Microsoft 365 – How to stop sharing OneDrive files and folders

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You may notice that you are sharing files or folders that you no longer want to be seen/shared with other people. You have two options; to stop sharing with everyone. Or if you have shared a file with specific people, you may wish certain individuals to no longer have access.

To stop sharing to everyone. First log into your OneDrive space, where it will take you to your ‘My files’ area. From here there are two main routes to stopping your files from being shared. You can select from the left side menu ‘Shared’. This will first show you all files that are shared with you. Near the top select the view called ‘Shared by you’. This view will now show all of the files you are sharing with other people.

One drive files area. Showing the left meu item of 'Shared' followed by the top menu button of 'Shared by you'.

Or alternatively if you look on the files list. You will notice that files will have a sharing status next to them. Locate the file that you wish to modify on the list. You will see three vertical dots next to its name, select this to get the menu options.

Showing the file list and the menu button location.

On menu options for the file select ‘Manage access’.

Showing the menu items list after pressing the menu button..

To stop everyone being able to access your file. You will now see under the ‘Manage Access’ menu a blue text button called ‘Stop sharing’. Select this button.

The 'Stop sharing' text button on the top of the 'Manage Access' page.

It will show a final pop up box where you can select ‘Stop sharing’ to confirm the change.

In order to stop sharing a file to an individual person, rather than everyone from having access to it. First select the down arrow next to the images of the people the file is shared with.