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aburden's avatar
aburden
Copper Contributor
Feb 21, 2022

Want SharePoint Online users to use Add Shortcut to OneDrive prevent from using Sync

Is there a way to hide or remove the Sync button from Sharepoint Online that will still allow users to do Add Shortcut to OneDrive?

 

The users think the Sync button is an action and press it repeatedly.  We have also already had instances of them deleting the local sync'ed folder thereby deleting the online content.  We want to force them to use the shortcut to access the files through their explorer.

 

Setting the site to not allow for download breaks the shortcut.

 

Thanks!

8 Replies

  • HayHay-'s avatar
    HayHay-
    Copper Contributor

    aburden 

    Is there a solution for this?
    I need my team to access the library documents via onedrive via windows explorer, but only by way of a shortcut, not file syncing.
    I'm running into the same issue as mbijei

    If I turn off "Allow download to offline clients", it does indeed remove the "Sync" button, and even though the "Add Shortcut to OneDrive" is still there, it doesn't work.
    You think it works...until it doesn't.
    Below are screenshots of
    01. Setting the "Allow download" to "No".
    02. The message I get after I attempt to "Add Shortcut to OneDrive".
    03. What the OneDrive folder looks like in Windows Explorer with a Red X next to the shortcut I just attempted to add.

     


    This is a big issue for me and my team...has there been any movement on a possible solution?

    • Lucy_Loo's avatar
      Lucy_Loo
      Copper Contributor
      My shortcut links accessed through my file explorer are no longer stable either.
      Its created a lot of confusion. We have not been able to find a fix. I just access files through the web browser.
      It is a HUGE change process for users.
  • aburden Could you please describe in what way this setting on a document library breaks the shortcut? I did a test and deactivated this setting and I can still select "Add Shortcut to OneDrive" in the library and the link that is then created in my OneDrive works fine. And as you see the Sync-button in the library is no longer visible.

    • mbijei's avatar
      mbijei
      Copper Contributor

      MagnusGoksoyrOLDProfile In my case, when offline client availability is disabled, the button "Add Shortcut to OneDrive" is still visible and clicking it seems to work. But when I check the OneDrive application, it shows the "A shortcut no longer works" error.

       

       

      • MagnusGoksoyrOLDProfile's avatar
        MagnusGoksoyrOLDProfile
        Bronze Contributor

        mbijeiI have not experienced this problem myself but if you take a look at post number two on https://www.tonyishere.co.uk/add-shortcut-to-onedrive-guide/ you can read about someone in the same situation as you. Hope it can be of some help.

  • mbijei's avatar
    mbijei
    Copper Contributor
    We are also looking for this option. Did you manage to find a way to achieve this?

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