Forum Discussion
Include files in OneDrive sync without copying them
Hi, This may be something already discussed and seems to be in the User Voice forums. I'd like to know if there is a way to include existing folders or files, similar to folder redirection, for f...
Hi John.
This feature is not available natively at the moment, but luckily there is a very effective workaround (if you are using NTFS as the local file system).
You should simply create in the local sync folder a symbolic link to the folder that you want to sync (which is located elsewhere) and such folder will sync as if it were a regular subfolder of the local sync folder (it can even be selectively synced...).
You can create symbolic links using the command line or by a wonderful utility called Link Shell Extension.
Hope it helps...
Which way should the links point? Do I have to move the folder to one drive and then link back to where I want it to be, or can I just create the link folder in my one drive directory and point it to my original folder?
It used to work in both ways, but now I have heard reports that the first method does not work anymore.
Anyway, the second one works perfectly - actually I always use it in this way - so, create the folder inside your OneDrive folder and then drop a symbolic link to it elsewhere.
Hope it helps...
It seems Salvatore Biscari is right.
At least for me with window10 and OneDrive for Business:
Symbolic link pointing to the OneDrive folder that sits on a different disk --> same issue as above, i.e. takes a lot of time to sync on the cloud when I make changes to a file (pretty quick for a new file though) and sync icon always suggesting it is currently synced even when the sync is complete.
Symbolic link in OneDrive folder pointing to a folder on another disk --> new files and changes to a file sync instantly and icon shows the appropriate state.
Thanks for the "under-appreciated" insight Salvatore Biscari---edit---
dang, I just realized that this solution puts the files on the same disk as the one on which the OneDrive folder sites. This is exactly what I am trying to avoid by creating symbolic links.
Problem not solved 😞
- Be extremely careful when using symlinks in OneDrive folder.
If you delete de symlink in the local Onedrive folder, the source stay in place as it should, but if you delete from the web directly the next sync will delete the symlink in your onedrive local folder and the original folder or document (symlink source) too.
I hope one day they fix that terrible limitation...
