OneDrive File Issues

Fix OneDrive Shared Folders Appearing as Internet Shortcuts

Khadija Khan Sep 28, 2026 869 views

Question details

Users notice that shared folders in their OneDrive are displaying as internet shortcuts instead of normal synchronized folders.

Why Shared OneDrive Folders Appear as Links Instead of Folders

Product: Microsoft OneDrive
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to access or sync shared folders for local and offline use.
Observed behavior: The shared folders appear as internet shortcuts (.url links), which redirect to the web browser and prevent offline access to the actual files.

Before you start

Ensure you have a stable internet connection and access to a web browser, as you may need to manage your files via the OneDrive web portal while troubleshooting.

Solution 1Recommended

Check OneDrive Service Status and Keep the App Updated

Since this is a known Microsoft service issue, verifying the server status and applying the latest app updates is the primary course of action.

Microsoft has acknowledged that a service-side bug occasionally causes shared folders to appear as internet links rather than local folders. This prevents offline access but does not affect the actual files stored securely in the cloud.

Check Microsoft 365 Service Status

Visit the official Microsoft 365 Service Status page in your web browser to verify if there are any ongoing outages or reported issues affecting OneDrive synchronization.

Verify your current OneDrive version

Open the OneDrive desktop app settings on your computer, navigate to the 'About' or 'Settings' tab, and check the version number currently installed.

Download the latest updates

If your client is outdated, download and install the latest OneDrive client from Microsoft's official website.

Monitor for a service-side fix

Keep an eye on Microsoft's official documentation and release notes for a permanent service-side update that restores normal folder behavior.

Check OneDrive Service Status and Keep the App Updated

Temporary Workaround: While waiting for Microsoft to resolve this global sync issue, you can still access your shared files by clicking the shortcut, which will open them directly in OneDrive Web.

Solution 2

Re-add the Shared Folder Shortcut via OneDrive Web

Removing and re-adding the shortcut from the web interface can sometimes force the local client to correctly sync the folder as a directory.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why do my shared OneDrive folders open in a web browser?

When OneDrive encounters a sync error or a known service bug, it temporarily replaces the local shared folder with an internet shortcut (.url). Clicking this shortcut redirects you to the OneDrive web portal instead of opening a local directory.

Are my files deleted if the shared folder turns into a link?

No, your files are completely safe. The issue only affects the folder's synchronization mechanism on your local device. The actual documents and files remain intact and accessible via the cloud.

How can I access my shared files offline while this issue persists?

Until Microsoft deploys a fix for the shortcut issue, you cannot natively sync the affected shared folders for offline use. As a workaround, you will need to manually download the specific files you need from OneDrive Web to your local hard drive.

Document & File Issues