OneDrive File Issues

How to Show Shared OneDrive and SharePoint Folders in Mac Finder

Algirdas Jasaitis Oct 9, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user wants to display and easily access shared OneDrive and SharePoint document libraries directly within the macOS Finder.

Product: OneDrive and SharePoint
Device & OS: macOS
Scenario: Navigating shared cloud libraries and team folders natively through the Mac file explorer instead of the web interface.
Observed behavior: Shared OneDrive and SharePoint folders do not appear as top-level convenient locations in Finder; they are difficult to navigate and buried several folder levels deep.

Before you start

Ensure you have the latest version of the Microsoft OneDrive desktop client installed on your Mac and that you are signed in with your work or school account.

Solution 1Recommended

Sync SharePoint Libraries and Shared Folders to Mac

Use the built-in sync feature from the web interface to push shared folders directly to your Mac Finder.

By utilizing the synchronization feature found in the web version of OneDrive and SharePoint, you can force shared directories to mount within macOS Finder under your organization's folder name.

Open OneDrive or SharePoint Online

Log in to your Microsoft 365 account via a web browser and navigate to the SharePoint site or the 'Shared' section in OneDrive.

Select the folder to sync

Open the specific shared folder or document library you want to easily access in Finder.

Click the Sync button

Click the 'Sync' button in the top toolbar. If prompted by your browser, allow Microsoft OneDrive to open.

Locate the folder in Finder

Open Mac Finder. You will now see a new location in the sidebar with your organization's name or a OneDrive Shared folder containing the synced directories.

Sync SharePoint Libraries and Shared Folders to Mac

Sync Limitation: Currently, you can only synchronize entire shared folders or document libraries, not individual files.

Solution 2

Group Individual Shared Files into a Master Folder

Since individual shared files cannot be synced directly to Finder, ask the file owner to consolidate them into a single shared folder as a workaround.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Open and Edit Synced OneDrive Files with WPS Office

Once your OneDrive and SharePoint folders are accessible in Mac Finder, use WPS Office as a lightweight, free alternative to Microsoft Office. It seamlessly opens Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files natively on your Mac.

1. Download and Install: Get WPS Office for Mac from the official website and install it.
2. Open Synced Folders: Navigate to your synced OneDrive or SharePoint folder in Mac Finder.
3. Edit Seamlessly: Double-click any Office document to open, edit, and automatically save changes back to the cloud using WPS Office.

Seamless compatibility with Microsoft Office formats (.docx, .xlsx, .pptx).Lightweight software that runs extremely fast on macOS.Free to use with a clean, familiar tabbed interface.Directly open, edit, and save files straight to your synced Finder folders.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I pin a synced SharePoint folder to the Mac Finder sidebar?

Yes. Once the folder is synced and appears under your organization's folder in Finder, you can drag the specific shared folder directly into the 'Favorites' section of your Finder sidebar for quick access.

Why are my synced folders taking up so much hard drive space?

By default, OneDrive uses Files On-Demand on macOS, meaning files are kept in the cloud until you open them. If you right-clicked a folder and selected 'Always Keep on This Device', it will download locally and use disk space. Right-click and choose 'Free Up Space' to reverse this.

How do I stop syncing a SharePoint folder on Mac?

Click the OneDrive cloud icon in your Mac menu bar, click the gear icon (Help & Settings) > Preferences, go to the Account tab, locate the SharePoint folder you want to remove, and click 'Stop sync'.

Document & File Issues