How to Share a Folder in OneDrive

Question

I want to share a folder in my One Drive, along with some files in that folder. I've gone through the process of right-clicking and then sharing and sending someone an email presumably inviting them to share. That person has not received an email nor is there a shared folder in her file list. Wondering what I did incorrectly.

Answer 1

Hi, I'm John! I will help you with this.

To help narrow down the issue:

1. Did you click Send, or did you copy the link instead?
2. Did you choose “Specific people” or “Anyone with the link”?

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Please ask the recipient to also check:

• Spam or Junk folder
• Their Microsoft account email (the one linked to OneDrive)
• Their “Shared” tab in OneDrive (sometimes it appears there even without email)

Also, after you shared it, can you:

• Right-click the folder again
• Select Manage access
• Confirm if their email is listed there

Let me know how it goes.

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Click "Add comment" to let me know.

Regards,

John J.D.

Answer 2

To share a OneDrive folder so the recipient reliably gets access and an email, verify these points and try the web experience, which gives clearer controls than File Explorer alone.

1. Open OneDrive on the web
   1. Go to onedrive.com and sign in with the same Microsoft account used for the folder.
   2. Browse to the folder to share.
2. Start sharing from the web
   1. Select the folder by clicking its circle icon.
   2. Select Share at the top of the page.
3. Configure link and permissions
   1. Select the settings gear icon to open link settings.
   2. Choose who the link should work for (for home accounts this is typically Anyone or Specific people, depending on what’s available).
   3. If needed, adjust whether recipients can edit or only view.
4. Send an email invitation
   1. In the To: field, enter the recipient’s email address carefully (check for typos).
   2. Optionally add a message.
   3. Select Send.
   This sends an email with a link to the folder. If the recipient still does not see the email:
   • Have them check Junk/Spam and “Other”/clutter folders.
   • If their mail provider is aggressively filtering, copy the link instead (see next step) and send it from a regular email message.
5. Alternative: copy a link and send manually
   1. After selecting Share, choose the link permissions as above.
   2. Select Copy link.
   3. Paste that link into an email, chat, or message to the recipient.
6. Confirm the folder is shared
   • In OneDrive on the web, shared items show people icons instead of a lock icon.
   • Use Manage access (where available) to confirm the recipient is listed.
7. If sharing from Windows File Explorer
   • On Windows 10/11, select the OneDrive folder in File Explorer and choose Share.
   • For a home account, this typically opens the OneDrive sharing experience where the same rules apply: choose who the link works for, then either Copy link or enter email addresses and Send.

Common causes when the other person sees nothing:

• Email address mistyped in the To field.
• Recipient’s email system filtered or blocked the automated OneDrive email.
• Folder not actually shared (e.g., link created but never sent, or shared from a different account than expected).

Using the OneDrive web interface and then verifying the recipient in the sharing/Manage access panel is the most reliable way to ensure the folder and its files are shared correctly.

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References:

• Share files and folders in Microsoft OneDrive
• Share files with my team members
• Share files in Windows