SharePoint Document Issues

Fix Cannot Move SharePoint Shortcuts to a Shared OneDrive Folder

Elise Williams Sep 28, 2026 869 views

Question details

Users are unable to move folder shortcuts from SharePoint team folders into a shared OneDrive folder, despite having full control permissions.

Fix: Cannot Move SharePoint Shortcuts to a Shared OneDrive Folder

Product: SharePoint and OneDrive
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to organize files by moving a SharePoint folder shortcut into a shared folder within OneDrive.
Observed behavior: The system prevents the shortcut from being moved into the shared OneDrive folder, even when the user has full administrative or control permissions.

Before you start

Ensure you have the necessary edit permissions for both the source SharePoint repository and the destination shared OneDrive folder before attempting to move your files.

Solution 1Recommended

Move Original Files from SharePoint to OneDrive

Since Microsoft restricts moving shortcut links directly into shared folders, you must navigate to the source and move the actual files or folders.

SharePoint shortcuts are simply reference links, and current system rules prevent them from being nested inside shared OneDrive folders to avoid permission conflicts. To reorganize your workspace successfully, you need to move the original source files instead.

Open the original SharePoint folder

Navigate directly to the original SharePoint team site and open the folder that contains the actual files, rather than interacting with the shortcut.

Select the items

Check the boxes next to the specific files or folders you want to transfer to your OneDrive.

Choose the Move option

Click the three-dot menu (ellipsis) located at the top toolbar or next to the selected items, and select 'Move' from the dropdown menu.

Select the destination

In the destination pane, choose 'My files', navigate to your target shared OneDrive folder, and click the 'Move here' button to complete the transfer.

Move Original Files from SharePoint to OneDrive

Batch Moving and Default Folders: It is highly recommended to move items in smaller batches to reduce the risk of data loss during transfer. Please note that certain default SharePoint folders are locked by the system and cannot be moved.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why can't I move a SharePoint shortcut to a shared OneDrive folder?

Microsoft system design restricts placing shortcuts inside shared OneDrive folders to prevent complex permission conflicts and syncing loops. You must move the original files to the destination instead.

Can I move default SharePoint folders?

No, certain default folders automatically created by SharePoint (such as 'Shared Documents') are locked by the system architecture and cannot be moved, renamed, or deleted.

Is it safe to move large amounts of files at once from SharePoint to OneDrive?

It is not recommended. Moving massive amounts of data in a single action increases the risk of network timeouts and potential data loss. Always move files and folders in smaller batches.

Document & File Issues