Allow folders to be shared/co-owned with access/sync the same for all co-owners

You can do this with competing consumer cloud storage systems. OneDrive should offer that functionality as well.

Users would be able to add shared folders to their own OneDrive, syncing the folders on their computer like any other OneDrive folders.

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Anonymous shared this idea · August 21, 2014 · Flag idea as inappropriate… · Admin →

boom! it's done ·

AdminJason Moore (Group Program Manager, Microsoft, Microsoft) responded · August 03, 2015

Hi all -
I’m excited to let you know that we’ve begun rolling out Shared Folder sync on OneDrive. We can’t wait for you to start using it!

How does it work? We have a new action on OneDrive, called “Add to my OneDrive.” Whenever you are using OneDrive on the web, or through the mobile app, you’ll see this when you are browsing content that others have shared with you. Clicking “Add to my OneDrive” will add that folder to your OneDrive. From then on, whenever you browse your OneDrive, you’ll be able to see any of the shared folders you’ve added. And on the sync client, when you select what folders to sync, you’ll see all the shared folders you’ve added. Select the shared folder(s) you want and they’ll immediately begin syncing to your PC or Mac.

We’re rolling this out which takes some time, and of course you may get it before your friend who also wants it (try not to rub it in). Shared Folder sync is available on Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista and MacOS. Windows 8.1 users will need to upgrade to Windows 10 to get this feature. Note that you’ll only be able to sync shared folders where you have Editor permissions.

Let us know how Shared Folders work for you – and go sync those files!

Show previous admin responses (4)

working on it ·

AdminJason Moore (Group Program Manager, Microsoft, Microsoft) responded · July 01, 2015

7/1/15 Update
Hey folks – I wanted to update here. We’re currently dogfooding shared folder sync (the team is using it) and continue to be focused on delivering this feature to you this summer. We’ll update here when it’s ready.

1/9/15 Update
Quick update on timing as we know you all care about this. We’re planning on making Shared Folder sync available by this summer. We’ll update this thread as we get closer to the date. Thanks for your patience!

11/22/14 Update
We continue to work on this and make good progress. Setting expectations: this is a pretty complex capability for us requiring changes to all our applications and our service. We are actively working to bring this to market. I cannot comment on time frame, but rest assured that this is one of our top priorities. Our whole team needs this capability to collaborate ourselves – if that provides any hint at how important this is.

Thanks for all the comments and feedback.

working on it ·

AdminJason Moore (Group Program Manager, Microsoft, Microsoft) responded · January 09, 2015

We have every intention of bringing this feature to market. Can’t make any statements about when it arrives, only that we know how important this is and are working on it.

Thanks for all the comments and feedback.

working on it ·

Omar Shahine responded · November 22, 2014

We have every intention of bringing this feature to market. Can’t make any statements about when it arrives, only that we know how important this is and are working on it.

Thanks for all the comments and feedback.

working on it ·

Omar Shahine responded · August 21, 2014

We have every intention of bringing this feature to market. Can’t make any statements about when it arrives, only that we know how important this is and are working on it.

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Erwin Suwitoandojo commented · December 12, 2018 04:55 · Flag as inappropriate

Is this only available on personal OneDrive? If so, I would like this feature to be rolled out to OneDrive for Business accounts too. As it will make it easier to collaborate on documents with my group mates
John Traynor commented · October 11, 2018 12:59 · Flag as inappropriate

This is needed for OneDrive for Business (and more desperately so).
Neal commented · September 11, 2018 12:10 · Flag as inappropriate

Could you tell us when this new feature will be available for school or work accounts?
Michael Mardahl commented · August 06, 2018 04:22 · Flag as inappropriate

I might have a part or a whole solution for this. I have created a login script that will add libraries from sharepoint online (specifically unified groups) - to the users OneDrive. https://www.iphase.dk/auto-mapping-office-365-group-drives-with-onedrive/
Amber commented · May 23, 2018 12:06 · Flag as inappropriate

Has this happened yet? Not seeing it in my one drive....
roxy commented · May 15, 2018 23:31 · Flag as inappropriate

I would like to do the same as Bob. Use all our onedrive accounts, as each employee has there own office 365 license - as a server. In order for everyone to have real time access to all documents. Can this be done?
Bob commented · May 07, 2018 18:18 · Flag as inappropriate

I own a small business and all I want is to utilize OneDrive just like a server in our office for shared access of all of my employees. I expect for each person to be able to see the shared folders and can add, view, change, delete documents. Equally. Everyone's an owner. Can this not be done with OneDrive? Right now, I've moved all of our documents from the server over to OneDrive, but when I share it to my employees, they still cannot see the folders. What are we doing wrong?
j k commented · April 18, 2018 22:08 · Flag as inappropriate

I hate OneDrive...I deleted it!
Anonymous commented · March 29, 2018 03:19 · Flag as inappropriate

Just use Dropbox, I'm telling you right now it will save you headaches.
Anonymous commented · March 21, 2018 01:27 · Flag as inappropriate

This is stupid that you have to use the web interface to view shared links, im going to switch to dropbox because of this issue
Anonymous commented · February 25, 2018 17:45 · Flag as inappropriate

Too bad if you get lots of folders shared to you, you cant add multiple folders via "add to my onedrive", you have to do it 1 by 1. not cool when you have 40 folders shared. then the link vanishes and you have to clink the shared link all over again for each folder to add. seriously microsoft.
Anonymous commented · February 25, 2018 15:48 · Flag as inappropriate

so the person sharing the folder, thats fine, it shows in their drive under shared by me. but the receiving person has an issue. they can access the shared folder by the email link they receive, but the folder does NOT show as an accessible folder in their own shared folder at all. they have to keep going back to the email with the shared link. WTF people?
this my firsthand experience with sharing folders anyway
Anonymous commented · February 25, 2018 15:39 · Flag as inappropriate

the fact that shared files or folders dont even show up at all. its 2018. this update was 2015. what gives???/ come on already. google do this so much better than microsoft. its quite sad tbh
Allan commented · February 08, 2018 13:30 · Flag as inappropriate

We need to be able to do this without having to go to the web interface! I should just get a notification that someone has shared with me and immediately be able to sync that folder down! In fact, with “files on demand” it should just show up!
Goncalves commented · January 29, 2018 09:01 · Flag as inappropriate

That is just absurd. I was using a competing storage program to share my files with the people I work with. My company has changed to OneDrive and I just cannot share the files in a easy way. It is absurd, why would you complicate something so simple like this???
Anonymous commented · January 08, 2018 07:03 · Flag as inappropriate

The ability to move files/documents from "Shared with Me" to your own onedrive files on biz onedrive would be extremely helpful.
Mike commented · December 02, 2017 11:52 · Flag as inappropriate

Why would you make this feature only available with personal onedrive and not business onedrive...that's 100% backwards. What's the ETA on the upgrade for Bus?
Anonymous commented · November 01, 2017 20:54 · Flag as inappropriate

This is only available with personal onedrive but not with onedrive for business. Please have this feature available in onedrive for business as well.
Anonymous commented · October 24, 2017 13:39 · Flag as inappropriate

How do I create a team folder and then see it in Windows Explorer and Map this drive? Why is it so difficult to do?
M Sadr commented · September 08, 2017 20:15 · Flag as inappropriate

How to Prevent Collaborators From Seeing Other Collaborators in My Folder?