Office 365 admins can now exclude specific files from OneDrive sync

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Published onDecember 14, 2020

published onDecember 14, 2020

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Last month, we reported thatMicrosoft was working on a new Office 365 policythat would allow admins to prevent users from uploading specific files to OneDrive or SharePoint. TheMicrosoft 365 roadmap entryindicates that a new OneDrive update (version 20.201) that supports this new policy is now rolling out for all users globally.

To block the upload of specific file types, you’ll need to go to the OneDrive Admin Center and click the “Sync” option available in the left pane. Now, select the “Block syncing of specific file types” option, and type all the file name extensions you want to block. Finally, hit the “Save” button on the Sync page, and restart the OneDrive sync app.

“If you enable this setting, the sync app doesn’t upload new files that match the keywords you specified. No errors appear for the skipped files, and the files remain in the local OneDrive folder. In File Explorer, the files appear with an “Excluded from sync” icon in the Status column. The OneDrive sync app must be restarted after this setting is enabled for the setting to take effect,” the company explained.

Once this Group policy is enabled, users will still be able to upload excluded files from their local OneDrive folder by using the OneDrive for Business web app. However, the company recommends users to delete the excluded local file in the OneDrive folder to prevent a sync conflict with that skipped file. You can learn more details about this new Group Policy onthis support page.

Radu Tyrsina

Radu Tyrsina has been a Windows fan ever since he got his first PC, a Pentium III (a monster at that time).

For most of the kids of his age, the Internet was an amazing way to play and communicate with others, but he was deeply impressed by the flow of information and how easily you can find anything on the web.

Prior to founding Windows Report, this particular curiosity about digital content enabled him to grow a number of sites that helped hundreds of millions reach faster the answer they’re looking for.

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Radu Tyrsina

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Office 365 admins can now exclude specific files from OneDrive sync