Command to force sync/replicate

Question

I got the replication working as well as i had moved my profiles to drive D: ..

But i ran into an issue were some users are only doing the first replicate and doesnt sync every time they log out.

Is there a command i can run on the server (windows 2025) or on the desktop to force the sync ?

Answer 1

Hi Andre Bunting,

In Windows Server environments, replication is usually handled by Offline Files (CSC) or by Folder Redirection with DFS/robocopy scripts, depending on how your setup is configured. There isn’t a single “force sync” command built into Windows that works universally, but there are a few reliable options.

On the client side, you can use the command rundll32.exe cscdll.dll,CSCUIShowSyncWizard or Start-SyncShare (if using Work Folders) to trigger synchronization manually. For Offline Files, the command csccmd /sync (from the Windows Resource Kit) can also be used to force a sync. On the server side, if you’re using DFS Replication, you can run dfsrdiag syncnow /partner:<ServerName> /RGName:<ReplicationGroup> to force replication between partners.

If your profiles are redirected and cached locally, you may also want to check Group Policy settings under Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Network > Offline Files. Enabling “Synchronize all offline files before logging off” ensures that sync happens automatically at logoff without user intervention.

I hope the response provided some helpful insight. If it clarified the issue for you, please consider marking it as Accept Answer so others with the same issue can find the solution. Feel free to leave a comment if you need further information.

Jason.