How to let users access Sharepoint Sites via file explorer or mapped drives without individually clicking on the "sync" button

Question

Hi,

We plan to move our file system to Sharepoint, but how do we roll it out enterprise-wide, so sites are readily available to users in File Explorer when they log in? I read about clicking the "Sync" button but is there a way to implement this on an enterprise-wide level with minimal to no user interaction? Thank you.

Answer 1

@DoBongSoon

Here're steps:

1.Open and log in SharePoint site collection with administrator account in the IE.
2.Get the address of the SharePoint site collection.
3.In the Internet Explorer, add the SharePoint site collection to Trusted Sites.
4.File Explorer -> Network -> Map network drive -> Connect to a web site that you can use to store your documents and pictures -> Paste the address in the Internet or network address box.

A reference about how to map a network drive: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/map-a-network-drive-to-a-sharepoint-library-751148de-f579-42f9-bc8c-fcd80ccf0f53

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Answer 2

What I found out is yes, there is a way to map Sharepoint sites to File Explorer. You can do it via Intune or Group Policy. It is supported. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/onedrive/use-group-policy.

Follow up questions

• What happens to the site in File Explorer when the user is removed from the group? Does it disappear from file explorer or does the user get access is denied?
• What happens if a site is listed in the Sharepoint Library policy, is a member of the assigned group on Intune or GPO, but the user does not have permissions to it in SharePoint? Does it show up at all in File Explorer with a deny access or the site won't show up at all? I am thinking of mixed scenarios. I couldn't imagine that I need to create one GPO or Intune policy per site link. I imagine that all the sites are listed in one policy, assigned to all users and the Sharepoint group or O365 group determines the access. Thank you.