SharePoint in Explorer: why the old approach no longer works

"Open in Explorer" or "Show with Explorer" no longer works in current browsers because the feature technically relied on ActiveX controls and Internet Explorer 11. According to Microsoft Learn this applies to both the classic view and the modern "Show with File Explorer" feature in Edge, which relies on the same underlying technology and is therefore also no longer recommended. As a replacement, Microsoft consistently recommends OneDrive sync, which makes SharePoint libraries available directly in File Explorer without going through the browser. As of: August 2026.

Why doesn't the old browser-based approach work anymore?

The classic "Open with Explorer" command was technically based on ActiveX components that ran exclusively in Internet Explorer. With the discontinuation of Internet Explorer, modern browsers like Edge, Chrome, or Firefox no longer support this technology, which in practice causes the button to do nothing or generate error messages. According to Microsoft, this affects both the classic SharePoint interface and the supposedly more modern variant in Edge, which internally uses the same mechanism.

What is the recommended replacement, and how do you set it up?

Microsoft instead recommends the OneDrive sync app, which allows you to permanently add SharePoint libraries to File Explorer instead of opening them only once in the browser. With the "Files On Demand" feature, you don't have to store the entire library contents locally; files are downloaded only when actually opened, which according to the OneDrive sync release notes from Microsoft saves device storage space. Setup is done directly from within the SharePoint library via the Sync command, after which the folder permanently appears in Explorer as its own entry.

What does this mean for users who only knew the browser button?

For employees who have previously opened SharePoint files exclusively via the one-time Explorer button, switching to permanent sync is a noticeable change in workflow, but not a step backward in functionality. The synced folders behave like familiar local folders in Explorer, while changes are automatically reconciled with SharePoint in the background. It's important to note that each library must be set up once to determine which folders should actually be synced, rather than clicking through the structure anew each time as with the old button.

Are there situations where the old feature is still needed?

For individual, infrequent access without permanent sync, direct download of individual files from the browser remains a simple alternative without needing to set up a client. For teams that regularly work with the same libraries, however, there is no way around OneDrive sync, because the browser-based approach is no longer technically available. When transitioning from old file server habits to synced SharePoint libraries, a brief, one-time team training usually makes sense to prevent the new folder structure in Explorer from causing confusion.

Frequently asked questions about SharePoint in Explorer

Why don't I see the "Open in Explorer" button anymore?

Microsoft has gradually removed or disabled the feature from modern interfaces due to its technical dependence on Internet Explorer. Depending on the SharePoint version and browser, the button may therefore be missing, grayed out, or show an error when clicked. This is not an individual configuration problem, but an intentional change by Microsoft.

Do I have to download the entire library locally now?

No, with "Files On Demand," files remain in the cloud by default and are only actually downloaded when opened. They still appear as local files in Explorer, but take up no permanent storage space as long as they haven't been opened. This makes sync practical even for very large libraries.

Does OneDrive sync work with multiple SharePoint libraries at the same time?

Yes, you can sync multiple libraries from different SharePoint sites in parallel, and they appear as separate folders in Explorer. For teams with multiple project libraries, this is the standard way to have all relevant folders available in one place. Management of which libraries are synced is centralized through the OneDrive app.

Does the discontinuation also affect share links and file sharing?

No, sharing files via share links continues to work independently of the Explorer integration and is not affected by this change. Only the technical method of making a SharePoint library visible in File Explorer is affected. For simply sharing individual documents, the familiar sharing dialog in SharePoint remains the right place to go.