SharePoint

In this step-by-step guide, we’ll walk you through the process of silently synchronizing a SharePoint site library to File Explorer using Microsoft Intune. Whether you’re an IT admin managing multiple users or want a streamlined workflow, these steps will help you achieve this effortlessly. Why Sync SharePoint Libraries to File Explorer? Synchronizing SharePoint libraries with File Explorer provides numerous benefits: Ease of Access: Access files as if they were on your local drive. Offline Availability: Work on files even when offline; they sync back when connected to the internet. Improved Collaboration: Ensure that your team always has the latest file version. Familiar Interface: Users are more comfortable with File Explorer than SharePoint’s web interface. Pre-Requisites Before we begin, ensure the following: Microsoft Intune Subscription: A valid Microsoft Intune license is required to deploy configurations to devices. OneDrive Sync Client: Ensure the OneDrive Sync Client is installed on the devices, as SharePoint libraries sync through OneDrive. SharePoint Online Plan: Your organization must use SharePoint Online for the libraries you intend to sync. Step 1: Set Up the SharePoint Library To begin, access your SharePoint site and configure it for automatic sync. Navigate to your SharePoint Online site. Open the Document Library you want to sync. At the top-right corner, select the Sync button. This will trigger a prompt to open OneDrive on the user’s machine. (Refer to Image 1) (Image-1. This shows where to click the “Sync” button on the SharePoint document library page.) When prompted to open via browser, cancel the action. You will then see a popup—copy the Library ID from there. (Refer to Image 2) (Image-2. This shows the prompt where you copy the SharePoint Library ID.) Open PowerShell in admin mode and run the following command to decode the library ID: [uri]::UnescapeDataString(“Copied String”) Use the output as your library ID. (Refer to Images 3 & 4) (Image-3. This shows the PowerShell window where the command is run to decode the Library ID.) (Image-4. This displays the decoded SharePoint Library ID in PowerShell.) Step 2: Configure OneDrive Sync in Microsoft Intune Now, let’s configure Microsoft Intune to automatically sync the SharePoint library for users. 2.1. Create a Configuration Profile in Intune Log in to the Microsoft Intune Admin Center. Navigate to Devices > Configuration Profiles. Click + Create profile. 2.2. Select the Platform and Profile Type Under Platform, select Windows 10 and later. Choose Settings Catalog under Profile type. Click Create. (Refer to Image 5) (Image-5. This shows the Intune Admin Center screen where a new configuration profile is created.) 2.3. Configure OneDrive Settings Provide a name and description for the profile. (Refer to Image 6) (Image-6. This shows the form where the name and description for the profile are entered.) Add the setting for OneDrive Sync. In the Settings picker, search for “OneDrive” and select Configure team site libraries to sync automatically (for users). (Refer to Image 7) (Image-7. This displays the Settings Picker in Intune where “Configure team site libraries to sync automatically” is selected.) This setting specifies SharePoint libraries to sync automatically when users sign in to the OneDrive app. Ensure OneDrive Files On-Demand is enabled. 2.4. Add the SharePoint Library ID The URL structure for the SharePoint document library, which includes: PowerShell [uri]::UnescapeDataString(“Copied String”) 1.  Enter the data in this format: Example below tenantId=7762b0ae-0469-4c2f-8c9d-600ca093f92c&siteId={a0fd35c9-b3d0-4419-9a20-80350d156920}&webId={d11f7ba8-3e27-49dd-bb8e-5c181fb42ceb}&listId=0d851de8-f52f-45af-acf6-d45c9c0cf400&webUrl=https://nifanliveco.sharepoint.com/sites/Office-Doc&version=1 2. Click Save. (Refer to Image 8) (Image-8. This shows the structure of the URL required for setting the SharePoint library sync in Intune.) Step 3: Assign the Profile After configuring the profile, assign it to the appropriate Azure AD groups or devices. Navigate to the Assignments section, and click Add groups/all users/devices. (Refer to Images 9 & 10) Choose the desired group and click Create. When users sign in to their Windows devices managed by Intune, the designated SharePoint library will automatically sync to their File Explorer under OneDrive. (Image-9. This shows the process of assigning the sync profile to all users in Intune.) (Image-10. This shows where groups or devices are selected for the profile assignment in Intune.) Step 4: Verifying the Synchronization To verify that the library has synced: Open File Explorer. In the left-hand pane under the OneDrive section, you should see the SharePoint library. Users can interact with the files as if they were locally stored. (Refer to Image 11) (Image-11. This shows the File Explorer window where the synced SharePoint library appears under Directory.) Step 5: Troubleshooting Common Issues If users are facing issues with the synchronization, here are some common problems and solutions: OneDrive Not Installed: Ensure that the OneDrive Sync Client is installed on the user’s device. Wrong Library ID: Double-check the library ID configuration in Intune. Ensure the URLs are correct. Permissions Issues: Verify that users have the correct permissions to access the SharePoint library. Important Notes about the OneDrive Sync Setting:The “Configure team site libraries to sync automatically” setting allows you to automatically sync SharePoint libraries when users sign in to OneDrive (OneDrive.exe). However, it may take up to 8 hours after sign-in for the sync to begin. Make sure that OneDrive Files On-Demand is enabled, as this setting is compatible only with Windows 10 (1709) Fall Creators Update or later. Avoid syncing libraries to more than 1,000 devices or large libraries to ensure smooth performance. Also, this feature does not support on-premises SharePoint sites. Once enabled, users cannot stop syncing the library. Suggested Articles Configuring OneDrive Files On-Demand Sync through Microsoft Intune: This article covers how to enable OneDrive Files On-Demand Sync, allowing users to manage their files efficiently while saving local storage space. Reference Microsoft Documentation: Configure team site libraries to sync automatically