SharePoint files not syncing correctly

Question

Split from this thread.

Hi Ran,

I am now having a second issue with Sharepoint. Sharepoint is supposed to be mapped to my File Explorer so that I can open a file within it, work with that file, then save it and it will automatically upload to Sharepoint. 

With that being said, I'm experiencing the following issues with Sharepoint files:

1. I cannot open the file directly in Sharepoint online (I can only work with the file within the browser).
2. The Sharepoint file mapping is completely messed up within File Explorer. Specifically, the files I see in file explorer are duplicative and do not match what's on the actual Sharepoint site. Please see attached images.

Please advise.

THanks!

J

ttached images.

Answer 1

Hi Jacob,

For the issue that “I cannot open the file directly in SharePoint Online (I can only work with the file within the browser)”, please first check if your admin has set the settings below for the document library:

Library settings > Information Rights Management > check if the admin has set any IRM policy to “prevent opening document in the browser for this document library”.

Library settings > Advanced settings > Opening Documents in the browser > check if it is set to “Open in the client application”

If you meet any error message when you try to open the file directly in SharePoint Online, please provide us the screenshot. (Please help us remove any private information to protect your privacy)

For the issue that “The SharePoint file mapping is completely messed up within File Explorer”, from your screenshot, I assume you are using OneDrive sync client. Please make sure the local sync folder in your screenshot is the exact one syncing files and follow the steps below:

1. Right click the OneDrive sync client icon > Open your company folder, check if this opened sync folder is the same in the screenshot.
2. Check if there’re green check icons on the files, or there’re cloud icons on the files. Those icons mean the items are under syncing.
3. If everything is correct based on the two steps above, you can try to un-sync then re-sync to refresh the sync process to see the result. Go to OneDrive settings > Account > Stop sync the library.
4. If the step 3 still can’t fix the issue, please try reset OneDrive to see the result.

For the duplicate file issue, please refer to this thread, ensure you have checked the “use Office 2016 to sync files that I have open” option under OneDrive settings.

Thanks,

Rena

Answer 2

Hi Jacob,

Please try the step above, if you still have any issues, please provide us any updates when you have time.

Thanks,

Rena

Answer 3

I've tried the above, but I cannot understand the instructions. I have and use OneDrive just fine. It's the Sharepoint files that are mapped to my file explorer that are both (1) not updating when a sharepoint document is changed; and (2) completely duplicative and mapped somehow to my team members' files to boot. 

With respect to the specific instructions, am I being asked to right click the sharepoint file in file explorer or within the web brower?

Please advise. 

THanks!

J

Answer 4

Hi Jacob,

I saw the OneDrive sync SPO blue icon ![](https://learn-attachment.microsoft.com/api/attachments/5d1ed27d-e127-4f86-94e0-c5e3c469b10f?platform=QnA"https://support.office.com/en-us/article/Learn-about-OneDrive-Files-On-Demand-0e6860d3-d9f3-4971-b321-7092438fb38e?ui=en-US&rs=en-US&ad=US&fromAR=1" rel="ugc nofollow">Learn about OneDrive Files On-Demand. On the other hand, sometimes you need to re-do the mapping as this only works for a period time. For example, when you restart the computer. But the OneDrive can keep syncing.

Thanks,

Rena

Answer 5

Hi There,

Yes, if that image of the city is correct, then I am using Sharepoint Online with OneDrive. However, none of the files in my file explore underneath the SPO image sync with what's in Sharepoint when I open Sharepoint in a browser. Further, there are multiple duplicate SPO showing up within File Explorer. 

Finally, I checked to see if the settings in SPO allowed me to open the files in their native application (versus online) and it says that they are. However, whenever I try to open them there is an error message. I've attempted to follow the IRM suggestion and reached the following: