File Sharing Problems

How to Fix OneDrive Shared Folders Showing Other Folders

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to prevent recipients of a shared OneDrive folder from seeing or accessing other unrelated folders from their OneDrive Home page.

Product: OneDrive
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Sharing a specific folder with recipients via a OneDrive share link.
Observed behavior: Recipients appear to have access to or can see other unrelated folders on their OneDrive Home page instead of just the intended shared folder.

Before you start

Before adjusting your sharing settings, confirm exactly which folders the recipients can see by asking them to send a screenshot of their OneDrive Home page.

Solution 1Recommended

Verify and Test Folder Sharing Permissions

Ensure you are sharing only the intended folder and test the generated link to confirm access limits.

Sometimes a sharing link is accidentally generated for a parent folder instead of a subfolder, granting recipients broader access than intended. Verifying the link with an alternate account helps confirm whether the issue is user-side or a Microsoft service glitch.

Check current sharing settings

Right-click the intended folder in OneDrive online or in File Explorer, and select 'Manage access' to review who currently has permission to view it.

Test with a secondary account

Copy the shared link and open it in an incognito or private browsing window using a different Microsoft account to see exactly what the recipient sees.

Test on a mobile device

Open the shared link on a mobile device via the OneDrive mobile app to verify if the unrelated folders still appear, as folder display behaviors can sometimes differ between desktop web views and mobile apps.

Solution 2

Contact OneDrive Support for Service Issues

If permissions are set correctly but other folders still appear, it may be a backend service glitch requiring Microsoft's intervention.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for Secure Cloud File Sharing

If you are tired of dealing with OneDrive sharing permission glitches, WPS Office offers a free, lightweight alternative with highly secure built-in cloud storage. You can safely share documents while maintaining full format compatibility with Microsoft Office files.

1. Download and Install WPS Office: Get the free WPS Office suite from the official website and install it on your PC or Mac.
2. Save Files to WPS Cloud: Open your documents and save them directly to your secure WPS Cloud space.
3. Share Safely: Right-click your file or folder in WPS Cloud and create a specific sharing link with customized viewing or editing permissions.

Highly secure file and folder sharing with precise permission controlsFully compatible with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint formats (.docx, .xlsx, .pptx)Lightweight installation and familiar, easy-to-use interfaceBuilt-in WPS Cloud storage for seamless cross-device synchronization

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can someone see all my OneDrive files when I only shared one folder?

This usually happens if you accidentally shared the root directory or generated a share link with overly broad permissions. Always verify the specific folder being shared by checking the 'Manage access' settings.

How do I remove access to a shared OneDrive folder?

Select the shared folder in OneDrive, click the 'Manage access' option (or the three-dot menu), and choose 'Stop sharing' or remove specific users to instantly revoke their access.

Can I share a single OneDrive file without sharing the entire folder?

Yes, you can select an individual file within any folder and click 'Share' to generate a link exclusively for that document. Recipients will not be able to navigate up to the parent folder.

Document & File Issues