Forum Discussion

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 local folder on a mobile device
  and configure OneDrive mobile to automatically sync that folder?
- Or does the OneDrive mobile app only support manual uploads
  and limited automatic features such as camera roll backup?

I am looking for an official clarification on the supported behavior
of OneDrive on mobile devices.

Thank you.

files
limits
mobile
OneDrive for Business
storage
Sync

1 Reply

  • 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.

     

    Was the answer useful? Mark as best response and like it!

    This will help all forum participants.

Resources