Copy Shared Folder to My Drive SharePoint (5 Easy Ways)

Many users get frustrated having to open the “Shared with me” section in SharePoint or OneDrive every time they need a file. It’s time-consuming and disrupts productivity. A better way is to copy shared folder to My Drive SharePoint, so everything is accessible in one place. This guide covers the prerequisites and step-by-step methods to make it simple.

Let’s begin:

• Why Copy a Shared Folder to Your Drive in SharePoint?
• How to Copy Shared Folder to My Drive SharePoint?
  • Method 1. Add Shared Folder to “My Files” in OneDrive
  • Method 2. Copy Shared Folder to My Drive SharePoint
  • Method 3. Sync Shared Folder to Computer (File Explorer)
  • Method 4. Copy Shared Folder to SharePoint Document Library
  • Method 5. PowerShell
• How to Remove Shared Folder from My Drive in SharePoint
  • Method 1. Manual Removal
  • Method 2. PowerShell Removal
• Author’s Verdict
• People Also Ask

Why Copy a Shared Folder to Your Drive in SharePoint?

Here’s why this step is important:

• No need to open the shared link again and again.
• Folder becomes part of your own library.
• Files stay synced with the OneDrive desktop app.
• You can organise them into your own structure.
• Offline access on your devices.

For the same, I found five solutions which I’ll share next.

How to Copy Shared Folder to My Drive SharePoint?

Before copying the shared folder to the My Drive SharePoint, follow these prerequisites:

1. Confirm the shared folder is accessible to you.
2. Verify your permission level, i.e. Read = view only, Edit = copy/manage files.
3. Use a supported browser, e.g. Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome.
4. Check if the SharePoint Online storage quota exceeded. If yes, then first clean the document library to proceed.
5. Ensure the folder size is within practical limits.
6. Connect to a stable internet network.
7. Decide whether you want a copy or a shortcut.

When everything is set, go through the solutions given below to copy shared folder to My Drive SharePoint:

#Method 1. Add Shared Folder to “My Files” in OneDrive

Copying a shared folder to My Drive in SharePoint means you make your own copy of the folder, instead of just linking to the shared one. To do that, the steps are as follows:

1. Open the shared link you received from email or Teams.
2. The folder opens in your browser.
3. At the top, click “Add shortcut to My files.”
4. Now, the folder appears under your OneDrive > My files.
5. If you use the OneDrive desktop app, it also shows up in File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac).

Use this method when you just want quick access and don’t need to duplicate the folder.

#Method 2. Copy Shared Folder to My Drive SharePoint

If you want the actual copy of the files, not just a shortcut, follow the instructions:

1. Open the shared folder link in your browser.
2. Select the folder or files inside it.
3. From the menu bar, click “Copy to.”
4. Choose the destination > My Files or any folder inside your OneDrive.
5. Click Copy here.

The folder is copied to your OneDrive; now you can manage it independently.

#Method 3. Sync Shared Folder to Computer (File Explorer)

For folders you frequently use, I find syncing the most effective for live updates:

1. Open the shared folder link.
2. Click Sync on the top menu.
3. The folder will now appear in your File Explorer > OneDrive – [Organisation Name].
4. You can use it like a local folder. Changes sync automatically.

#Method 4. Copy Shared Folder to My Drive SharePoint Document Library

Sometimes, users need to move shared content into a team site document library. For the same, follow the steps below:

1. Open the shared folder in your browser.
2. Select the folder > click “Copy to.”
3. From the locations panel, select the target SharePoint site and choose the document library.
4. Click Copy here.

#Method 5. PowerShell

For SharePoint admins or those who have admin credentials can use PowerShell for moving multiple shared folders simultaneously. First, follow these prerequisites:

• Install PnP.PowerShell module: 

Install-Module PnP.PowerShell -Force

• You must have SharePoint Admin / Owner permissions.
• Backup SharePoint Online to Local Storage
• Know the shared folder path in SharePoint and the user’s OneDrive URL.

Now, run this script to copy shared folder to My Drive SharePoint to OneDrive (My Drive):

# Connect to SharePoint Online Site (Source)
$SiteURL = "https://mackjohn(tenantname).sharepoint.com/sites/mackjohn(YourSite)"
Connect-PnPOnline -Url $SiteURL -Interactive
# Source Shared Folder Path (relative URL in SharePoint Library)
$SourceFolder = "/sites/mackjohn(YourSite)/Shared Documents/SharedFolderName"
# Target OneDrive URL (My Drive)
$OneDriveURL = "https://mackjohn(tenantname)-my.sharepoint.com/personal/mackjohn(username)_domain_com"
Connect-PnPOnline -Url $OneDriveURL -Interactive
# Destination Path in OneDrive
$TargetFolder = "/Documents/SharedFolderName"
# Copy Shared Folder to My Drive (OneDrive)
Copy-PnPFile -SourceUrl $SourceFolder `
             -TargetUrl $TargetFolder `
             -Force -OverwriteIfAlreadyExists -Recursive

If you want to copy the same shared folder to multiple users’ OneDrives, run these cmdlets:

# List of user OneDrive URLs
$UserOneDrives = @(
    "https://mackjohn(tenantname)-my.sharepoint.com/personal/user1_domain_com",
    "https://mackjohn(tenantname)-my.sharepoint.com/personal/user2_domain_com"
)
$SiteURL = "https://mackjohn(tenantname).sharepoint.com/sites/mackjohn(YourSite)"
$SourceFolder = "/sites/mackjohn(YourSite)/Shared Documents/SharedFolderName"
foreach ($OneDriveURL in $UserOneDrives) {
    Connect-PnPOnline -Url $OneDriveURL -Interactive
    $TargetFolder = "/Documents/SharedFolderName"
    Copy-PnPFile -SourceUrl $SourceFolder `
                 -TargetUrl $TargetFolder `
                 -Force -OverwriteIfAlreadyExists -Recursive

What’s the Difference between Copy to and Add Shortcut?

If you’re confused about which is better, copy to or add a shortcut to copy shared folder to My Drive SharePoint. Here’s the quick difference between them:

Copy to

• Creates a new duplicate copy of the files/folder in your drive.
• Changes made to the original do not reflect in the copied version.
• Good for backup, SharePoint migration, or independent use of the folder.

Add a shortcut to OneDrive

• Does not duplicate files; it only adds a link/shortcut in your OneDrive.
• Any changes in the original folder sync automatically in the shortcut view.
• Best for quick access and collaboration.

Why Users Remove Shared Folder from My Drive in SharePoint?

After copying the folders, users want to undo the things because:

• Copy shared folder to My Drive SharePoint, clutter in OneDrive
• Confusion between shortcut and copy
• Shared folder no longer needed
• Access revoked by the owner
• Duplicate storage is taking up space
• SharePoint Workflow stuck in progress
• Broken links when the folder is moved or renamed
• Too many synced folders slow down OneDrive
• Data security and privacy concerns

Because of these limitations, if you want to reverse the process, then next I’ll explain how to do so. 

How to Remove Shared Folder from My Drive in SharePoint

When you decided to revert the copied shared folder procedure, you don’t need to find how do I unpublish a document in SharePoint. Instead, these two methods will help you with this:

#Method 1. Manual Removal

1. Open OneDrive (My Files) in the browser.
2. Locate the shared folder shortcut.
3. Right-click the folder.
4. Select Remove shortcut (or Remove from My OneDrive).
5. Confirm the action.

This only removes the shortcut from your drive. The original shared folder remains in SharePoint. For complete removal opt for PowerShell.

#Method 2. PowerShell Removal

If you are an admin and want to remove shared folder shortcuts for multiple users, you can use PnP PowerShell:

# Connect to SharePoint
Connect-PnPOnline -Url https://mackjohn.sharepoint.com -Interactive  
# Remove the shared folder shortcut from the user's OneDrive
Remove-PnPDriveShortcut -SiteUrl "https://mackjohnName-my.sharepoint.com/personal/mackjohn(username)_domain_com"

Best Practices to Copy Shared Folder to My Drive SharePoint Error-free

These are some important points to keep in mind:

• Verify you have the required permissions (View/Edit).
• Use Add Shortcut to OneDrive for real-time updates.
• Use Copy to if you need an independent copy.
• Keep folder names short and simple.
• Avoid creating both a shortcut and a copy for the same folder.
• Use OneDrive Sync for offline access.

Author’s Verdict

Copying a shared folder to your drive in SharePoint or OneDrive isn’t complicated once you know the right option. Therefore, I provided all the available methods to copy shared folder to My Drive SharePoint and how to revert it (if needed in future).