Fix: “You’re already syncing a shortcut to a folder from this shared library” in OneDrive / SharePoint

A customer contacted us because a new SharePoint folder that had been created for them was not appearing in their OneDrive. When they tried to sync it, they kept getting an error saying they were already syncing a shortcut from that library. They could see other folders just fine, but the new one would not come through no matter how many times they clicked Sync. The fix involved removing a stale shortcut link in OneDrive before re-syncing. Here is how to resolve it.

Symptoms

When attempting to sync a SharePoint document library or folder to your computer via OneDrive, you receive the following error:

You’re already syncing a shortcut to a folder from this shared library.

• A new folder has been added to a SharePoint site, but it does not appear in File Explorer.
• Clicking Sync or Add shortcut to OneDrive in SharePoint does not add the folder.
• Other folders from the same SharePoint site sync and display correctly.
• The error may also appear as: “You’re already syncing this library” or “A shortcut to this folder already exists in your OneDrive”.

A related error appears in the OneDrive activity panel when an existing shortcut stops working:

Can’t reach your shortcut. This shortcut isn’t working because it was locked, archived, deleted, or the access was changed by the owner or admin.

Affected Software

• Application: Microsoft OneDrive for Business (desktop sync client)
• Platform: Windows 10 / Windows 11 / macOS
• Related Services: SharePoint Online, Microsoft 365

Cause

This error occurs when OneDrive detects an existing shortcut or sync relationship for a folder in the same SharePoint document library. Common causes include:

• A stale shortcut link from a previous sync that was not properly removed. The shortcut may still exist in OneDrive even if the original folder was renamed, moved, or restructured in SharePoint.
• Duplicate sync connections where the same SharePoint library was synced using both the “Sync” button (full library sync via OneDrive) and the “Add shortcut to OneDrive” feature (shortcut link). These two methods conflict with each other.
• Cached sync metadata in OneDrive that references an old folder path that no longer matches the current SharePoint structure.

Resolution

Method 1: Remove the Stale Shortcut in OneDrive (Most Common Fix)

1. Open File Explorer and navigate to your OneDrive - [Your Organisation] folder in the left sidebar.
2. Look for any shortcut links (they have a small chain/link icon on the folder) related to the SharePoint library you are trying to sync.
3. Right-click the stale shortcut folder and select Remove shortcut.
4. Go back to the SharePoint site in your browser and click Add shortcut to OneDrive (or Sync) again.
5. The folder should now sync successfully and appear in File Explorer.

Note: Removing a shortcut does not delete the files from SharePoint. It only removes the link from your local OneDrive view.

Method 2: Remove the Shortcut via OneDrive Web

If you cannot find the shortcut in File Explorer:

1. Open a browser and go to onedrive.com and sign in with your work account.
2. In the left sidebar, look under My files for any shortcut folders with a link icon.
3. Right-click the stale shortcut and select Remove shortcut.
4. Wait a few minutes for OneDrive to sync, then try adding the shortcut again from SharePoint.

Method 3: Stop and Re-sync the Library (If Using Full Sync)

If you originally synced the entire library using the Sync button (rather than adding a shortcut):

1. Click the OneDrive cloud icon in the system tray (bottom right of your screen).
2. Click the gear icon and select Settings.
3. Go to the Account tab.
4. Find the SharePoint library and click Stop sync.
5. Confirm the warning message.
6. Delete the local folder from File Explorer (this does not delete files from SharePoint, as long as you stopped the sync first).
7. Return to the SharePoint site in your browser and click Sync again to re-establish the connection.

Method 4: Clear the OneDrive Sync Cache

If the error persists after removing shortcuts:

1. Close all Office applications.
2. Press Win + R, type %localappdata%\Microsoft\Office\Spw and press Enter.
3. Delete all files and folders in this directory. This clears cached sync metadata that may be causing the conflict.
4. Restart OneDrive (right-click the OneDrive icon in the system tray and select Close OneDrive, then reopen it from the Start menu).
5. Try syncing the SharePoint folder again.

Method 5: Fix “Can’t reach your shortcut” on more than one PC

We fixed this for a manufacturing business where the shortcut to their main documents library broke on two workstations at once. The user could still open the library in the browser, so his access was fine. The shortcut itself had gone stale, and one PC still held an old reference to the same library, which stopped the new shortcut from working.

1. Open the library in your browser to confirm you still have access. If you cannot open it, ask the site owner to check your permissions, because removing the shortcut will not help.
2. Go to onedrive.com (or OneDrive in the Microsoft 365 app launcher), find the broken shortcut under My files and choose Remove shortcut. You can also click Remove shortcut on the error itself.
3. On any PC that still shows an old copy of the same library in File Explorer, open OneDrive Settings > Account and click Stop sync on it. If the old folder still appears, choose Unlink this PC and sign in again so OneDrive drops the old reference.
4. Go back to the SharePoint library and click Add shortcut to OneDrive once.
5. Wait for OneDrive to finish syncing on each PC. The shortcut follows your account, so you only add it once, not on every PC.

Verify the Fix

1. Open File Explorer and confirm the SharePoint folder now appears under OneDrive - [Your Organisation].
2. Open a file from the synced folder to confirm it loads correctly.
3. Check the OneDrive icon in the system tray shows a green checkmark (fully synced).

Important Notes

• Sync vs. Shortcut: Microsoft recommends using Add shortcut to OneDrive rather than the Sync button for most users. Shortcuts are simpler to manage and do not cause the same conflicts. Avoid using both methods on the same library.
• Removing a shortcut is safe. It only removes the link from your OneDrive view. The files remain in SharePoint and other users are not affected.
• Shared library restructuring: If a SharePoint admin has reorganised folders or document libraries, users may need to remove old shortcuts and re-add them to pick up the new structure.
• macOS users: The same steps apply, but the OneDrive settings are accessed via the OneDrive icon in the menu bar rather than the system tray.

Related Resources

• Microsoft: Sync SharePoint and Teams files with your computer
• Microsoft: Add shortcuts to shared folders in OneDrive
• Microsoft: Fix OneDrive sync problems
• Fix: Duplicate SharePoint Folders Showing in File Explorer
• GCIT Microsoft 365 support
• ‘You’re already syncing this account’ when syncing SharePoint libraries
• Fix: “File Path Is More Than 259 Characters” in OneDrive

If you need help resolving OneDrive or SharePoint sync issues, get in touch with our team.