How to Remove a Shared Folder Shortcuts on OneDrive.com

How to Remove a Shared Folder on OneDrive.com

Removing a shared folder shortcut from OneDrive.com restricts changes to your own view, leaving original files and peer permissions untouched.

Step 1Sign In to OneDrive.com

Web browsers provide access to OneDrive online. Navigate to OneDrive.com and sign in using associated Microsoft credentials.

Step 2Go to Your Files

Navigation panels on the left side of the window house the My files link. Clicking this option displays owned directories alongside any linked shared folders.

Step 3Find the Shared Folder Shortcut

Shared folder shortcuts on OneDrive.com appear as regular folders. These shortcuts do not store files in your personal OneDrive space; they link to files owned by another user. Locating the target shortcut within the personal file directory prepares the item for removal.

Step 4Select "Remove shortcut"

Click the shortcut once to highlight it, then click "Remove shortcut" in the top menu bar. Right-clicking the folder and selecting "Remove shortcut" works just as well.

• Click on the shared folder once to select it. Then, look at the menu bar at the top. You should see an option like Remove shortcut or a trash can icon that might say "Remove shortcut."
• You can also right-click directly on the shared folder. A menu will appear. You should see an option like Remove shortcut.

Important Note: The interface might display an option to Delete the directory. Avoid clicking Delete when the goal is preserving external access, because that action purges data for all participants and relocates files to the owner's recycle bin. Choosing Remove shortcut provides the secure alternative.

Step 5Confirm the Action (If Asked)

Confirmation prompts may appear; click "Remove" or "Yes" to finalize the change. The cleared shortcut vanishes from the primary directory list immediately following confirmation.

The shared folder shortcut disappears from the My Files view. Other users with access still see the shortcut. Users can find the shortcut again in the Shared section to add it back later.

What Happens When You Remove a Shortcut?

Removing a shared folder shortcut from your OneDrive.com "My files" list makes that shortcut disappear from your view only. This action does not affect anyone else's access to the shared folder. The removed shortcut remains retrievable inside the "Shared" section on OneDrive.com for future restoration.

• It's Gone from Your View: The shortcut is removed from your My files section. It will no longer clutter your personal file list.
• No Impact on Others: This action only changes what you see. The folder is still shared with you (in the Shared section) and is still available to everyone else who has permission. The owner's files are not affected at all.
• Still Accessible via "Shared": You can still find the shared folder. Go to the Shared section in the left-hand menu on OneDrive.com. This is where you can find all files and folders that others have shared with you.

Reference:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-US/onedrive/add-shortcuts-to-shared-folders-in-onedrive

Summary

Purging shared folder shortcuts from OneDrive.com cleans up the "My files" view safely without altering source contents or disrupting peer access.