O365 OneDrive spam files

Iain M 20 Reputation points
2025-12-24T14:47:54.99+00:00

I, like many, are continually receiving (shared files) spam files sent direct to my OneDrive (shared area). By the look of these they are porn / sexually explicit or worse.

I am unable to delete them, only hide them. This is one at a time as I cannot select multiple items to action as one. This is not a solution, as it only hides files in my OneDrive.

There is also one file, see attached images, that I can't do anything with.

Can MS provide an actual solution to this problem? I feel I should be able to:

  1. Delete files easily (I can only hide them).
  2. I should be able to select many files to delete as one.
  3. Provide basic security settings to prevent anyone sending files direct into my OneDrive with permission.
Microsoft 365 and Office | OneDrive | For home | Windows

1 answer

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  1. Alex_T 6,410 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2025-12-24T19:25:22.2466667+00:00

    Hello Iain M,

    Thank you for reaching out in Microsoft Q&A forum

    I understand how frustrating it is to keep receiving unwanted shared files, especially when you can’t delete them or select them in bulk.

    At the moment, these files aren’t actually in your OneDrive storage. They are shared with you by someone else, so OneDrive cannot delete the sender’s file. That’s why you only see the “Hide” option.

    Below are the only effective actions available today:

    A. Remove the share completely

    1. Go to: https://onedrive.live.com/?qt=shared
    2. Switch to the “Shared with you” section.
    3. Select the spam item.
    4. Click “Remove from shared list”.

    B. Block the sender to stop future spam

    In the preview pane of the shared file:

    1. Click the sender’s name.
    2. Choose “Block user”.

    C. Report the file as abusive

    For explicit/pornographic content:

    1. Select the shared file.
    2. Click “Report abuse” (often inside the details pane).
    3. Choose the appropriate category.

    Microsoft’s safety team will review and may restrict the sender.

    D. About the file you “can’t do anything with”

    When a shared link becomes invalid or the sender removed permissions, the file may appear “stuck.” In those cases:

    • It normally disappears automatically after a short time, or
    • You can try opening the details pane → Remove from shared list.

    Let me know if you need further help


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