File Sharing Problems

How to Sync a Shared SharePoint Folder with OneDrive from Another Organization

Ayan Masood Oct 12, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs a reliable way to download or synchronize a large file from another organization's SharePoint because direct downloads are resulting in corrupted files.

How to Sync a Shared SharePoint Folder from Another Organization with OneDrive

Product: SharePoint, OneDrive
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to retrieve large shared files from an external organization's SharePoint environment.
Observed behavior: Directly downloading the large shared file via the browser causes the file to become corrupted, prompting the need for a stable synchronization method.

Before you start

Ensure you are signed into your active Microsoft 365 work or school account and verify with your IT administrator that your organization allows Business-to-Business (B2B) synchronization.

Solution 1Recommended

Set up B2B Sync for the Shared SharePoint Folder

Use OneDrive's B2B sync feature to reliably download large files without corruption by syncing the shared folder directly to your local machine.

Browser-based downloads for large files can time out or drop packets, leading to corruption. By using the OneDrive client to sync the folder, the download is managed as a continuous background process that can pause and resume automatically.

Request folder sharing

Ask the external client or partner to place the large file into a dedicated SharePoint folder, and then share that specific folder with your Microsoft 365 work or school email address.

Open the shared link

Locate the sharing invitation in your email inbox, click the link to open the folder, and sign in using your Microsoft 365 work or school credentials.

Initiate the sync process

In the online SharePoint folder view, click the 'Sync' button located in the top command bar.

Allow OneDrive to open

When your browser prompts you to open Microsoft OneDrive, accept the prompt. OneDrive will now begin syncing the folder contents to your computer's local File Explorer or Finder.

Set up B2B Sync for the Shared SharePoint Folder

B2B Sync Requirements: For this method to work, both your organization and the external organization must have external sharing and B2B synchronization enabled in their respective Microsoft 365 admin centers.

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While syncing files across organizations in Microsoft 365 requires complex admin configurations, WPS Office provides a lightweight, highly compatible alternative for opening, editing, and sharing your synced large documents effortlessly.

1. Download and Install: Get WPS Office for free from the official website and complete the quick installation process.
2. Open Synced Files: Navigate to your local OneDrive sync folder and open the downloaded SharePoint documents directly in WPS Office.
3. Edit and Save: Edit your documents seamlessly using tools compatible with standard Office formats and save them back to the synced folder.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why do large files get corrupted when downloading directly from SharePoint?

Large files can suffer from network interruptions or browser timeouts during direct HTTP downloads. Syncing via the OneDrive client handles these interruptions by tracking file chunks and resuming the download automatically, ensuring file integrity.

What should I do if the Sync button is missing in the shared SharePoint folder?

The Sync button might be hidden if the sharing organization has restricted downloads or if B2B sync is disabled in their tenant. You will need to contact their IT administrator to adjust the sharing permissions.

Can I use a third-party download manager for SharePoint files?

Most third-party download managers cannot authenticate correctly with Microsoft 365's modern authentication (OAuth) protocols. Using the native OneDrive sync client is the recommended and most reliable method for downloading large organizational files.

Document & File Issues