SharePoint Document Issues

How to Open a SharePoint Link in File Explorer Instead of the Browser

Algirdas Jasaitis Sep 30, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to open shared SharePoint links directly in Windows File Explorer rather than viewing them in the web browser.

How to Open a SharePoint Link in File Explorer Instead of the Browser

Product: SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: A company uses synchronized SharePoint libraries for collaboration, and employees want links received from colleagues to open the corresponding local folder.
Observed behavior: SharePoint links are web URLs that automatically open in SharePoint Online via a web browser, with no built-in method to convert them into local File Explorer paths.

Before you start

Ensure you have the Microsoft OneDrive desktop application installed and signed in with your organizational account, as it is required to synchronize SharePoint libraries to your local device.

Solution 1Recommended

Sync SharePoint Library to Access via File Explorer

Because web URLs cannot natively launch File Explorer, the most reliable workaround is to synchronize the SharePoint library and navigate to the file manually.

SharePoint links are designed as web URLs. There is no built-in Windows or SharePoint feature—nor any reliable macro—that directly translates a web link into a local File Explorer path. To access files locally, you must use the OneDrive Sync feature.

Open the SharePoint link

Click the SharePoint link shared with you, which will open the document library in your standard web browser.

Initialize synchronization

On the top menu bar of the SharePoint document library, click the "Sync" button or select "Add shortcut to OneDrive".

Confirm OneDrive prompt

If prompted by your browser, allow Microsoft OneDrive to open. Wait a few moments for OneDrive to process the request and sync the folder to your local machine.

Navigate via File Explorer

Open Windows File Explorer. Look for your organization's name or the OneDrive node in the left navigation pane to find and open the synchronized SharePoint folder.

Manual Navigation Required: You will still need to manually navigate to the specific file or folder within File Explorer once the library is synced, as clicking the original link will continue to open the web browser.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Edit Synced SharePoint Documents with WPS Office

Once your SharePoint library is synced to File Explorer, you need a reliable office suite to handle your documents. WPS Office serves as a free, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative to Microsoft Office.

1. Download and Install: Download WPS Office for free and install it on your computer.
2. Locate Synced Files: Open File Explorer and navigate to your synced SharePoint or OneDrive folder.
3. Open with WPS: Right-click the Word, Excel, or PowerPoint document you want to edit and select "Open with WPS Office".

Free and lightweight Office alternativeFully compatible with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint formatsFamiliar user interface for seamless migration and quick adaptationEasily edit and save files directly to your synced SharePoint/OneDrive folders

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a macro to convert SharePoint URLs into local File Explorer paths?

No, a macro cannot reliably perform this conversion. SharePoint links are standard web URLs that are not directly compatible with local Windows file paths, making any scripted conversion inconsistent and prone to errors.

Why do SharePoint links always default to the web browser?

SharePoint links are structured as HTTPS web addresses pointing to cloud storage. By design, operating systems associate HTTP/HTTPS protocols with web browsers, not local file managers.

Does 'Add shortcut to OneDrive' do the same thing as 'Sync'?

They are similar but behave differently. 'Sync' synchronizes the specific SharePoint library directly to your device under your organization's node in File Explorer. 'Add shortcut to OneDrive' places a folder shortcut inside your personal or business OneDrive directory across all your devices.

Document & File Issues