SharePoint Document Issues

How to Fix SharePoint Cannot Upload an Empty Folder Error

Aamir Naveed Akram Oct 10, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user is unable to upload an empty folder to a SharePoint document library using the standard Upload menu.

How to Fix SharePoint Cannot Upload an Empty Folder Error

Product: Microsoft SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to migrate or upload a local folder structure into a SharePoint document library.
Observed behavior: The upload fails or is blocked when selecting an empty folder through the Upload > Folder menu, due to a known SharePoint limitation regarding folders without files.

Before you start

Ensure you have the necessary edit or contribute permissions in the target SharePoint Document Library before attempting to upload or create new folders.

Solution 1Recommended

Use the Drag and Drop Method

Bypass the upload menu limitation by dragging the empty folder directly from your computer into the SharePoint interface.

While the classic Upload menu requires a file to process a folder, modern SharePoint document libraries support dragging and dropping empty folders directly into the browser. This is the fastest workaround.

Open SharePoint

Navigate to the target SharePoint Document Library in your web browser.

Locate the local folder

Open File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac) and find the empty folder you want to upload.

Drag and drop

Click and drag the folder from your computer, hover over the SharePoint document library in your browser, and release the mouse button to drop it.

Browser Compatibility: Ensure you are using a modern browser like Edge, Chrome, or Firefox, as legacy browsers may not fully support drag-and-drop functionality for folders.

Solution 2

Add a Temporary File Before Uploading

Add a placeholder file to the folder so the Upload menu recognizes and processes it.

Solution 3

Create the Empty Folder Directly in SharePoint

Instead of uploading an empty local folder, generate a new empty folder natively within the SharePoint library.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does SharePoint block empty folder uploads?

This is a known limitation of the SharePoint Upload > Folder feature. The upload engine is designed to look for files to process; if it finds a folder with zero files, it simply ignores it or produces an error.

Can I upload a folder structure with multiple empty subfolders?

If you use the traditional Upload menu, any empty subfolder will likely be ignored and left out of the upload. To preserve the exact folder structure including empty subfolders, you should use the drag-and-drop method or sync the library using OneDrive.

Is there a permanent fix for the empty folder upload issue?

Currently, Microsoft has not implemented a fix for the Upload menu limitation. Users are encouraged to vote for this specific feature request in the SharePoint Feedback Community. In the meantime, drag-and-drop or adding temporary files remain the best workarounds.

Document & File Issues