Quick wins for a faster PC:
Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Teams does not upload a folder into a chat as a single attachment. The reliable method is to share the folder from its underlying OneDrive for Business or SharePoint location, then post the generated link in Teams.
The correct steps depend on where the folder is stored. A folder in OneDrive is usually appropriate for a person or small group. A folder in a channel belongs to that team’s SharePoint library and is normally available to channel members according to the channel’s permissions.
Before sharing a Teams folder
First identify the folder’s storage location:
| Folder location | Stored in | Typical access |
|---|---|---|
| One-to-one or group chat | The sender’s OneDrive for Business, in the Microsoft Teams Chat Files area | People in that conversation, subject to permissions |
| Teams channel | The team’s SharePoint document library | Members of the channel or team, depending on channel type and permissions |
| Your personal Teams-connected files | OneDrive for Business | Only people you explicitly share with, unless an existing permission grants access |
Teams uses the work or school Microsoft 365 account connected to your organization. It does not currently use a personal OneDrive account as its integrated Teams file store.
Share a folder from a Teams channel
Use this method when the folder already exists in a team channel.
- Open Teams on the desktop or at teams.microsoft.com.
- Select Chat from the left navigation, then open Channels.
- Choose the team and channel containing the folder.
- Open the channel’s Shared tab. In some Teams versions this tab is labelled Files.
- Locate the folder. If necessary, use In library to search the channel’s SharePoint document library.
- Open the folder’s More actions menu, usually shown as …, and select Share or Copy link.
Share lets you specify people and permissions before sending. Copy link is useful when you want to paste the folder into a particular channel post, chat, or email.
Post the folder link in the channel
- Go to the channel’s Posts tab.
- Start a new post, or select Reply beneath an existing post.
- Paste the folder link into the compose box.
- Add an explanation, such as what the folder contains and whether recipients should edit it.
- Select Send.
Sharing the link does not automatically override SharePoint permissions. A recipient still needs permission to open the folder. A channel folder is not private merely because one person uploaded it; channel files are stored in SharePoint and are available according to the channel’s access rules.
Share a folder from OneDrive in Teams
This is the best route for a folder stored in your own OneDrive for Business.
- In Teams, select OneDrive from the left navigation. If OneDrive is not visible, open Apps and search for it.
- Select My files.
- Find the folder you want to share.
- Hover over it and select Share, or open More actions and choose Share.
- Enter a person’s name, a group, or an email address.
- Choose the required permission. Depending on your organization and the folder, available choices may include Can edit, Can review, Can view, or Can’t download.
- Optionally type a message.
- Select Send.
For a link you want to place manually in Teams, select Copy link instead. Paste it into a chat or channel post and send the message.
Choose the right folder permission
| Permission | What it generally allows | Use it when |
|---|---|---|
| Can edit | Recipients can modify files and, depending on the location, add or remove items. | You are collaborating on working documents. |
| Can review | Recipients can provide feedback without normal editing access, where supported. | You need comments or review rather than unrestricted changes. |
| Can view | Recipients can open the folder and files without editing them. | You are distributing reference material or final documents. |
| Can’t download | Recipients can view the content online without downloading a local copy, where the option is available. | You need tighter control over copies of the content. |
For a work or school recipient outside your organization, open the link settings, choose People you choose, select Apply, and then enter the external person’s email address. Your Microsoft 365 administrator may block external sharing, restrict forwarding, or remove some permission choices.
Share a folder in a Teams chat
For a folder, share the folder link rather than trying to attach it to the message.
- Open the folder in OneDrive or the relevant channel’s Shared/Files area.
- Select Share or Copy link.
- Set the permission before copying the link if the folder contains sensitive material.
- Open Chat and select the one-to-one or group conversation.
- Paste the link into the compose box and add a short message.
- Select Send.
If you upload individual files to a chat using Actions and apps → Attach file, those files are stored in the sender’s OneDrive for Business. That workflow is suitable for files, but it is not a substitute for sharing an entire folder.
Share one folder in several Teams locations
Use one shared link instead of uploading duplicate copies to multiple channels. Open the folder in OneDrive or SharePoint, select Share or Copy link, and paste the same link into each required channel or chat.
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchPC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11This keeps everyone working in the same folder. Multiple uploaded copies can quickly diverge, creating separate versions and confusing permissions. For a channel link, Teams may show the team and channel where the folder is stored, helping recipients understand its origin.
Find a folder after sharing it
In a channel, open Shared and use the available filters:
- In Post searches files and links included in posts.
- Recent shows recently viewed files and links.
- Files filters to files.
- Links filters to links.
- In library searches the channel’s SharePoint library.
In a chat, open Shared and check Recent, Files, or Links. For a past meeting, open Calendar, double-click the meeting, and select Shared.
Share a folder from Teams on mobile
Mobile menus vary between iPhone and Android, so the desktop or web route is usually easier for setting exact permissions.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Rank #4
iPhone or iPad
- Open Chats and select the chat, or open Channels and select the channel.
- Select + beside the compose box.
- Choose Attach, select the file source, and send the item.
For an entire folder, create or copy a share link from OneDrive or SharePoint and paste it into the conversation. The iOS attachment flow is primarily intended for individual files.
Android
- Open Teams and select Files.
- Find the folder or its location.
- Select More options → Share.
- Choose the chat, person, or channel, add an optional message, and select Send.
Fix common folder-sharing problems
The recipient sees “Access denied”
The link and the permission are separate. Open the folder’s More actions menu and choose Manage access. Check whether the person has direct access, access through a group, or inherited access from a SharePoint site. Checking only the link does not reveal every permission path.
Share or upload is greyed out
Your organization may restrict external sharing, forwarding, or permission levels. For a channel upload, you also need edit permission in the channel’s SharePoint library. Ask the team owner or Microsoft 365 administrator to check the site and sharing policy.
Uploading fails with “Permissions needed”
You may have read-only access, or Teams may be signed in with the wrong Microsoft 365 identity. Sign out of the incorrect account and sign in with the work or school account that has access. Some file types, including .aspx, .master, .xap, .swf, .jar, .asmx, .ascx, .xsf, and .htc, require the SharePoint Add and Customize permission.
The folder’s permission needs to change
Use Manage access to review people and links. In some current OneDrive and SharePoint experiences, you cannot directly switch an existing sharing link from edit to view. Delete the old link and create a new link with the required permission instead.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Best practice for sharing folders in Teams
- Use a channel folder for material the team needs to maintain together.
- Use OneDrive for personal working material shared with selected people.
- Set Can view unless recipients genuinely need to edit.
- Use Copy link to share one folder in multiple places rather than creating duplicate uploads.
- Review Manage access before sharing confidential material or adding an external recipient.
FAQ
Can I attach a folder directly to a Teams message?
Teams message attachments are designed mainly for individual files. To share a folder, create a SharePoint or OneDrive sharing link and paste it into the chat or channel post.
Who can access a folder uploaded to a Teams channel?
Channel files and folders are stored in the team’s SharePoint library. Access follows the channel’s SharePoint permissions, so channel members can generally access them unless the channel type or administrator settings impose different rules.
Where are files shared in a Teams chat stored?
Files sent in a one-to-one or group chat are stored in the sender’s OneDrive for Business, in the Microsoft Teams Chat Files area. They are shared with participants in that conversation by default.
How do I stop people from editing a shared folder?
Open the folder’s Share dialog, select the current permission such as Can edit, and choose Can view or another more restrictive option where available. If the existing link cannot be changed directly, delete it under Manage access and create a new view-only link.
Why can’t I share a folder with someone outside my company?
Your Microsoft 365 administrator or SharePoint site policy may block external sharing. External sharing can also be limited to named people, preventing anonymous or forwarded links.
The Bottom Line
To share a folder in Teams, open it from the relevant Shared or Files area, choose Share or Copy link, set the appropriate permission, and paste the link into the destination chat or channel. Remember the storage distinction: channel folders live in SharePoint, while files shared in chats live in the sender’s OneDrive for Business.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
