OneDrive Shared Folder Syncing Has Been Broken for Months, With No Fix in Sight

Microsoft OneDrive users have been dealing with a frustrating issue that has yet to be addressed. For months, shared folders that once seamlessly synced to File Explorer now appear as web shortcuts rather than local directories.

Adding a shared folder to OneDrive’s “My Files” section in theory means they appear as a normal, locally stored directory within File Explorer. Now, an increasing number of users find that shared folders are instead represented as .url shortcut files, which merely redirect them to OneDrive’s web interface rather than functioning as integrated local storage.

OneDrive Shared Folder Syncing is Broken

The issue has been disrupting workflows for businesses and individuals alike. Reports about the problem have been circulating since early 2024, with users posting complaints across Microsoft’s forums, Reddit, and tech discussion sites. Despite repeated calls for an explanation and fixes, Microsoft has remained mostly silent.

One affected user shared on Reddit his frustrations already last summer, explaining how the problem with OneDrive’s shared file syncing is affecting his business.

"My team has been dealing with this for over two months now. Many of them have been able to share and work with local files (OneDrive Win 11 Desktop app with "Always Keep On This Device" checked for the folder) for over 5 years. Back in June, one by one the laptops started showing shared folders as URL links instead. That means that files inside no longer can interact with local applications on the computer.

Of our 9 team members, only two still have access to the folder with it stored locally on their computer (plus the folder owner). I can't make heads or tails of it, because I originally thought maybe a machine that upgraded from Windows 10 had a mysterious leftover allowing it. But then we just added a new laptop a few weeks prior to when this started and it came with Win 11 and still has access.

I also have many friends in radio that rely on the OneDrive shares, and ALL of their systems are hosed up.

Very little additional information has been released. I have little faith that Microsoft understands the issue nor are they actively working on it as it seems to have randomly hit computers. I don't really want to move on, but I think that Google Drive for desktop might be our next leap."

Newer forum posts from last week indicate that the problem is still unresolved and starts to suddenly affect more users that had been using OneDrive’s shared file syncing previously without any issues.

A comment posted on AskWoody from February 22 reads:

"Something happened in the wee hours of this morning where OneDrive folders that are being shared with me are no longer accessible through File Explorer. They are only accessible through an Internet Shortcut. This means that any programs and/or scripts that I have written that have previously accessed files in these shared folders no longer work. Things were working fine until sometime after 6:30 am (EST) this morning. (I have a scheduled task that ran successfully at 6:30 but failed at 7:30 – and every hour since because the folder is not available).

This happens on 2 PC’s with different OneDrive accounts where the same folder is shared from a 3rd OneDrive account. Both of the affected PC’s are running Windows 11 24H2 one of them the Pro version the other the Home version."

Users have unsuccessfully tried to fix the problem by un-sharing and re-sharing or switching to “Always keep on this device” on Windows to force a download/sync of shared files. Fixing the problem with PowerShell, by resetting, repairing or re-installing the OneDrive app does not seem to help either.

Microsoft’s support page for OneDrive’s shared file syncing is now mentioning the issue, but without providing any explanation or possible fix. The notice reads:

"OneDrive shared folders shortcuts showing up as Internet Shortcuts
Issue

Some OneDrive shared folders shortcuts located in your My Files folder may show up as .url internet shortcuts instead of actual folders.

If you try to open the folder shortcut, it opens as a webpage (and you may be asked to sign in) instead of a folder.

Status

We are aware of the issue and are working on resolving it. The .url internet shortcuts will automatically convert back to a folder when the issue is resolved. 

You can still access the shared folder content, but it will be via OneDrive.com"

The Technical Cause: A Shift to a New Platform

Although Microsoft hasn’t yet given an official explanation, the maintainer of the third-party OneDrive Client for Linux, who goes by “abraunegg” on GitHub, has uncovered some key details and filed two bug issues on the official OneDrive GitHub repository.

According to his findings, Microsoft has been moving OneDrive Personal users from an older platform to a newer one behind the scenes. This transition has caused at least two major bugs in the OneDrive API:

1. Issue #1890: OneDrive Personal Account Root IDs have suddenly started including a random-looking string, sea8cc6beffdb43d7976fbc7da445c639, in the drive ID. There’s no official documentation explaining this “munged” root ID, and it seems to be confusing both users and client applications.
2. Issue #1891: After an account is switched to the new platform, the /delta or /children API calls no longer return any JSON data for shared folders. OneDrive used to give apps all the info they needed about what’s inside a shared folder so they could sync those files to your computer. Now, that info just isn’t being sent at all.
   
   So, instead of showing up as proper folders with real files you can open locally, OneDrive only gives you a shortcut to the website. Think of it like asking someone, “Hey, what’s in this box?” and getting no answer back—so you’re stuck looking at a closed box without knowing what’s inside. Essentially, client apps (including the Linux OneDrive Client) don’t get the proper info about shared folders, and that’s why these folders keep showing up as .url shortcuts instead of syncing normally.

This behind-the-scenes shift means OneDrive Personal’s shared folder data simply isn’t where third-party apps—or even some official Microsoft services—expect it to be. It aligns with what many users are seeing: they can still access the shared folders in OneDrive’s web interface, but local syncing via File Explorer or other desktop apps just isn’t working as it used to.

Microsoft’s Silence Frustrates Users

As reports of the issue grow, so does user frustration. One user on Microsoft’s forums worte, “When will this be fixed? It has been unresolved for nearly six months now.”

The lack of an official response has provoked speculation about whether this is an intentional shift or an unacknowledged bug.

For businesses that rely on OneDrive for file collaboration, the change has been disruptive. Many companies use shared folders as part of their workflow, and the sudden shift to web-based access has broken automation scripts, disrupted offline file management, and complicated IT policies.

With no reliable solution in place, some organizations have begun evaluating alternatives like Dropbox or Google Drive, which allow shared folder syncing without issues.

With no official clarification from Microsoft, the future of OneDrive’s shared folder syncing remains uncertain. Users affected by the issue must decide whether to continue waiting for a fix, attempt unreliable workarounds, or transition to alternative cloud storage solutions. While some businesses have begun shifting away from OneDrive, others are holding out in the hope that Microsoft will reinstate the original functionality.

Historically, Microsoft has reversed unpopular OneDrive changes when faced with sustained user backlash, such as with the return of OneDrive placeholders in Windows 10. However, without explicit confirmation from Microsoft, it remains unclear whether this is a temporary disruption or a deliberate shift toward more web-based file access.

Microsoft SharePoint as a Workaround

For users frustrated by OneDrive’s broken shared folder syncing, Microsoft SharePoint offers a potential workaround—though it comes with a few caveats. Unlike OneDrive’s consumer version, which is primarily designed for personal cloud storage, SharePoint is built for business collaboration, allowing users to sync shared folders directly to File Explorer without the URL shortcut issue.

Instead of relying on OneDrive’s flawed shared folder functionality, affected users can move their files to a SharePoint document library. SharePoint libraries sync through the OneDrive for Business client, meaning all team members can continue working with local files, just as they did before the issue began. The transition requires some setup, but for businesses reliant on seamless file access, it’s a more reliable alternative.

How to Switch from OneDrive to SharePoint for Shared Folder Syncing

1. Move Shared Folders to a SharePoint Document Library
   Users can manually copy shared folders into a SharePoint site’s document library. This ensures the files are accessible through SharePoint rather than OneDrive’s broken “Shared with Me” section.
2. Sync the SharePoint Library to File Explorer
   Once files are stored in SharePoint, users can click the “Sync” button in SharePoint’s web interface to link the document library to their PC. This will add the folder under “OneDrive – [Your Organization]” in File Explorer.
3. Ensure Automatic Syncing Across Devices
   Since SharePoint syncs through OneDrive for Business, any updates will be reflected on all connected PCs. Users can enable “Always Keep on This Device” to ensure offline access.

One major drawback is that SharePoint is not included in free OneDrive or personal Microsoft 365 plans. To use this workaround, users may need to upgrade to a Microsoft 365 business or enterprise plan that includes SharePoint Online.

The following plans support SharePoint and allow syncing shared folders:

• Microsoft 365 Business Basic – Includes SharePoint, Teams, and OneDrive for Business, but lacks desktop versions of Office apps.
• Microsoft 365 Business Standard – Includes everything in Business Basic plus desktop Office apps (Word, Excel, Outlook, etc.).
• Microsoft 365 Business Premium – Adds advanced security features and device management on top of Business Standard.
• Microsoft 365 E3 or E5 (Enterprise Plans) – Ideal for larger organizations needing enhanced compliance and security features.

For users currently on Microsoft 365 Personal or Family, switching to a business plan is the only way to access SharePoint. While this may be overkill for individuals, businesses that rely on shared folder syncing may find the cost worth it to restore functionality.

Related: How to OneDrive Sync Any Local Folder with Mklink

OneDrive’s synchronization is limited to its designated folder. This limitation can be a hurdle when you want to seamlessly back up diverse data types such as images, downloads, or game saves. Luckily, you can bypass it using mklink, a command-line tool in Windows that creates symbolic links or directory junctions, allowing any local folder to sync with OneDrive. In our other guide, we show you how to create a OneDrive mklink so you can OneDrive folder sync any local directory with your cloud drive.

How to Reset OneDrive in Windows 11 or Windows 10

Resetting OneDrive on Windows 11 or Windows 10 is a straightforward process, and it can help clear any cached settings or configurations that may be causing issues. In our tutorial, we guide you through the steps to reset OneDrive using the built-in command line tools on both Windows 10 and Windows 11. This process is safe and will not delete your files but will refresh the settings and re-sync your data.

Last Updated on March 6, 2025 4:08 pm CET