Sync one drive with another person

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