How to see files shared with you in OneDrive

OneDrive is an excellent platform for sharing documents and communicating with coworkers. When someone shares anything with you, the following inquiry is, “Where can I get those files?” Searching through emails for a sharing link is undoubtedly not the ideal method. Fortunately, OneDrive displays all items shared with you and by you in a separate window. The Shared (OneDrive for Home) or Shared with you (OneDrive for Work or School) view in OneDrive on the web displays files and folders that others have shared with you. Items shared with you are stored on their OneDrive, so seeing and dealing with them differs differently from viewing and working with other files on your OneDrive.

In this blog, we will go over the various points to help you view a shared file in OneDrive. We will illustrate the various different stages as well as a few alternatives to help you see files shared with you in OneDrive. Follow through for more information on how to see files shared with you in OneDrive.

Step by step process – How to see files shared with you in OneDrive

  1. Firstly, open Office 365.
  2. Navigate to OneDrive.
  3. Click on “OneDrive”.
  4. On the left-hand menu click on “Shared”.
  5. The things “shared with you” are shown next to the names of the persons who shared them.

That’s it. For the most part, you will now be able to see shared files and documents that have been shared with you. Make sure that have the correct permissions are enabled to allow for the browser to show you shared content. 

It is important to note that the Shared view is not a distinct folder; you cannot move items from it into your Files view. You can copy the shared file to your Files view, but any changes you make to the saved copy will not be reflected in the original file, so anybody else who has access to the original file will not see your modifications.

If you have edit access to a folder, you may add it to OneDrive and it will display in the My Files list alongside your own stuff. The original shared folder and its “copy” will automatically sync, ensuring that everyone who has access to it is up to date. Furthermore, when you enable synchronization between your computer and OneDrive, any shared folders uploaded to My Files will appear alongside your personal files in your Windows File Explorer. Follow through to see how you can achieve this.

How to see files shared with you in OneDrive for desktop

  • Firstly, open Office 365.
  • Navigate to OneDrive.

Click on the 9 dots to make the process of finding the OneDrive easier.

  • Click on “OneDrive”.
  • On the left-hand menu click on “Shared”. The files and folders that you may add to OneDrive are labeled “Can edit.”
  • Find the folder you wish to add, click the circle in the folder’s tile, and then click “Add to my OneDrive” in the top menu. Alternatively, right-click a folder and select “Add to my OneDrive.”

When the following issues are met, if the Add to My OneDrive option is not available, you’re using a work or school account to log in. Instead, you’ll see Add OneDrive shortcut. You will also not be able to discover it if you have previously uploaded the folder to OneDrive or if you have more than one folder chosen. It is not possible to add several directories at the same time. Finally, the object you’re attempting to add is not a folder. Individual files or groupings of files, such as albums, cannot be added to OneDrive. 

If you do not want the contents of the folder to sync and be shared, click Download. This saves the folder and its contents on your computer rather than to OneDrive. The files are available for offline editing, but you will not see changes made by others, and they will not get updates made by you.

Find the shared folder in your OneDrive

No point in going through all that work and not being able to navigate to that particular folder. How are you going to find it as it’s not in your regular OneDrive folder? Well, follow-through for more information on how you can find the folders in your OneDrive account.

  • Click on the OneDrive icon which is a cloud.
  • Now you need to click on “Settings” followed by “Help & Settings > Settings.”
  • Select “Choose folders” from the “Account” menu, then check the boxes next to the folders you wish to sync.

When you move files across shared folders, their current permissions are lost and they are given the rights of the folder to which they were moved. If you transfer an item to a read-only folder, for example, the item becomes read-only as well. When you move an item from a shared folder to an unshared folder, it is no longer shared with anybody. There is no change to any of the allocated permissions if you merely move objects within a shared folder.

On OneDrive.com, you may transfer shared files but not shared folders. When you sync OneDrive to your computer, each shared folder that you transfer is copied to the target place and then deleted from OneDrive. It may be found in your Shared list.

You may rename any shared folders you’ve added to OneDrive. The new name you give the folder is only accessible to you, and it will display with that name anywhere you visit your OneDrive, including OneDrive.com, the OneDrive program on your PC, and the OneDrive mobile applications. The name change will not be visible to the shared folder’s owner or anyone else who has access to the folder.

In-depth – Step by step process – How to see files shared with you in OneDrive

Step by step breakdown

  • Firstly, open Office 365.

Use your account details or if you have a current Skype account with the Office account in question, you can use this.

  • Navigate to OneDrive.
  • Click on “OneDrive”.
  • On the left-hand menu click on “Shared”.
  • The things “shared with you” are shown next to the names of the persons who shared them.

That’s it for this Blog thank you for taking time out to read our content, please feel free to email our team about how it went if you followed the steps or if you need more help with the questions we answered in this Blog.

Saajid Gangat

Saajid Gangat has been a researcher and content writer at Business Tech Planet since 2021. Saajid is a tech-savvy writer with expertise in web and graphic design and has extensive knowledge of Microsoft 365, Adobe, Shopify, WordPress, Wix, Squarespace, and more! You can connect with Saajid on Linkedin.

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