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Enable Background File Synchronization on Metered Networks

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Applies To: Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2012 R2

This document describes how to enable background file synchronization of Offline Files while using metered connections that have usage limits, and while roaming on another provider’s network.

Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows Server 2012 R2, and Windows Server 2012 support cost-aware synchronization by automatically tracking roaming and bandwidth usage limits while on metered connections. By default, when the user is using a metered connection (such as a 4G mobile network) and is near or over their bandwidth limit or roaming on another provider’s network, Windows switches to Offline mode and disables background synchronization. Users can still manually initiate synchronization, and administrators can override cost-aware synchronization for specific users, such as executives.

In this document

Prerequisites

To enable the background file synchronization of Offline Files for groups of users when they are using metered connections, your environment must meet the following prerequisites.

  • An Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) domain, with client computers joined to the domain. There are no forest or domain functional-level requirements or schema requirements.

  • Client computers running Windows 8 or Windows Server 2012.

  • A computer with Group Policy Management installed.

Tip

To ensure client computers that are using metered network connections properly transition to the Offline (Slow Connection) mode instead of the more bandwidth-intensive Online mode, test the latencies of your metered network connections. Metered network connections typically have a round-trip network latency of 50 milliseconds or more. However, if the latency is less (faster) than 35 milliseconds on computers running Windows 8 or Windows Server 2012, you can adjust the threshold by using the Configure slow-link mode Group Policy setting, or you can enable the Always Offline mode.

Enable background file synchronization of Offline Files on metered networks

To enable background file synchronization of Offline Files for a group of users while using metered connections, use Group Policy to enable the Enable file synchronization on costed networks policy setting for the appropriate Group Policy Object (GPO).

To enable background file synchronization of Offline Files on metered networks

  1. Open Group Policy Management.

  2. To optionally create a new Group Policy Object (GPO) that specifies which users should perform background synchronization on metered networks, right-click the appropriate domain or organizational unit, and then click Create a GPO in this domain, and link it here.

  3. In the console tree, right-click the GPO for which you want to configure the Offline Files settings, and then click Edit. The Group Policy Management Editor appears.

  4. In the console tree, under Computer Configuration, expand Policies, expand Administrative Templates, expand Network, and expand Offline Files.

  5. Right-click Enable file synchronization on costed networks, and then click Edit. The Enable file synchronization on costed networks window appears.

  6. Click Enabled, and then click OK.

See Also

Folder Redirection, Offline Files, and Roaming User Profiles overview
Enable the Always Offline Mode to Provide Faster Access to Files
Deploy Folder Redirection with Offline Files