SharePoint Document Issues

How to Move OneDrive Files to SharePoint and Safely Delete Originals

WPS Editor Oct 9, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user wants to transfer documents from personal OneDrive to a SharePoint team folder to free up storage space and needs to know if deleting the originals will affect the moved files or existing sharing links.

How to Move OneDrive Files to SharePoint and Delete the Originals

Product: OneDrive and SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Migrating personal files to a shared team space while maintaining data integrity and collaborator access.
Observed behavior: The goal is to move files to SharePoint, preserve access for collaborators, and safely delete the original OneDrive copies without losing the SharePoint files.

Before you start

Before deleting any files from your personal OneDrive, verify that all documents have been fully transferred to SharePoint and that you have successfully generated new sharing links for your collaborators.

Solution 1Recommended

Copy Files to SharePoint and Update Collaborator Permissions

Copying your files to independent SharePoint storage allows you to verify the transfer and update sharing permissions before you permanently delete your personal copies.

OneDrive and SharePoint operate as entirely separate storage environments. Moving or copying files to a SharePoint site creates an independent version of your document. Because of this, deleting the original file in your personal OneDrive will not delete or affect the new copy in SharePoint.

However, sharing links tied to your personal OneDrive will break when the original file is deleted. You must generate new sharing links from the SharePoint site so that your collaborators can continue to access the files.

Select the files in OneDrive

Open your OneDrive account in a web browser, locate the files or folders you wish to move, and select them by clicking the checkmark icons next to their names.

Use the Copy to command

Click the 'Copy to' button located in the top menu bar, then navigate through the menu to select your destination SharePoint team site and specific folder.

Verify the transferred files

Navigate to the designated SharePoint site and open the newly copied files to ensure all content was transferred successfully and nothing is missing.

Re-share the documents

Select the files in SharePoint, click 'Share', and generate new sharing links or assign permissions directly to ensure your collaborators retain access.

Delete the original files

Return to your personal OneDrive, select the original files you just copied, and click 'Delete' to move them to the Recycle Bin and free up your storage space.

Copy Files to SharePoint and Update Collaborator Permissions

Copy vs Move: Using the 'Copy to' function is generally safer than 'Move to'. It allows you to verify that the files are intact in SharePoint before you manually delete the originals from your OneDrive.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Will my original OneDrive sharing links still work after moving files to SharePoint?

No. Sharing links created from your personal OneDrive are strictly tied to that specific storage location. Once you delete the original file, the old link will break. You will need to create and distribute new sharing links directly from the SharePoint site.

What happens if a collaborator modifies the file while I am moving it?

If changes are made to the OneDrive file after the copy process has started or completed, those updates will not automatically sync to the new SharePoint version. You should ensure all collaborators have closed the document before you begin the transfer.

Can I recover the original OneDrive files if I accidentally delete them?

Yes, deleted OneDrive files are sent to the OneDrive Recycle Bin. They can typically be restored within 30 days for personal accounts (or 93 days for work/school accounts) before they are permanently purged from the system.

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