Onedrive Shortcuts | Add/Remove

OneDrive shortcuts are a convenient way to access shared folders and files from your OneDrive without taking up extra storage space. However, there are some important things you need to know before using them.

Sync vs Shortcut

You can either sync or shortcut a shared folder or file to your OneDrive, but not both. Syncing means that you download a copy of the folder or file to your device and keep it in sync with the online version. Shortcutting means that you create a link to the folder or file in your OneDrive that opens the online version.

If you want to switch from syncing to shortcutting, or vice versa, you need to first remove the existing sync or shortcut. For example, if you have a shortcut to a folder in your OneDrive, you need to remove it before you can sync the folder. Otherwise, the sync will not work.

IMPORTANT: Deleting a shortcut or a folder that is still synced will delete it for everyone who has access to it. Make sure you only remove the shortcut or unsync the folder, not delete it.

Where to Find Shortcuts

Shortcuts are placed in your OneDrive folder, not in your browser or on your desktop. You can find them in the OneDrive web app, in the My files view. You can also find them in the OneDrive folder on your device, if you sync OneDrive to your computer. Shortcuts have a chain icon on them to indicate that they are links, not copies.

How to Add Shortcuts

To add a shortcut to a shared OneDrive folder or file, follow these steps:

1. In the OneDrive web app, select Shared or go to the SharePoint Drive web app and visit the folder or file you want to shortcut.
2. Open the folder or file.
3. Select Add shortcut to My files. Or you can right-click the folder or file, and then select Add shortcut to My files.

How to Remove Shortcuts

To remove a shortcut from your OneDrive, follow these steps:

• In the OneDrive web app, go to the My files view.
• Locate the shortcut you want to remove. It will have a chain icon on it.
• Select the shortcut.
• Select Remove shortcut. This only removes the shortcut from your OneDrive. The folder or file is still accessible from the SharePoint Drive web app or the Shared view in the OneDrive web app. If you delete the folder or file instead, it will be deleted from everyone’s OneDrive and the owner will have to restore it.

Other Things to Note

• If you shortcut a SharePoint Drive folder or file and only want to use sync to access it from your File Explorer or Finder, you may need to go back to the web version and sync it to OneDrive.
• If a folder or file is no longer shared with you, it is removed from your OneDrive. To regain access to it, ask the owner or an editor to share it with you again.