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Synchronizing SharePoint Online document libraries with Windows Explorer

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Synchronizing SharePoint Online document libraries with Windows Explorer has always been a hot topic. My post on the topic from October 2011 has been viewed more than 10,000 times.

In previous versions of Office 365 its been possible, yet a little frustrating to setup and use on a daily basis. Especially the authentication part (a saml token timing out) has caused lots of discussions.

In the current version of Office 365 the synchronization is taken care of by a component known as the "SkyDrive Pro Windows Sync client". It installs with Office 2013 (soon available as a standalone download if you do not have/need Office 2013)

The SkyDrive Pro Windows Sync client

  • enables you to take your documents offline from document libraries in SharePoint Online. When you connect again your offline files are synchronized
  • establishes a synchronization relationship with the current document library when you clicks the Sync button in SharePoint Online. When a synchronization relationship is set up, files and folders can be synchronized between your device and SharePoint Online.
  • creates shortcuts displayed in Windows Explorer to Windows folders to store files from the synchronized document library.

See also

  • Overview of SkyDrive Pro in SharePoint Server 2013 - link
  • What is SkyDrive Pro? - link
  • Restrictions and limitations related to syncing SharePoint libraries to your computer with SkyDrive Pro - link
  • Sync a library to your computer - link
  • Video: Sync your SkyDrive Pro library to your computer - link
  • Out and about: New SharePoint mobile offerings -  link

Comments

  • Anonymous
    January 01, 2003
    What if we hit the 5000 file limit cap using the SkyDrive Pro client?

  • Anonymous
    January 01, 2003
    These are all the details I have, sorry.

  • Anonymous
    April 18, 2013
    Anywhere to get more details on when we can expect a standalone client?  This could be a huge win for people who don't want to disrupt users currently on Office 2010 or for PCs where there is no Office client for whatever reason.

  • Anonymous
    August 17, 2013
    how do I sync to sharepoint if I allready have files and folders in my skydrive pro at my pc? we are using office 365 business premium.

  • Anonymous
    October 24, 2013
    Hello Jesper, Great documentation, but we are still looking for working link in Windows Explorer to a SharePoint shared librarie. The desktops in the office should not sync all the shared data locally to the machines. With skydrive pro it is not linking to the offsite location, but works from a sync principal, or am I missing the key here?

  • Anonymous
    November 14, 2013
    How can we configure it on Windows RT?

  • Anonymous
    July 25, 2014
    If you Hit the limit cap, you can't sync anymore :/

  • Anonymous
    February 20, 2016
    Not that I'm counting but I just realized one of my blog posts actually is closing in on 100k views

  • Anonymous
    December 06, 2016
    A simple Windows Service can do the sync job: http://www.layer2solutions.com/en/community/FAQs/cloud-connector/Pages/file-system-sync-with-Office-365.aspx