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Teams Folder No Longer Syncing to PC + Solution

Anonymous
2025-05-18T17:55:07+00:00

I noticed that a Ms Teams folder which I had synced to my PC was no longer synching. All other folders which I had synced to my PC had a cloud symbol in File Explorer, but this one folder didn't. I noticed it that when I updated files in the folder, they were not available from within the Teams app.

When I tried to add the sync, I got an error message saying that there is already a shortcut to this folder that is syncing in OneDrive. I was instructed to remove the shortcut and then try syncing again. This was strange because this folder had always synced in the past and now it had stopped syncing.

I wasn't sure where to look for this shortcut. After unlinking the PC and then going through the steps to adding syncing again - I got more information. The culprit was a shortcut to one of the subfolders in my Teams folder. Now that I had the name of the folder and it's location, it was easy to resolve. The shortcut was in OneDrive and not in SharePoint. After I removed it, I could sync again.

So, in Ms Teams you have the option of either syncing the folder or to add it as a shortcut to OneDrive - it seems that you cannot do both. I can't remember how or when I had added a shortcut from this Teams site to OneDrive, but that broke the syncing of the Ms Teams folder. I'm recording this problem, and its solution here incase there is someone else who is in the same boat. Having done a search on the problem - I didn't get an immediate clear answer. From the options in Ms Teams: adding a shortcut to OneDrive and syncing to your PC, I think this problem may be quite a prevalent one, and so should the solution be.

Microsoft 365 and Office | SharePoint | For education | Windows

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  1. Anonymous
    2025-05-19T17:11:09+00:00

    Dear Marius,

    Thanks for sharing your experience with the Microsoft Teams folder sync issue. To summarize and clarify for others who might encounter this problem:

    • **** A Microsoft Teams folder that was previously syncing to your PC stopped syncing, and the folder lacked the cloud symbol in File Explorer, unlike other synced folders. Attempting to re-sync the folder resulted in an error message stating that a shortcut to the folder already exists in OneDrive, preventing the sync. The issue was caused by a shortcut to a subfolder within the Teams folder, which was located in OneDrive.

    Root Cause: Microsoft Teams allows you to either sync a folder to your PC or add a shortcut to OneDrive, but not both simultaneously. Adding a shortcut to OneDrive for a Teams folder (or its subfolder) can break the sync functionality for that folder.

    Solution:

    1. Identify the Shortcut: Check your OneDrive for any shortcuts to the Teams folder or its subfolders. In your case, unlinking the PC and attempting to re-sync revealed the specific subfolder causing the conflict.
    2. Remove the Shortcut: Locate and delete the shortcut in OneDrive (not in SharePoint).
    3. Re-sync the Folder: After removing the shortcut, re-initiate the sync for the Teams folder. This should restore the sync functionality, and the cloud symbol should reappear in File Explorer.
    • In Microsoft Teams, you must choose between syncing a folder to your PC or adding a shortcut to OneDrive. Doing both causes a conflict that stops the sync. If sync stops unexpectedly, check OneDrive for any shortcuts to the Teams folder or its subfolders and remove them.
    • This issue may be common due to the similar options in Teams for syncing and adding shortcuts, which can lead to accidental conflicts.
    • If you’re unsure how the shortcut was added, it might have occurred while organizing files or collaborating within Teams, as the “Add shortcut to OneDrive” option is easily accessible.
    • For others facing this issue, searching for the error message in OneDrive or Teams documentation may not always yield clear results, so checking OneDrive for shortcuts is a practical first step.

    To receive more detailed support regarding this matter, I would recommend reaching out to Microsoft’s advanced support team by submitting a request through their official support portal:  https://support.microsoft.com/contactus

    Thank you for your time and patience, we hope you have a great day!

    Kind regards,

    Clover-L - MSFT | Microsoft Community Support Specialist.

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