When I use OneDrive for Business  to synchronize documents in my SharePoint libraries I have found some differences between Office 365 and SharePoint on-premises.

OneDrive

When I look in my file explorer I get 3 options:

  • More OneDrive sharing options
  • View Online
  • Choose OneDrive folders to sync

synchronizingfolders

Today I’m looking at synchronizing at a folder level. So my OneDrive gives me the option to synchronize files at a folder level. So that I can exclude some folders.

folders

SharePoint Document Libraries

Now I compared this with Document Libraries in SharePoint ( both on-premises and in Office 365).

There is only one option available (The “>” doesn’t work)

doclibsync

So is there a way to synchronize at a folder level when using SharePoint document libraries?

First I updated my sync client: Install the previous OneDrive for Business sync client with Office and SharePoint

fixedclient

Ok, that now seems to be working better, but there is still no option available to synchronize at a folder level.

My next attempt is to use the new team sites. So I created a new team site/Office 365 group and I started synchronizing my document library.

syncfail

Ok, that’s not great.

Following Hans Brender’s advice, after installing the latest sync client from here: https://onedrive.live.com/about/en-us/download/ This problem went away. But I’ve still only got a working solution for a cloud based SharePoint.

SPSync

So so far the only option I have found is SPSync where I can select the folders that I want to synchronize.

spsync

The only downside that I have found is that it is extremely light weight. The user interface. All is controlled through some options in my system tray.

spsync2

Avatar for Pieter Veenstra

By Pieter Veenstra

Business Applications Microsoft MVP working as the Head of Power Platform at Vantage 365. You can contact me using contact@sharepains.com

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