Enable users to sync SharePoint files with the new OneDrive sync client – EdenRoc Sciences

Applies To: SharePoint Online OneDrive for Business SharePoint Online Small Business

Last updated: May 2017

This article is for IT administrators who want to enable users in their organizations to sync SharePoint Online team sites with the new OneDrive sync client.

When you enable this feature, users will be able to sync the files in a SharePoint Online team site to their PCs and Macs using the OneDrive sync client (OneDrive.exe). As part of this, they will be able to:

Browse to a SharePoint Online site or shared folder and click "Sync" to sync all contents in the document library or only selected folders that are important to them.
Change the folders they sync directly from their PC or Mac.
Sync shared folders.
Sync read-only files and folders.
Coauthor files in real time with Office 2016 (C2R build 16.0.7167.2xxx or MSI build 16.0.4432.100x)
Automatically transition from the existing OneDrive for Business sync client (Groove.exe)

Test the feature before you enable it for your organization

Follow these steps if you want to preview the syncing of SharePoint Online files before enabling the feature for your entire organization.

IMPORTANT: You only need to follow these steps to set registry keys on computers you want to use to preview the functionality. When you’re ready to enable SharePoint sync for your organization, you can remove these registry keys and follow the steps under Set SharePoint to sync with the new OneDrive sync client.

Test SharePoint Online sync for Windows

Download and install the latest OneDrive sync client for Windows.
Download and open TeamSiteSyncPreview.reg to enable SharePoint document library sync.

NOTE: There are known issues when you use the registry keys to preview the feature using Internet Explorer on Windows 7, or on SharePoint sites that use the classic experience. These issues don't affect the feature when you enable it in the SharePoint admin center.
Restart the sync client:
- Right-click the blue cloud icon in your system tray and click Exit.
- Search for “OneDrive” in the Start menu and choose OneDrive Desktop app.

This preview automatically takes over syncing sites and libraries that are synced using the previous OneDrive_for_Business sync client (Groove.exe). For more information about how this works, see Transition from the previous OneDrive for Business sync client.

Test SharePoint Online sync for Mac

If you're using the OneDrive Mac Store app, uninstall it. To do this, open Finder and search for “OneDrive.app” or “OneDriveDF.app” from “This Mac.” Move all returned items to the trash.
Install the latest build of OneDrive for Mac.
Exit the OneDrive sync client by clicking on the OneDrive cloud icon in the Menu bar and selecting Quit OneDrive.
Open a terminal window by using cmd+space and searching for “Terminal.”
Run the following commands:

Defaults write com.microsoft.OneDrive TeamSiteSyncPreview -bool True

Defaults write com.microsoft.OneDriveUpdate Tier Team

Killall cfprefsd

NOTE: You must be an Administrator on your Mac to preview this feature.
Restart the sync client and log in again if prompted.