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To make a shared OneDrive folder appear in File Explorer, first add it to your OneDrive online: open Shared > With you, select the folder, and choose Add shortcut to My files. Then make sure the OneDrive sync app is running, signed in to the right account, and set to sync that folder.
Make sure the shared folder is available in OneDrive online
Open OneDrive on the web and check Shared > With you. If the folder is not listed, ask its owner or an editor to share it with you again. If the owner removes your access, Microsoft says the folder is removed from your OneDrive. See Microsoft’s shared-folder shortcut guidance.
Add the shared folder to My files
- In OneDrive on the web, open Shared > With you.
- Select the shared folder.
- Choose Add shortcut to My files.
The folder should then appear in My files online and, through the OneDrive sync app, in your local OneDrive folder in File Explorer. This shortcut workflow applies to shared folders, not individual files.
If “Add shortcut to My files” is missing
Microsoft says the option may be unavailable if the shortcut was already added, if you selected multiple items, or if the item is a file rather than a folder. The cited U.S. support article also identifies a limit of 100 shortcuts in one document library. The workflow is for internal users; externally shared folders cannot use it. Limits and availability may differ by account context or localized Microsoft guidance.
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Check the OneDrive sync app and account
If the folder is visible online but missing in File Explorer, confirm that the OneDrive cloud app is running and connected to the account that received the share. For a work or school account, the local folder commonly has the organization’s name, such as OneDrive – Contoso. A shortcut added to a different personal or work account will not appear in the folder you are checking.
Confirm the folder is selected for syncing
Selective sync can prevent an online folder from appearing locally. In the OneDrive app, open Settings > Account > Choose folders and make sure the shared folder is selected. Microsoft’s instructions for choosing OneDrive folders to sync note that this selection is specific to each computer. Unchecking a folder removes its local copy from that computer but leaves it online.
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For a SharePoint or Teams library, choose a local-access method
For SharePoint libraries, Microsoft supports both Add shortcut to My files and Sync through the OneDrive app. The right choice depends on whether access should follow you across devices or be tied to one computer.
| Method | Where it applies | Device behavior |
|---|---|---|
| Add shortcut to My files | A shared folder or supported SharePoint library when the option is available | The shortcut is available across devices signed in to the same OneDrive account. |
| Sync | A SharePoint library | Creates a sync connection for that device. |
Microsoft describes shortcuts and Sync as faster and more reliable than the legacy View in File Explorer command. See its SharePoint File Explorer guidance for the available setup paths.
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Check for a shared-folder shortcut showing as a .url file
In its OneDrive known-issues page, last updated April 20, 2026, Microsoft describes an issue where some shared-folder shortcuts in My Files appear as .url Internet shortcuts instead of folders. Microsoft says the contents remain accessible through OneDrive.com while it resolves the issue. Check the current status on Microsoft’s OneDrive known-issues page.
Repair sync errors without deleting shared content
If OneDrive is running and the folder is selected but still does not sync, work or school users can follow Microsoft’s steps to repair sync connections.
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Be careful when removing a shortcut. Remove shortcut is intended to remove your OneDrive link; it is not the same as deleting the shared folder. Microsoft warns that deleting an expanded shortcut in certain File Explorer contexts can delete the folder and its contents for everyone. Use the specific remove-shortcut action rather than pressing Delete on the shared folder.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Check Windows support
Microsoft’s OneDrive known-issues guidance states that the sync app is no longer supported on Windows 7, Windows 8, or Windows 8.1. If you are using one of those versions, the supported File Explorer sync workflow may not be available.
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