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Files Not Showing in Teams Channel? Here’s How I Fixed It [2025 Guide]

Michael ~ Modified: June 12th, 2025 ~ Microsoft Teams ~ 5 Minutes Reading

Organizations rely on Microsoft Teams every day for work, meetings, and sharing files. But what happens when files not showing in Teams channel? It’s frustrating, right? I faced this issue recently, and after testing various fixes, I finally figured it out. In this guide, I’ll explain why it happens and how to fix it. Let’s start!

Here I will explain:

Why are Files Not Showing in the Teams Channel?

Here are the most common causes I found:

  • Sync Issues with SharePoint
  • Improper Permissions
  • Files uploaded to the wrong folder
  • Teams Cache Problems
  • Multiple Accounts Causing Confusion
  • Files uploaded via Chat instead of Channel
  • Browser or App Glitches

Additional resource: Microsoft Teams Chat Disappeared

How I Fixed Files Not Showing in Teams Channel?

The following solutions worked for me for both the desktop and web versions of Microsoft Teams:

Step 1. Checked the Files Tab and SharePoint Link

Every time I upload a file in a Teams channel, I always make sure to check both:

  • The Files tab in Teams
  • The Open in SharePoint link

Why? Because Teams channels store files in an underlying SharePoint site. Sometimes the file appears in SharePoint, but Teams doesn’t update immediately. When I clicked Open in SharePoint, I could often see the missing files.

Step 2. Verified Folder Path in SharePoint

I discovered that each channel has its folder inside SharePoint’s Documents library. If someone accidentally uploaded a file to the root Documents folder (or to another channel’s folder), it wouldn’t appear in the Files tab for that channel.

So, I always:

  • Go to Files > Open in SharePoint
  • Browse the folder structure to find misplaced files

Step 3. Cleared Microsoft Teams Cache (Desktop)

Cache issues caused files not showing in Teams channel for me more than once. Here’s how I cleared it on Windows:

  1. Closed Microsoft Teams
  2. Went to C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Teams
  3. Deleted everything inside the Cache and Blob_storage folders
  4. Restarted Teams

For Mac, the path is: ~/Library/Application Support/Microsoft/Teams

Step 4. Checked Permissions in SharePoint

Even if a file was uploaded, I learned that if I don’t have permission on that SharePoint folder, I won’t see the file in Teams.

To check this:

  1. Opened SharePoint via the Files > Open in SharePoint option
  2. Right-clicked the file or folder > Manage access
  3. Made sure I had at least Read access

Step 5. Resynced OneDrive If Files Were Synced Locally

Sometimes my teammates uploaded files from their synced OneDrive folders, but the sync hadn’t completed yet. I advised them to:

  • Click the OneDrive icon in the taskbar
  • Choose Sync now
  • Refresh Teams afterwards

Step 6. Switched Between Teams Desktop and Web Versions

It sounds odd, but when files not showing in Teams channel in the desktop app, they often did appear in the web version. This helped confirm it was a local cache or client issue.

Step 7. Asked Team Members to Check Their Upload Locations

More than once, a colleague thought they uploaded to the right Teams channel but uploaded to a private chat or another team entirely. I made it a habit to double-check the upload location before escalating the issue.

Also read: Assign Microsoft Teams Roles in the Admin Centre

Preventing Files from Going Missing Again

After fixing this issue multiple times, here’s what I do now to avoid it in the future:

  • Always upload files via the Files tab in the correct channel
  • Periodically clean the Teams cache
  • Encourage my team to organize files properly in SharePoint folders
  • Regularly check and review permissions for external guests or new team members
  • Use the Teams web version as a backup view to verify uploads

Final Thoughts

I know how annoying it can be when files not showing in Teams channel. But now that I’ve dealt with this issue a few times, I’m confident that with the steps I’ve shared here, you can fix it quickly too.

FAQs

Q1. Why are some files visible to others but not to me?
A: This means permission issues in SharePoint. Check file or folder access settings.

Q2. I uploaded a file in a private chat. Can I see it in the Teams channel Files tab?
A: No, files uploaded in chats appear only in the chat’s Files tab, not in the Teams channel.

Q3. Can I recover files that were accidentally deleted from a Teams channel?
A: Yes, open SharePoint > Recycle Bin and restore from there.