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filippodevMobile's avatar
filippodevMobile
Copper Contributor
Dec 19, 2025

Can OneDrive mobile sync a specific local folder on Android or iOS?

Hi, I would like to understand what is officially supported regarding folder synchronization in the OneDrive mobile app on Android and iOS. Specifically: - Is it possible to select a specific loc...
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NikolinoDE's avatar
NikolinoDE
Platinum Contributor
Dec 23, 2025

The supported behavior of the OneDrive mobile app (Android / iOS) when it comes to folder synchronization.

 

You cannot sync arbitrary local folders on Android or iOS

 

There is no built-in feature in the OneDrive mobile app that lets you pick an arbitrary folder on the device (e.g., /storage/emulated/0/Documents/MyFolder) and have OneDrive automatically sync it continuously the same way the OneDrive desktop sync client does. That capability simply doesn’t exist in the official app.

 

What mobile sync does not support

  • Selecting any local device folder (outside camera/photos) for automatic sync.
  • Two-way continuous sync between a phone folder and a OneDrive cloud folder.
  • Automatic cloud → device sync of OneDrive folders into a local folder visible to the OS file system (except offline mode).

What the OneDrive mobile app does support

Camera roll backup / upload

Manual uploads

Offline access (“Keep offline”)

 

Limitations worth knowing

No selective or arbitrary sync

App integration limits

 

Workarounds if you must sync a local folder

Android

Use third-party apps such as Autosync for OneDrive or Folder Sync to create sync pairs between a phone folder and OneDrive. These aren’t official Microsoft products, but they operate in the background to sync folders.

iOS

Due to iOS restrictions on filesystem access for third-party apps, true folder sync (outside photos) is even more limited. In practice, you’d need:

  • The app’s Files integration to manually open and move files.
  • Or third-party sync apps that use the iOS File Provider API (limited and not continuous background sync).
  •  

OneDrive Mobile App Behavior

Feature

Supported in Official OneDrive Mobile App?

Sync arbitrary local folder → cloud

Not supported

Continuous two-way sync with cloud folder

Not supported

Camera roll automatic upload

Supported

Manual file uploads

Supported

Offline access to cloud files

Supported (read offline)

 

 

Official Microsoft References

  • OneDrive Camera Upload (Android/iOS): You can enable automatic upload for photos and other device folders in Camera backup settings — but this is not general folder sync. Microsoft Support+1
  • Microsoft forum (official Q&A) confirming the mobile app doesn’t offer general local folder sync. Tech Community
  • Mobile upload and offline features are documented in the main support article. Microsoft Support

 

 

My answers are voluntary and without guarantee!

 

Hope this will help you.

 

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