File Sharing Problems

Can You Share a OneDrive Folder Structure Without Its Files?

Tauseeq Magsi Sep 25, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to know if it is possible to share a OneDrive folder structure allowing others to view or reorganize folders without granting access to the files stored within them.

Can You Share a OneDrive Folder Structure Without Its Files?

Product: Microsoft OneDrive
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Sharing a workspace or organizational folder hierarchy with team members or clients without exposing the sensitive files currently residing in those folders.
Observed behavior: OneDrive automatically forces files to inherit the sharing permissions of their parent folder, making it impossible to share the structure natively while blocking file access.

Before you start

Verify your current folder permissions in OneDrive to ensure you know exactly who has access to your root folders before attempting any structural duplication.

Solution 1Recommended

Create and Share a Duplicate Empty Folder Structure

Since OneDrive does not allow hiding files within a shared folder, the most effective workaround is to create an identical folder structure without the files and share that duplicate instead.

By design, OneDrive passes folder permissions down to all contents. To provide someone with a folder hierarchy for reorganization or template purposes without revealing your documents, you must create a clean version of the directory.

Open your file manager

Open File Explorer on Windows or Finder on Mac, and navigate to your OneDrive directory.

Create a new root folder

Create a new main folder and name it appropriately, such as 'Project Structure Template'.

Recreate the hierarchy

Manually recreate the necessary subfolders inside this new main folder without copying any of the files over.

Share the empty structure

Right-click the newly created root folder, select 'Share', and send the link to your collaborators so they can view or edit the folder hierarchy safely.

Create and Share a Duplicate Empty Folder Structure

Command Line Shortcut: Windows users can use the Command Prompt command 'xcopy /t /e "C:\SourceFolder" "C:\DestinationFolder"' to instantly duplicate a complex folder structure without copying any files.

Solution 2

Submit a Feature Request via the Feedback Portal

Since this is a known limitation of Microsoft OneDrive, submitting a formal feature request helps prioritize the development of separated folder and file permissions.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I restrict editing for specific files within a shared OneDrive folder?

Yes. While you cannot completely hide the files, you can manually change the sharing permissions of individual files within a shared folder to 'View only' by clicking 'Manage Access' in the specific file's properties.

Will files added to a shared folder automatically be shared?

Yes, any new file or subfolder you add to a shared OneDrive folder automatically inherits the permissions of the parent folder and becomes accessible to anyone who currently has access to that folder.

Is there a way to copy a folder structure without files automatically on Mac?

Yes, Mac users can use the Terminal and run the command 'rsync -a -f"+ */" -f"- *" source_directory/ destination_directory/' to clone only the folder hierarchy without copying any contained files.

Document & File Issues