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Sync in SharePoint and OneDrive

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When users install the OneDrive sync app for Windows or Mac, and sync the files on a team site, they can work with the files in File Explorer or Finder. They can also easily save files to the team site from the programs they use.

When users add, change, and delete files and folders on the site, the files and folders are automatically added, changed, or deleted on their computer and vice versa.

To upload files to the team site, users can simply copy or move them to the site in File Explorer or Finder. They can also use File Explorer or Finder to easily organize the document library by creating new folders, and moving and renaming files and folders. All these changes sync automatically.

Windows 10 devices come with the OneDrive sync app installed. Office 2016 and later installations also have the sync app installed.

SharePoint file sync and OneDrive shortcuts

Users have two options when syncing files in SharePoint libraries and Teams. They can

Both options allow essentially the same thing—users can access files on their local computer in Explorer or Finder. However, adding OneDrive shortcuts allows content to be accessed on all devices, whereas sync is related to a specific device. Additionally, OneDrive shortcuts offer improved performance versus using the sync button.

We recommend using OneDrive shortcuts as the more versatile option. If you want to remove the Sync button from all the SharePoint libraries in your organization, you can use the Set-SPOTenant PowerShell cmdlet:

Set-SPOTenant -HideSyncButtonOnTeamSite $true

Removing the sync button blocks new syncs from being started but does not affect existing syncs.

Read the release notes and install the latest fully released versions.

Read about Invalid file names and file types in OneDrive and SharePoint.

Fix OneDrive sync problems