OneDrive Sync App Features and Settings Explained

The OneDrive Sync app is a fantastic tool for keeping your files in sync across all your devices. It allows you to access your files from anywhere, and automatically syncs changes across all devices.

The app is available for both Windows and macOS, making it a great option for those who use multiple operating systems.

One of the key features of the OneDrive Sync app is its ability to automatically sync files, which can be set to sync at regular intervals or when the device is connected to a power source.

You can also choose to sync specific folders or files, which is helpful if you only want to sync certain data.

To set up the sync app, you'll need to create a Microsoft account or sign in with an existing one, which will allow you to access your OneDrive storage.

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To set up the OneDrive sync app, you can start by configuring the settings on your Mac. You can also set up OneDrive on your Windows device, which is automatically available and ready to use in both versions of Windows.

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If you're using Windows, you should see a OneDrive icon in the System Tray. If it doesn't appear, you can trigger it manually from the OneDrive exe file by drilling down to the C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Local\Microsoft\OneDrive\ folder and double-clicking the OneDrive.exe file.

To complete the initial setup, you'll need to sign into OneDrive with your Microsoft account email address and password. You'll then be prompted to choose a location for your local OneDrive folder, which can be changed if needed.

In Windows 10 and earlier versions of Windows 11, you can change the local storage and sync settings by opening OneDrive settings and clicking the Settings tab. In Windows 11 22H2, you'll need to go to the Sync and backup category and click the drop-down link for Advanced settings.

Here are the steps to change the Files On-Demand setting, which removes OneDrive files from local storage on your computer:

The onedrive sync app has a setting called Block External Sync that restricts syncing libraries and folders shared from unknown sources. This setting is a great way to add an extra layer of security to your sync app.

The Block External Sync setting is supported by a Boolean value, which means it can be set to either True or False. Setting it to True will restrict syncing with unknown sources.

By default, the Block External Sync setting is likely set to False, allowing you to sync with any shared libraries and folders. However, setting it to True will prevent you from syncing with libraries and folders that are not from your organization.

This setting is especially useful if you're concerned about syncing files from unknown or untrusted sources. It's a simple way to maintain your data's integrity and security.

For another approach, see: Block Level Storage

To manage your folders effectively with OneDrive, it's essential to prompt users to move known folders. This setting displays a wizard that guides users to move their documents and/or desktop folders to OneDrive.

The Folder Backup wizard window appears when users sign in, and if they close it, a reminder notification appears in the Sync Activity Center until they move their folders. This ensures that users don't miss the opportunity to move their important files.

To add folders and files to OneDrive, simply select the folders you want to include and move them into your OneDrive location in File Explorer. This can be done by dragging and dropping the folders into your OneDrive folder.

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Prompting users to move their known folders to OneDrive is a great way to organize their files. This setting displays a wizard that guides users through the process.

If you enable this setting and provide your tenant ID, users will see the Folder Backup wizard window when they sign in. They'll have the chance to move their documents and desktop folders to OneDrive.

If users close the window, a reminder notification will appear in the Sync Activity Center until they move their folders. This ensures they don't forget to organize their files.

OneDrive Files On-Demand is another feature that can help with folder management. It allows users to access all their cloud-stored files without downloading them, saving storage space on their device.

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The default folder location for OneDrive is a crucial setting for organizations.

You can define the default location of the OneDrive folder for your organization using the DefaultFolderLocation setting.

The parameters for this setting are TenantID and DefaultFolderPath, which you should replace with your organization's actual Tenant ID and the desired location of the OneDrive folder.

In the XML file, enter your organization's Tenant ID in place of Enter-Tenant-ID and the desired location in place of /Path/to/the/Folder.

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You can manually sync your Samsung Gallery to OneDrive by opening the OneDrive app and tapping the Me button in the bottom-right corner of the screen.

The OneDrive Settings on your Samsung Galaxy can be accessed from this screen, where you'll find the Gallery sync entry in the list of settings.

Make sure the first switch in the Gallery sync with OneDrive screen is turned On to enable syncing between your Samsung smartphone and OneDrive.

Below the first switch, you'll see an entry called Sync now, which allows you to manually trigger a forced Samsung Gallery sync to OneDrive.

Tap Sync now to start syncing your photos with OneDrive, and the entry will change to Syncing while the process is in progress.

You can check when your Samsung Gallery was last synced with OneDrive by looking at the smaller characters under the Sync now entry.

You can create and customize configuration profiles using tools like Apple Configurator or Profile Manager.

These tools allow you to define settings for the OneDrive sync app, such as upload and download bandwidth limits.

For example, if you set the Maximum Upload Bandwidth and Maximum Download Bandwidth values to 99 KB/s each, the OneDrive app will display these values in a greyed-out state, indicating they are controlled by the configuration profile.

You can use non-encrypted .mobileconfig, .xml, or plist files to deploy profiles across devices.

To avoid conflicts, ensure that you don't associate multiple configurations with the same device.

Use wildcards to fetch key values from the portal, and manually validate the configuration profile on a system before executing it in bulk.

Here are some tools you can use to create and customize configuration profiles:

To set up the maximum upload bandwidth for your OneDrive sync app, you can specify a value between 50 and 100,000 KB/sec.

The default setting for Files On-Demand is enabled, which removes your OneDrive files from local storage on your computer, but you can change this option in OneDrive settings.

To save space on your drive, you can turn on the Files On-Demand switch in the Sync and backup category, but be aware that you'll need to be online to access your files.

To manage your files on a case-by-case basis, you can right-click a folder or file stored only in the cloud and select Always keep on this device to permanently keep the file on your PC, or right-click on a folder or file stored locally and select Free up space to remove the file from your PC and store it online only.

You can change the local storage settings in OneDrive to control how files are stored on your computer.

To do this, open OneDrive settings and click the Settings tab. The Files On-Demand setting to remove your OneDrive files from local storage on your computer should be enabled by default.

If you're running Windows 11 22H2, you'll go to the Sync and backup category and click the drop-down link for Advanced settings. Turn on the switch next to Files On-Demand if it's not already turned on.

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This feature saves space on your drive, but it also means you need to be online to access your files. We recommend turning off this option if you have plenty of drive space, but enabling it if you're running low.

You can also decide on a case-by-case basis, allowing you to store certain files online only while others are stored both online and locally.

To set this up, right-click a folder or file stored only in the cloud and select Always keep on this device to permanently keep the file on your PC. Alternatively, right-click on a folder or file stored locally and select Free up space to remove the file from your PC and store it online only.

Here are the steps to change local storage settings:

You can control the maximum upload bandwidth for computers running the OneDrive sync app by setting a value between 50 and 100,000 KB/sec. This setting is defined by the "UploadBandwidthLimited" key.

To specify the maximum upload bandwidth, you'll need to set a value within this range. This will help manage network congestion and ensure smooth syncing.

Setting the maximum upload bandwidth too low can slow down syncing, while setting it too high may cause network congestion. It's essential to find a balance that works for your network.

The maximum upload bandwidth setting is measured in kilobytes per second (KB/sec). This unit of measurement helps you understand the rate at which data is being uploaded.