolved by updating the one drive clients for Windows and Mac. An invest MS was not willing to make. IMHO this is due to the minimal priority MS is giving to the consumer market, amplified by the shift of resources to GenAI. Kind regards, Christian

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 found this article about it on Neowin but no new updates since the 12th of March. https://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-finally-has-update-on-onedrive-shared-folders-turning-to-internet-shortcut-links/

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”

As mentioned here its reuploading already synced files and folders (even recursively as mentioned in the comment) https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/discussions/onedriveforbusiness/weird-serious-problem-with-shared-folders-in-personal-onedrive-after-windows-10-/4390004

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

2025-05-15T06:48:05+00:00

After two months, all our family subscription accounts have been migrated to V2 and sharing is working again. The smaller the actual amount of data within the account has been, the earlier the migration took place.

The execution and commination were really poor and annoying and trust into the services has suffered. In addition to that, I am quite sure, most occurrences of the issue could have been resolved by updating the one drive clients for Windows and Mac. An invest MS was not willing to make. IMHO this is due to the minimal priority MS is giving to the consumer market, amplified by the shift of resources to GenAI.

Kind regards,

Christian
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3 people found this answer helpful.

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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

2025-03-23T12:34:23+00:00

I found this article about it on Neowin but no new updates since the 12th of March.

https://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-finally-has-update-on-onedrive-shared-folders-turning-to-internet-shortcut-links/
Was this answer helpful?

2 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”
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2 people found this answer helpful.

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Anonymous

2025-03-07T13:12:26+00:00

As mentioned here its reuploading already synced files and folders (even recursively as mentioned in the comment) https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/discussions/onedriveforbusiness/weird-serious-problem-with-shared-folders-in-personal-onedrive-after-windows-10-/4390004
Was this answer helpful?

2 people found this answer helpful.

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