The Tool Desk
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Choose the method based on what the recipient needs to do:
| What you need | Use | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Quick access on your own PC | Desktop shortcut | A local .lnk file |
| Send access over the Internet | OneDrive sharing | A web URL with permissions |
| Make two local paths refer to the same data | mklink |
A symbolic link, hard link, or junction |
| Share files at home or in an office | Windows network sharing | A UNC path such as \Computer\Share |
Create a desktop shortcut to a file or folder
A desktop shortcut is the right choice when you want an icon that opens a local item. It is not a URL, does not upload the item, and does not give another Windows user permission to open it.
From File Explorer
- Open File Explorer and locate the file or folder.
- Right-click it. In Windows 11, select Show more options if the full classic menu is not visible.
- Choose Send to, then Desktop (create shortcut). The exact menu presentation can vary between Windows 10 and Windows 11.
Windows places a shortcut on the desktop, usually with a small arrow overlay. Double-clicking it opens the original item. If you move or rename the target later, the shortcut may stop working; right-click it, choose Properties, and inspect the Target field.
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Use the New Shortcut wizard
- Right-click an empty area of the desktop and select New > Shortcut.
- Enter the full path to the file or folder, such as
C:\Users\Alex\Documents\Budget.xlsx. - Select Next, enter a name, and select Finish.
This method is useful when the target is difficult to find in File Explorer or when you want to point to a network location. A shortcut to a network location still depends on that computer or share being available.
Create a shareable URL with OneDrive
If someone needs to open a file or folder from another computer, create a OneDrive sharing link instead of sending a desktop shortcut. The resulting URL can be pasted into email, Teams, or a document. The recipient’s access depends on the permission setting you select.
Windows 11 File Explorer
- Select the file or folder inside your OneDrive folder.
- Select Share.
- Choose who the link should work for.
- Select Apply.
- Select Copy link.
You can also right-click the OneDrive item and select Share a OneDrive link. Microsoft says this shortcut copies a link to the clipboard. In the documented OneDrive flow, the generated link defaults to Edit permission, so check the settings before sending it.
Windows 10 File Explorer
For a standard OneDrive installation, right-click the item and select Share a OneDrive link.
For OneDrive for Business, use:
- Right-click the file or folder.
- Select Share.
- Select Copy Link, then Copy.
OneDrive on the web
- Sign in to OneDrive.
- Select the file or folder using its circle icon.
- Select Share at the top of the page.
- Select Copy Link.
- To change access, select the Settings gear.
- Choose the link type and permissions, then select Apply.
- Select Copy. You can then paste the URL wherever it is needed, or select Send from the sharing dialog.
Choose the correct OneDrive permission
| Setting | Who can use the link | Important detail |
|---|---|---|
| Anyone | Anyone who receives the link | The link can be forwarded to other people. |
| People in <Your Organization> with the link | People in your organization | Useful for internal company sharing. |
| People with existing access | People who already have permission | Creates a convenient link but does not change permissions. |
| Specific people | The people you name | Usually the safest option for confidential material. |
Review the additional controls before copying the URL:
- Allow editing permits changes and is enabled by default in the documented sharing flow. Turn it off when recipients only need to read the item.
- Block download prevents downloading where supported.
- Set expiration date is available to Microsoft 365 subscribers. For folders, Microsoft limits this option to Anyone links.
- Set password is also a Microsoft 365 subscriber feature and, for folders, is limited to Anyone links.
- Open in review mode only applies to Word files. It does not override editing permission that a user already has.
After copying the link, paste it into a browser or a message to verify that it looks like a web address. A path beginning with C:\ or \ is not an Internet sharing URL.
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Add a shared OneDrive folder to your own files
Add shortcut to My files is often confused with creating a shareable link. It does not make a public URL. It adds a shortcut to a folder someone has shared with you, allowing that folder to appear in your OneDrive and supported file browsers.
- Open OneDrive and select Shared or Shared > With you.
- Select the shared folder’s circle or tile.
- Select Add shortcut to My files. You can also right-click the folder and choose the same command.
The shortcut can appear in OneDrive on the web, Windows File Explorer, Mac Finder, Teams, and OneDrive mobile apps. Only shared folders can be added this way; an individual shared file cannot.
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There are several reasons the command may be unavailable: the folder has already been added, more than one folder is selected, or a shortcut limit has been reached. Microsoft documents a limit of 100 folder shortcuts from one person’s OneDrive or Teams site and 1,000 shortcuts across files and folders. The feature is for internal users; folders shared with external users cannot be added through this option. The added folder uses the owner’s OneDrive storage, not the recipient’s.
Do not select Download when you need synchronization. Download creates a local copy that does not receive later changes made by other users.
Some shared-folder shortcuts can temporarily appear as .url Internet shortcuts instead of folders. Opening one may launch OneDrive in a browser and request sign-in. Microsoft identifies this as a backend-service issue and says the shortcut is expected to convert back to a folder when the issue is resolved.
Create a file-system link with mklink
Use mklink when a program or folder should be reachable through another path on the same Windows file system. This is an administrative or technical operation, not a way to share a URL.
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Open Command Prompt and use:
mklink [[/d] | [/h] | [/j]] <link> <target>The new link path comes first, followed by the existing target:
| Command | Creates |
|---|---|
mklink <link> <target> |
A file symbolic link |
mklink /d <link> <target> |
A directory symbolic link |
mklink /h <link> <target> |
A hard link to a file |
mklink /j <link> <target> |
A directory junction |
For example:
mklink /d MyFolder UsersUser1DocumentsThis creates a directory symbolic link named MyFolder that points to UsersUser1Documents. A hard-link example is:
mklink /h MyFile.file User1Documentsexample.fileThe paths can be relative or absolute. Be precise about which path is the new link and which is the existing target. If Windows reports an access or privilege error, open Command Prompt with Run as administrator and try again.
Remove an mklink link
Remove the link itself, not the target. Microsoft’s examples use:
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Share a folder on a local network
A Windows network share is useful when two computers are on the same home, school, or office network. It is not an Internet URL. The path normally looks like \ComputerName\ShareName, and the destination computer must be switched on and reachable.
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Share a folder in Windows 11
- Right-click or long-press the file or folder.
- Select Show more options.
- Select Give access to.
- Select Specific people.
- Choose a network user, or choose Everyone.
Use the narrowest account or group that meets the need. Sharing with Everyone can expose the folder to other users on that network, subject to the computer’s account and sharing settings.
Map the share as a drive
- Open File Explorer and select This PC.
- On the ribbon, select More, then Map network drive.
- Choose a drive letter.
- Enter the network path in Folder, or select Browse.
- Optionally select Reconnect at sign-in.
- Select Finish and provide credentials if Windows requests them.
If Map network drive is not listed under More, right-click This PC in File Explorer’s navigation pane and use the command there.
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- Confirm both computers are on the same network for this LAN-sharing scenario.
- Set the Wi-Fi network to Private when appropriate.
- Check that Network discovery and File and printer sharing are enabled.
- Make sure the target PC is powered on and connected.
- Check that your Windows account has permission to the shared folder.
To inspect shares available on the local computer, type this into File Explorer’s address bar:
\localhostA user profile shown there does not mean every file is shared. Microsoft notes that it can simply represent the current user’s own access.
Which “link” should you create?
| Scenario | Best method |
|---|---|
| Open a document quickly from your desktop | Create a desktop .lnk shortcut. |
| Send a document to someone outside your PC | Use a OneDrive sharing URL and select Specific people, Anyone, or an organizational option as appropriate. |
| Keep a shared folder visible in your OneDrive | Use Add shortcut to My files; this works for folders, not individual files. |
| Make an application see a folder at another path | Use mklink, usually with /d or /j for directories. |
| Access files from another PC in the same building | Create a Windows network share and use its UNC path or map it as a drive. |
Windows 10’s HomeGroup feature is no longer the current sharing method. Microsoft’s current instructions use Give access to > Specific people. Also note that Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025; Microsoft no longer provides normal free Windows Update software updates, technical assistance, or security fixes for that version.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.FAQ
Is a Windows desktop shortcut the same as a shareable link?
No. A desktop shortcut is a local .lnk file that stores navigation information. It does not upload the target or grant access to another person. Use OneDrive when you need a URL that someone else can open.
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How do I make a OneDrive link view-only?
Open the OneDrive sharing dialog, open its settings, turn off Allow editing, apply the change, and then use Copy or Copy link. Check the selected audience as well as the editing setting.
Can I add an individual shared OneDrive file to My files?
No. Microsoft’s Add shortcut to My files feature applies to shared folders only. An individual shared file can still be opened through its sharing link.
Does downloading a shared OneDrive folder keep it synchronized?
No. Download creates a separate local copy. Later edits to the owner’s folder will not automatically appear in that downloaded copy.
What is the difference between a OneDrive shortcut and a OneDrive sharing link?
A sharing link is a URL intended to give selected people access. Add shortcut to My files places a shared folder in your own OneDrive view; it does not change the folder’s audience or create a public URL.
Can I use a network path over the Internet?
The Windows network-sharing instructions are for computers on the same local network. For Internet sharing, use a service such as OneDrive and send its sharing URL instead.
Will deleting a OneDrive shortcut delete the shared folder?
It can, depending on where and how it is deleted. For a synced shared-folder shortcut, Microsoft documents right-clicking the folder, choosing OneDrive, and selecting Remove shortcut. Do not delete an expanded shortcut from the File Explorer navigation pane; Microsoft warns that this can delete the folder and its contents for everyone.
The Bottom Line
For a link you can paste into a message, use OneDrive > Share > Copy link and verify the audience and editing permission first. For an icon on your own computer, create a desktop shortcut. For local path redirection, use mklink; for computers on the same LAN, use a Windows network share. These methods are not interchangeable: a .lnk, a OneDrive URL, an mklink link, and a UNC network path provide different kinds of access.
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