Synced folder Onedrive

Question

There is a folder that was shared and I synced to . The folder belongs to one user. another user is putting files in that folder/sub folders. I cannot see those files. how can i see those files?

Answer 1

Dear @Vinyard Jacoby Rayma,

Good day, and I appreciate the clear explanation of your concern.   

Based on how OneDrive sharing and synchronization work, this behavior commonly occurs for one of the reasons outlined below. Each option includes specific steps to help identify and address the issue: 

Option 1: The files were not added to the actual shared folder in OneDrive 

In some cases, files are added to a local copy of a folder rather than the shared folder that lives in OneDrive. When this happens, the files are never uploaded to the shared location and therefore cannot be seen by others. 

Ask the user who added the files to open OneDrive on the web using a browser. 

Have them go to the Shared section and open the shared folder directly. 

Confirm whether the newly added files appear there. 

• If the files don't appear on OneDrive on the web, this means they were likely added to a local folder instead of the shared folder in the cloud. In that case, the user should upload or move the files directly into the shared folder via OneDrive on the web or into the correct synced shortcut folder. 

Option 2: Access to the subfolder where the files were added is missing 

Even if access exists at the top-level shared folder, permissions on subfolders can be different. If files were added inside a subfolder that does not inherit permissions, those contents will not be visible. 

Open OneDrive on the web and navigate to the shared folder. 

If the subfolder is visible, select it and choose Manage access. 

Confirm that permission is still granted and that it allows editing or viewing as expected. 

If the subfolder isn't visible at all, the folder owner should review its sharing settings and either re-share the subfolder or restore permission inheritance, so access matches the parent folder. 

Option 3: The OneDrive sync app is not syncing the shared folder shortcut correctly 

Shared folders can sync to File Explorer only when they are added as shortcuts to My files. If files appear on OneDrive on the web but not on the computer, this usually indicates a local sync issue. 

• First, confirm that the missing files are visible in the shared folder on OneDrive on the web. 
• If they are visible on the web, remove the shared folder shortcut from My files. 

• Add the shortcut again using Add shortcut to My files to refresh the sync mapping. 

• If the issue continues, reset the OneDrive sync app on the device and restart it. This refreshes the sync connection and doesn't delete any cloud files. 

As community moderators, we kindly ask for your understanding that our access to internal development details is limited. Our primary role is to guide users toward the appropriate resources and support channels. While we may not have visibility into performing deeper backend analysis, we’ll continue doing our best to support you within the scope of our responsibilities.  

I hope this information is helpful. If you have any questions or need further support, please don’t hesitate to reach out at any time. 

Thank you for your patience and understanding. 

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Answer 2

Because the folder is shared from another user’s OneDrive, visibility of files inside it depends entirely on how that folder (and its subfolders) is shared and where the other user is saving files.

Check the following:

1. Confirm you still have access to the shared folder
   • In OneDrive on the web, go to Shared in the left navigation.
   • Make sure the folder still appears there under the name of the person who shared it. If the owner revoked or changed your access, items can disappear from your view.
2. Verify the other user is saving into the same shared folder
   • Ask the other user to open the folder in OneDrive on the web and confirm the path is the same shared folder you synced.
   • If they are saving to a different folder (for example, a similarly named folder in their own OneDrive), those files will not appear in your synced copy.
3. Check your permissions
   • The folder owner must give at least Can view permission for you to see items.
   • If you only have access to a parent folder and the owner restricted a subfolder, you will not see files in that subfolder.
4. Resync or re-add the shared folder shortcut
   • In OneDrive on the web, under Shared, open the folder and ensure it is added as a shortcut to your Files view (for work or school, use Add shortcut to My files).
   • If needed, remove the existing shortcut and add it again, then let the OneDrive sync app finish syncing.

If the folder is correctly shared with you, appears under Shared, and is synced via a shortcut, any new files added by other users with access to that same shared folder should appear for you once sync completes.

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References:

• See files shared with you in OneDrive
• See files you shared in OneDrive