Exclude sub-folders from OneDrive Sync

This setting removes these folders from the PC and keeps them only in OneDrive on the cloud side. I wasted a lot of time recovering from following these steps which are share in most posts. What the user community is clamoring for is the opposite. I want to keep the sub-folders only on my PC and not sync them to the cloud when the parent folder is included in OneDrive.

Parent (sync)

-sub- (sync)

-another sub (don't sync)

-yet another sub (sync)

--files (sync)

--other files (don't sync)

Every other solution has a way to use pattern matching to exclude file types and/or file/folder names from the sync process.

Hi Doug Rogier2,

I appreciate your kind words.

We feel your pain due to this limitation and we’re really feel sorry for it. Firstly, please accept my apologize. However, we appreciate your understanding.  I do understand the inconvenience and apologize for it.

I understand your frustration with the current limitations of OneDrive for Business. Unfortunately, OneDrive does not provide a built-in feature to selectively exclude sub-folders from syncing while keeping the parent folder included. The available options typically involve either syncing the whole parent folder or not syncing specific folders at all, which causes them to be removed from the local machine.

As in OneDrive for Business "Choose Folders" feature dialog box, when we uncheck the Folder or subfolder its generally only hide the file from OneDrive sync Folder in a File Explorer but keep data online location. This feature reducing local storage use. However, it doesn't exactly exclude sub-folders from syncing.

Use symbolic links to create "references" to your sub-folders outside the OneDrive directory. OneDrive does not natively support syncing symbolic links. Symlinks and junctions are advanced file system features that create a link between a source location and a target location. OneDrive will sync the actual file or folder pointed to by the symlink, not the symlink or junction itself. Or you may need to moveout sub-folders from OneDrive sync Folder in a file explorer.

I believe Microsoft has been consistently modernizing various aspects of Microsoft OneDrive, and it's possible that OneDrive may receive updates in the future. As Microsoft get their attention is through the feedback mechanisms and Microsoft roll out feature requested from Microsoft 365 customers. I recommended you may also let your valuable Future request to Microsoft Form produce developer related Team through the feedback mechanisms via s Microsoft OneDrive syn client app.

Microsoft product developers team monitor this site 24/7 and they will receive your request and put it into consideration. This is the best platform to let related team hear from you and make the products and services better for you and others.

We can expect this feature to be used in the future.

Meanwhile, if you can understand the current situation and my explanation, I would like to request you to provide a valuable vote in above mentioned reply so that other users can understand the whole situation and more and more users can provide their valuable feedback to our product Team via this thread. Because other users will also search information in this community. From your valuable votes, other users can easily find this topic and share their situation directly to our product design Team via this thread.

If there are any issues related to Office apps in the future, feel free to post again in this community.

We'll be here to help.

Have a nice day and stay safe 😊

Your understanding and patience will be highly appreciated. I hope that you are keeping safe and well!

Sincerely,

Waqas Muhammad

That setting controls what is brought from OneDrive to the PC. Unchecking a box deletes that folder from the PC but keeps it in OneDrive.

Dear Doug Rogier2,

Good day! Thank you for posting to Microsoft Community. We are happy to help you.

We are sorry to hear that you’re having trouble with excluding sub-folders from OneDrive Sync. I deeply understand the inconvenience caused and apologize for it.

You can try the following steps to unsync subfolders in OneDrive:

1. Open OneDrive settings (select the OneDrive cloud icon in your notification area, and then select the OneDrive Help and Settings icon then Settings.)
2. Go to the Account tab.
3. Select Choose folders.
4. In the Choose Folders dialog box, uncheck any folders you don't want to sync to your computer and select OK.

For reference and full details about the feature kindly find the following article: Choose which OneDrive folders to sync to your computer - Microsoft Support

We appreciate your understanding that sometimes the initial response may not resolve the problem immediately. However, we can work together to narrow down and resolve the situation. So, please let me know if you have any further questions or if there are any misunderstandings.

Once again, I apologize for the inconvenience this has caused. We appreciate your patience and understanding and thank you for your time and cooperation.

Sincerely,

Ralph Chawatama | Microsoft Community Moderator

In OneDrive settings you exclude folders/files