File Sharing Problems

Fix OneDrive Sharing Links Redirecting Videos to Photos Folder

Muhammad Talha Oct 10, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to prevent OneDrive from altering sharing links for OBS videos, which are currently redirecting to lower-resolution gallery versions instead of the direct file.

How to Fix OneDrive Sharing Links Redirecting Videos to Photos Folder

Product: Microsoft OneDrive
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Generating sharing links for video files uploaded via OBS to share with others.
Observed behavior: Newly generated shared links redirect users to a photos.onedrive.com address displaying lower-resolution copies, even though the original high-resolution videos remain intact in their respective upload folders.

Before you start

Before attempting to fix the issue, check the exact URL of your generated sharing link. If it begins with 'photos.onedrive.com' instead of the standard OneDrive domain, the file is being routed through the gallery view.

Solution 1Recommended

Regenerate the Share Link from the Files Directory

Creating a new link directly from the standard Files view can bypass the Photos app redirect and generate a direct file link.

When videos are shared directly after uploading or from certain preview windows, OneDrive may default to its media gallery link format. Manually generating the link from the root file directory forces standard file sharing, preserving the original resolution.

Locate Original File

Open your OneDrive account in a web browser and navigate to the standard 'My files' directory where your OBS video was originally uploaded.

Access Share Menu

Right-click on the video file without opening or previewing it, and select 'Share' from the context menu.

Copy Direct Link

Click on 'Copy link' and verify that the generated URL uses the standard OneDrive domain before sending it to your recipient.

Regenerate the Share Link from the Files Directory

Check the URL format: A successful standard file link will typically contain '1drv.ms' or a standard 'onedrive.live.com' address, entirely bypassing the photos subdomain.

Solution 2

Report the Redirect Bug via OneDrive Feedback

Since this issue appears related to backend updates involving OneDrive Memories, submitting feedback alerts Microsoft to the link generation bug.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why do my OneDrive video links suddenly change to photos.onedrive.com?

This typically occurs due to backend features in OneDrive, such as the introduction of OneDrive Memories, which inadvertently routes shared multimedia files through the Photos interface instead of standard file sharing.

Does OneDrive compress my original uploaded videos?

No, the original high-resolution video remains intact in your OneDrive folder. The lower resolution only affects the streaming preview version generated when a file is viewed through the photos.onedrive.com gallery link.

How can I ensure my recipient downloads the original high-resolution video?

Instead of copying the link directly from the video preview window, navigate to your standard OneDrive Files directory, right-click the video file, and select 'Copy Link' to generate a direct file sharing link.

Document & File Issues