Cannot remove shortcut to OneDrive folder

Question

I need to cleanup which folders I want to sync to my file explorer, and which I do not need anymore.

When in my file explorer, right-clicking the specific folder shortcut which I want to remove, the option to "Remove Shortcut" for a OneDrive folder, is not eligible.

My pc runs Windows11.

For other OneDrive folders which are synced, too, to my file explorer, the option is eligible but shortcut is still not removed, even when I have selected it.

My local IT support guy, doesn't know how to remove the shortcut (he tried 'Free up space') but still I cannot remove the shortcut

What to do?

Answer 1

Thank you for your response 

Remove Shortcut via OneDrive Web 

1. Open OneDrive Web 
   Go to https://onedrive.live.com and sign in with your Microsoft account.
2. Locate the Shortcut Folder 
   • Navigate to “My Files”.
   • Look for the folder with a shortcut icon (usually a small link symbol).
   • These are typically shared folders added via “Add shortcut to My files.”
3. Remove the Shortcut 
   • Right-click the shortcut folder.
   • Select “Remove shortcut”.
   • Confirm the removal. This action will stop syncing the folder to your File Explorer

Delete Folder from File Explorer 

1. Open File Explorer 
   Press Windows + E to open File Explorer.
2. Navigate to the OneDrive Folder 
   Go to the OneDrive directory where the shortcut folder was synced.
3. Delete the Folder 
   • Right-click the folder.
   • Select “Delete”.

If the folder still appears after removal, restart your PC or pause/resume OneDrive syncing to refresh the view. 

Just checking in to see if there are any updates, feel free to share. I’m here to help! 

Best regards,  

Allison  - MSFT | Microsoft Community Support Specialist.

Answer 2

Hi, 

Thank you for Microsoft Community 

I truly understand how frustrating it can be when you cannot remove shortcut folder 

Regard to your issue, I suggest you try to stop syncing the folder first and then remove shortcuts: 

1. Stop Syncing the Folder:  
   • Right-click the OneDrive icon in the system tray.
   • Go to Settings > Account > Choose folders.
   • Uncheck the folder you want to stop syncing.
   • Click OK.
2. Wait for Sync to Complete:  
   • Make sure OneDrive finishes any pending sync operations.
   • You can check this by hovering over the OneDrive icon—look for “Up to date.”
3. Remove the Shortcut:  
   • Now go to File Explorer.
   • Right-click the folder shortcut.
   • The “Remove Shortcut” option

I appreciate your patience as I work through this. Initial troubleshooting may not resolve the issue immediately, but by narrowing down potential causes, I can find a solution. Please provide any additional details, and I'll be happy to assist further. 

Best regards,  

Allison  - MSFT | Microsoft Community Support Specialist.

Answer 3

Hi Allison,

many thx for your swift reply - much appreciated.

I did the first two steps successfully, but in step #3 when right-clicking the 'Remove Shortcut' option is not available. Snip of available options when right-clicking the folder shortcut:

what to do next?