Forum Discussion
Windows One Drive shared folder suddenly become shortcut instead of folders
Hi,
I am having an issue that I need help with. I have my One Drive account for several years. I have my main account signed in on my laptop. I have 4 other users sharing their folder with edit access to my main account. I add them as short cut to my main account. In the past, on my laptop, they function as folders. Meaning, I can move, delete, add files and they essentially function as a folder. Now, all my shared folder from my other users suddenly becomes short cut. When I open the folder, it brings me to the browser for me to sign in and view them. This never happened before and I am not sure what caused it. Please help.
Edit Update: I am able to fix this by logging into One Drive with my other user account. Seems like not all accounts are affected only some. I know its not a fixed but at least a temporary solution. The problem seems to be on Microsoft side and I hope they fixed it soon or else I will be going to Google Drive.
Update 2: This issue was ongoing since June 7, 2024. As of today, June 19, 2024 it still has not been fixed. Also, one of the Always on device folder on my laptop start deleting stuff on its own. I had to disble the always on device to get it to stop. Great job Microsoft, the most valueable company in the world. I think I will be moving to Google Drive.
63 Replies
i think M$ doesn't want to fix it. does anyone know an alternative cloud provider can do file-level sync?
As google drive can only do folder-level sync, some big folder I just usually use one or two files, onedrive make more sense. however M$ is no longer care this topic...
Microsoft is so bad. I don't know what to do as well as I depend on using shared links all the time. I don't think they are ever going to fix it. All my shared files just became links on my wifes computer and my sister's shared folders die months ago.
I don't think they are going to fix it.
Hi there. I have just been impacted with the same problem. Does it appear only on Win10 or Win11 too?
This is still broken. My Ms 365 subscription will end in a couple of months and I'm not renewing it if this remains broken, for crying out loud...
Microsoft does not want to fix this and I believe this was created intentionally so that any accounts other than a casual user, will need to upgrade to a business account. We upgraded and everything works perfect like before. If Onedrive for business works properly there is no reason why Onedrive personal shouldn't be working if MS wanted it to.
This issue is also with business users too. Will be appreciated if you share any specific steps followed by you while upgrading to business account which fixed your issue
I didn't do anything different during setup. I had 8 or 9 different users that could no longer access the data like an external drive and were being forced to view in a web browser. After upgrading to business accounts everyone could access the data as before in an explorer window.
Having exactly the same problem! how do we escalate this with Microsoft support? it seems to have been there for 1 year already!
I am also facing same issue (March 2025)
Its very irritating to see the shortcuts not opening in explorer.
MICROSOFT please FIX this ASAP.
Hi All. I have found a work around. Costs money, but seems to be working fine.
I opened a new Onedrive work account. Paid the subscription, added users and moved all the files into that Onedrive.
Everything is busy syncing across still and will probably take another day or two but we are all able to access everything again in windows explorer without the shortcuts.
I shared the folders as I did before on the Onedrive online.
It may be a hassle because it costs extra money, but it is worth the extra money than to have the inconvenience. This issue has cost me so much of my time!
I am going to leave the other account operating to see when Microsoft sort it out. Also does not help that I had paid the yearly subscription just a few days before the problem occurred.CAN you pleasee fix this!
or I'll be forced to work with some other platform for sharing folders!!!It's March 2025 already and you (Microsoft) still have not fixed the problem that you found in June 2024. Something is really wrong with Microsoft.
You should have source control and I suppose you use Git. You should be able to trace back who did that and how to revert back.
Can't you employ qualified software engineers?
When you found out the cause, you should fire the person(s) responsible for this chaos!
I found that my shared links/folders are working now LIKE BEFORE this chaos and WITHOUT any fiddling from me.
Nevertheless, I found this situation unacceptable. This MAJOR bug, aka chaos, should have been avoided in the first place with qualified software engineers.
Same problem with OneDrive here. Shared folders became internet shortcuts suddenly without any action from me! The online app does not give you the option to download the online folders as proper desktop folders in desktop OneDrive.
This is going on for a week
