Permission & Access Issues

How to Remove Unwanted Microsoft 365 and OneDrive Permissions

Aamir Naveed Akram Oct 22, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to revoke or manage sharing permissions for OneDrive files and folders after changing or upgrading a Microsoft 365 account.

How to Remove Unwanted Microsoft 365 and OneDrive Permissions

Product: Microsoft 365 and OneDrive
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Upgrading or modifying a Microsoft account where previously granted access to OneDrive files remains active.
Observed behavior: Unwanted users still have access to shared OneDrive content from an earlier account status or subscription.

Before you start

Ensure you are logged into the correct Microsoft 365 account with administrative or owner rights to the OneDrive files you want to manage.

Solution 1Recommended

Review and Remove OneDrive Sharing Permissions

Directly access your OneDrive sharing settings to identify who has access and revoke unwanted permissions.

When you upgrade from a free Microsoft account to a Microsoft 365 Personal, Family, or Business account, previously established sharing links and permissions may remain active. You need to manually manage access for specific files or folders to secure your data.

Log in to OneDrive

Navigate to the OneDrive website and sign in with your current Microsoft 365 credentials.

Locate Shared Files

Click on the 'Shared' tab in the left-hand navigation pane, then select 'Shared by you' to view all files and folders you have granted access to.

Manage Access

Right-click the file or folder you want to modify, and select 'Manage access' from the context menu.

Remove Permissions

In the Manage Access panel, locate the user or sharing link you want to remove. Click the trash can icon or the dropdown menu next to their name and select 'Stop sharing' or 'Remove direct access'.

Review and Remove OneDrive Sharing Permissions

Account Types: The interface for managing access may look slightly different depending on whether you are using a Microsoft 365 Personal, Family, or Business account.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why do unknown people still have access to my OneDrive files after upgrading my account?

When you upgrade from a free Microsoft account to a paid Microsoft 365 subscription, any sharing links or direct access permissions you previously granted remain active. You must manually revoke these permissions in the OneDrive 'Manage access' settings.

Can I remove sharing permissions for multiple files at once in OneDrive?

OneDrive does not currently offer a bulk 'stop sharing' button for multiple distinct files. You must manage access for each shared file or folder individually. However, stopping sharing on a parent folder will automatically revoke access to all the contents inside it.

What happens when I click 'Stop sharing' on a OneDrive file?

Clicking 'Stop sharing' immediately breaks all sharing links and removes direct access for everyone except the file owner. Anyone who previously had the link will receive an access error if they try to open it.

How do I check if my account is a Personal, Family, or Business account?

Log in to your Microsoft account dashboard online. Navigate to the 'Services & subscriptions' tab, where your current active plan (such as Microsoft 365 Personal or Business Basic) will be explicitly listed.

Document & File Issues