How to Configure SharePoint Team Site Libraries to Sync Automatically

_groovyNerd included in categories Collaboration Automation

May 03, 2023 May 03, 2023 388 words 2 minutes

Contents

Warning

This article was last updated on May 03, 2023, the content may be out of date.

If your organization uses SharePoint for file storage and collaboration, you can streamline the process by automatically syncing specific team site libraries to users’ devices using OneDrive. This ensures that employees always have access to important documents without manually setting up sync each time they log in.

In this post, I’ll walk you through configuring team site libraries to sync automatically using Group Policy or Microsoft Intune.

Requirements

To use this feature, you must meet the following requirements:

Windows 10 Fall Creators Update (version 1709) or later on your users’ devices
OneDrive Files On-Demand must be enabled
SharePoint Online (not supported for on-premises SharePoint sites)

Steps to Configure Team Site Libraries for Auto Sync

Access the SharePoint Admin Center

Go to https://admin.sharepoint.com
Select SharePoint from the navigation panel
Navigate to Sites > Active Sites and locate the site you want to sync
Click the URL link of the site to open it

Get the Library ID

In the SharePoint site, click Sync to bring up the sync dialog
Select Copy Library ID from the options
Paste the library ID into Notepad for safekeeping

Extract the Library ID Using PowerShell

Open PowerShell and run the following command, replacing LibraryIDString with the ID you copied:

[uri]::UnescapeDataString("LibraryIDString")

PowerShell will return a cleaned-up version of the Library ID. Copy this new string for the next step.

Configure Group Policy or MEM

Open your Group Policy Management Console (GPO) or Microsoft Intune. Navigate to:

User Configuration > OneDrive > Configure team site libraries to sync automatically

Enter the following:

Name: The name of the folder where users will see the synced library
Value: The Library ID string returned by PowerShell

Save the policy.

Note

This feature allows users to have their critical document libraries available offline and synced on their devices
The sync happens the next time users sign in to the OneDrive Sync app (OneDrive.exe) within an eight-hour window
This delay helps distribute network load and prevent potential congestion

Conclusion

By following these steps, you can automate the syncing of important SharePoint team site libraries to users’ devices. This reduces manual effort and ensures users always have access to the latest files. Whether you use Group Policy or MEM, this feature enhances your file management system with minimal configuration required.

For more details, visit the official Microsoft documentation: Configure Team Site Libraries to Sync Automatically