Forum Discussion
I Need Copilot for Microsoft 365 to Work with Local Excel Files
I need Copilot for Microsoft 365 to work with local files, not just OneDrive files. Otherwise Copilot is useless for just about everyone. People don't just store files on OneDrive/SharePoint in an ...
Brad Warrender
Microsoft
Microsoftjust set up your onedrive to redirect local files in Documents and Desktop, done and done.
To set up your local documents and desktop to redirect to OneDrive, follow these steps:
1. **Prepare to Move Known Folders on Existing Devices**:
- Before deploying, ensure you upgrade to the latest available build.
- If users have a lot of files in their known folders, roll out the configuration gradually to minimize network impact during file uploads.
- Note that Known Folder Move doesn't work for users syncing OneDrive files in SharePoint Server.
2. **Configure Known Folder Move Policies**:
- OneDrive policies can be set using Group Policy, Intune Windows 10 Administrative Templates, or by configuring registry settings.
- The following policies control the Known Folder Move feature:
- **Prompt users to move Windows known folders to OneDrive**: This policy prompts users to move their known folders.
- **If folders have been redirected to a location on a local PC**:
- Disable the Window Folder Redirection Group Policy.
- Make sure to leave the folder and contents at the redirected location.
- Enable Known Folder Move Group Policy.
- Known folders move to OneDrive.
- **If folders have been redirected to a network file share**:
- Use Migration Manager to copy contents from the network file share location to a user's OneDrive.
- Ensure all contents go into the existing Documents, Pictures, or Desktop folders.
For detailed instructions, refer to the official Microsoft documentation: [Redirect and move Windows known folders to OneDrive](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sharepoint/redirect-known-folders) ¹.
Remember that this process allows your users to continue using familiar folders while ensuring data backup in the cloud. Happy syncing! 🌟
Source: Conversation with Bing, 3/8/2024
(1) Redirect and move Windows known folders to OneDrive. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sharepoint/redirect-known-folders.
(2) Windows 11 - documents folder is linked to onedrive instead of the pc .... https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/windows-11-documents-folder-is-linked-to-onedrive/c15d0f7a-6ec6-40b5-9bd3-c3e5cc2a9ae8.
(3) One Drive - Redirect OneDrive to Drive D, rather than the default of .... https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/one-drive-redirect-onedrive-to-drive-d-rather-than/41c49c0b-8758-4ead-bfc9-37a3750e04d7.
To set up your local documents and desktop to redirect to OneDrive, follow these steps:
1. **Prepare to Move Known Folders on Existing Devices**:
- Before deploying, ensure you upgrade to the latest available build.
- If users have a lot of files in their known folders, roll out the configuration gradually to minimize network impact during file uploads.
- Note that Known Folder Move doesn't work for users syncing OneDrive files in SharePoint Server.
2. **Configure Known Folder Move Policies**:
- OneDrive policies can be set using Group Policy, Intune Windows 10 Administrative Templates, or by configuring registry settings.
- The following policies control the Known Folder Move feature:
- **Prompt users to move Windows known folders to OneDrive**: This policy prompts users to move their known folders.
- **If folders have been redirected to a location on a local PC**:
- Disable the Window Folder Redirection Group Policy.
- Make sure to leave the folder and contents at the redirected location.
- Enable Known Folder Move Group Policy.
- Known folders move to OneDrive.
- **If folders have been redirected to a network file share**:
- Use Migration Manager to copy contents from the network file share location to a user's OneDrive.
- Ensure all contents go into the existing Documents, Pictures, or Desktop folders.
For detailed instructions, refer to the official Microsoft documentation: [Redirect and move Windows known folders to OneDrive](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sharepoint/redirect-known-folders) ¹.
Remember that this process allows your users to continue using familiar folders while ensuring data backup in the cloud. Happy syncing! 🌟
Source: Conversation with Bing, 3/8/2024
(1) Redirect and move Windows known folders to OneDrive. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sharepoint/redirect-known-folders.
(2) Windows 11 - documents folder is linked to onedrive instead of the pc .... https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/windows-11-documents-folder-is-linked-to-onedrive/c15d0f7a-6ec6-40b5-9bd3-c3e5cc2a9ae8.
(3) One Drive - Redirect OneDrive to Drive D, rather than the default of .... https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/one-drive-redirect-onedrive-to-drive-d-rather-than/41c49c0b-8758-4ead-bfc9-37a3750e04d7.
I definitely appreciate the workaround here. This is very detailed. As I can tell, this is only going to work for single users working in their own Documents directory. I may use this technique for some users, but almost all of our customers have files all over the place on their Windows Servers, with multiple people opening, editing, and saving them.
- You can use Copilt Studio to connect your external or other data sources to use with your Microsoft 365 Copilot.
