Sync one drive with another person

Dustin Finn 0 Reputation points
2026-10-13T14:58:06.2333333+00:00

I have sent several links to share files with a friend and they will pull up on his one drive. Then when he backs out and goes back into it, it is gone. What is going wrong?

Microsoft 365 and Office | OneDrive | For home | Other

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  1. IGYQ 22,235 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-10-13T16:49:59.3766667+00:00

    The most important thing for me is that putting the shared file in his “My files” folder seems to take it out of your OneDrive. Don’t try doing it again, as moving the file is not the same as creating a link or adding a shared file.

    Your friend would normally be able to edit that file without having to take possession or transferring the file from your OneDrive since your other friends are able to collaborate on Excel documents with you.

    I Suggest to try these steps:

    1. Share folders and not files. Create a new folder in your OneDrive account, place a test Excel file in that folder, and share the folder with your friend having Can edit permission. Do not transfer your existing files to the folder before testing it out.

    Have your friend access the folder from the Shared option of OneDrive.com and edit the test file without moving it.

    If you need the shared folder to be visible in his My files folder, he should have the Add shortcut to My files option selected, not Move to. This is because the process of moving an item changes its permission settings or removes them from the original location.

    If the test file still disappears from his Shared list, check your original file's Manage access settings and confirm that your friend still has permission.

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  2. IGYQ 22,235 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-10-13T15:52:43.4666667+00:00

    Hi!

    Welcome to the Microsoft Q&A forum.

    I need additional information from you and your friend. Can you ask your friend when the file disappears, does it disappear from the Shared section itself, or does it disappear only from the screen showing the file's contents after he closes it? Also, is your friend using OneDrive in a web browser or the OneDrive app on his computer?

    Additional question, can you tell me if you encountered this issue before? is it happening to a specific shared file only or everything that you have shared?

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  3. AI answer

    2026-10-13T14:58:40.7333333+00:00

    Opening a OneDrive sharing link does not automatically save the item in your friend’s My files; they should find it under Shared, or add an eligible shared folder as a shortcut.

    Find the shared items again

    Have your friend:

    1. Sign in to OneDrive with the same Microsoft account used when opening the links.
    2. Select Shared in the left pane.
    3. Look under the name of the person who shared the items.

    Shared files remain stored in the owner’s OneDrive rather than being transferred into the recipient’s account. If sharing is stopped, the items disappear from the recipient’s Shared view.^1^

    Keep the content visible in My files

    For ongoing access, share a folder rather than several individual files:

    1. In your OneDrive, create a folder and place the files inside it.
    2. Share that folder with your friend.
    3. Give your friend Can edit permission if you are comfortable allowing changes.
    4. Your friend signs in to OneDrive on the web and opens Shared.
    5. They select the shared folder and choose Add shortcut to My files.

    The folder should then appear under My files and in the OneDrive app. Personal OneDrive supports adding shared folders with edit permission, but individual shared files cannot be added as folder shortcuts.^2^

    If you want your friend to view files but not modify them, keep Can view permission and have them access the files through Shared instead.

    If the items are absent from Shared

    Check these conditions:

    • Your friend may be signed into a different Microsoft account from the one invited.
    • The link may have been created for Specific people, requiring the exact invited account.
    • If the original file was moved, deleted, or its permissions changed, the old link might stop working.^3^
    • If this is a work or school OneDrive and your friend is external to your organization, Microsoft states that shared-folder shortcuts are available only to internal users. The friend must use the sharing link or Shared view instead.^2^

    If a shortcut appears as an Internet link and opens a browser rather than a normal folder, this is a documented OneDrive issue; the shared content remains accessible through OneDrive.com.^4^

    References

    1. See files shared with you in OneDrive | Microsoft Support
    2. [Work or school](https://support.microsoft.com/onedrive/add-shortcuts-to-shared-folders-in-onedrive)
    3. Sorry, something went wrong Sorry, you cannot access this document. Please contact the person who shared it with you. Correlation ID: [Moderator note: Personally Identifiable Information removed] - Microsoft Q&A
    4. Fixes or workarounds for recent issues in OneDrive | Microsoft Support
    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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