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Unable to Rename Folder in Teams/SharePoint Channel Site on iOS Apps

HeinMoeThu 30 Reputation points
2025-08-04T20:48:13.1033333+00:00

I’m experiencing an issue with renaming a folder that resides in a Teams/SharePoint Channel site.

  • The folder cannot be renamed if a file inside it is currently opened somewhere.
  • This behavior occurs only on iOS mobile apps (tested on OneDrive, Teams, and Microsoft 365 Copilot).
  • Interestingly, the SharePoint mobile app can rename the folder, likely because it uses a web interface.
  • On desktop and browser apps (Teams, OneDrive), renaming works as expected even if a file inside the folder is open.

Is this a known limitation on iOS apps, or is there a workaround/fix available?

Steps to Reproduce:

  1. In a Teams Channel (backed by SharePoint), create or identify a folder that contains at least one file.
  2. Open the file on any device using a web link.
  3. On an iOS device, open the Teams, OneDrive, or Microsoft 365 Copilot app.
  4. Attempt to rename the folder that contains the open file.
  5. Observe that the rename action fails.
  6. Compare with the Teams Desktop App, OneDrive Desktop app, SharePoint iOS app, and their browser counterparts, which allows the rename under the same conditions.
Microsoft Teams | Microsoft Teams for business | Files | Save files
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Answer accepted by question author

  1. Chris Duong 8,655 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2025-08-04T21:25:11.8866667+00:00

    Hi @Hein Moe Thu,     

    Good day to you! Welcome to Microsoft Q&A forum. 

    Thanks for sharing the detailed steps and observations and this is a great breakdown of the issue. 

    You're absolutely right that the inability to rename folders in Teams/SharePoint when a file inside is open seems to be specific to iOS apps like Teams, OneDrive, and Microsoft 365 Copilot. This behavior is likely due to how these apps handle file locks and folder metadata updates. 

    A few things to consider:  Renaming via SharePoint mobile app works because it uses a web-based interface, which handles folder operations differently.  Desktop and browser apps (Teams, OneDrive, SharePoint) allow renaming even if a file is open, likely due to more robust file locking and sync mechanisms.  This does appear to be a platform-specific limitation on iOS apps. The apps may prevent folder renaming if any file inside is actively open or locked, even remotely.  Until this is addressed by Microsoft: 

    Try renaming the folder using the SharePoint mobile app or a desktop/browser version of Teams or OneDrive.  Ensure that no files inside the folder are actively open when attempting the rename.  You might also consider submitting feedback via our feedback portal: Microsoft Feedback Hub. 

    User's image Each submission is reviewed by our product team and helps inform priorities for upcoming updates. 

    If you have any further questions or need additional assistance in the future, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Our team is always here to help!  

    We hope you have a great day!   

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  1. Chris Duong 8,655 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2025-08-07T17:56:49.67+00:00

    Hi @Hein Moe Thu,   

    I hope you're having a good day so far. 

    I'm reaching out again to follow up on your issue and check if everything has been resolved. My goal is to ensure your experience remains smooth and hassle-free. If you're still encountering any problems or have run into new challenges, please let me know which steps you're currently stuck on and happy to provide further help whenever you need it.  

    If you have any further questions, feel free to tag me in your reply so I can assist you directly. 

    Looking forward to your update! 

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  2. Chris Duong 8,655 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2025-08-06T19:00:41.9733333+00:00

    Hi @Hein Moe Thu,      

    Just checking in to see if the above information was helpful. Have you had a chance to review the responses provided?  

    Please feel free to keep us updated on your progress. We’ll be standing by and ready to assist further as needed. 

    Wishing you smooth syncing ahead! 

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