Cannot Access Shared Files

Question

I have some files that need to be access from a shared folder but the account that shared the folder is not active anymore, how can I access these file once more, they are critical. I have the folders and files synced to my computer by I cannot open any of the files !!!!. There is a x icon on the bottom left corner of the file icons. See below:

Answer 1

Dear @dgoitia,

Good day! Welcome to Microsoft Q&A forum! 

Based on your description, I understand that you need to access critical files from a shared folder, but the account that originally shared the folder is no longer active. Although the folders and files are synced to your computer, you’re unable to open them and see an “X” icon on the bottom left of the file icons.

I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused by this issue.

To understand the situation better and provide you with the most suitable support, could you confirm the following information: 

• Was the shared folder originally linked to your educational account? Do you still have access to it? Have you recently signed out or changed accounts on your device?
• Do you still see the shared folder in your OneDrive or SharePoint web interface?
• Do you have any local backups or previous versions?
• Do you see any error messages when trying to open the files or nothing happened?

Your confirmation would be very helpful!

In the meantime, kindly try the following suggestions to check what might have caused the issue:

• Check internet connection
  • Ensure your device is online because the X icon on the file often means it's not available offline and needs to sync from the cloud
  • If the account is inactive, the sync client cannot download files
• Try accessing via Web
  • Go to OneDrive or SharePoint on the web and sign in with your Microsoft account
  • Check if the shared folder or files are accessible from the browser
• Recover ownership
  • If the original account is deleted:
    • You may need to contact your Microsoft 365 Global Admin to help transfer ownership or recover shared files
    • If the files were shared via a business account, your organization may still have access through admin tools

Kindly let me know when there are updates or if you need further assistance. Any updates you’re able to share would be really helpful. I appreciate your time and look forward to hearing how things are going!  

Thank you for your time and patience.

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