Workarounds for the placement of the Office365 "OneDrive for Business" sync folder

I have a question about the "OneDrive for Business" local sync folder that is created when syncing with one's documents in Office365:

C:\Users\"user's_name"\OneDrive for Business\OneDrive - "company name"

So I know how to change the location of the folder in the quick navigation in Win Explorer: but when I try to change it to my "H:\" drive--a mapped network drive to my company account specific share--I get the following error:

So I'm assuming at this point, that you can't use a mapped drive as a location for the folder. If this is correct, is there any sort of a workaround that some of you have used to any sort of success? Obviously, if I can keep employees from storing data in two different locations, I would like to. I look forward to any input from those in the know on the matter. Thank you in advance and good day/evening.

April 8th, 2015 2:17pm

Hi,

Please refer to this thread below and read the post from Kevin Huang MSFT Support, it seems to be what you want:

http://community.office365.com/en-us/f/173/t/286802.aspx

"To map OneDrive for Business to a network drive, Ive provided the detailed steps below for your reference:
1. First of all, please refer to the troubleshooting tips in the following article before you begin to map the network drive:
 Upgrade your IE to the latest version.
 Add your SharePoint Online sites to the trusted sites
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2616712
2. Select the Keep me signed in check box when you sign in to your Office 365 account http://portal.office.com .
3. After signing to Office 365, get to your OneDrive for Business, and copy the OneDrive for Business URL like https://contoso-my.sharepoint.com/personal/user_domain_com/documents/
4. Right-click the Computer icon from the desktop, and then click Map Network Drive.
5. Select a Drive and then paste the URL of the library you copied before in the Folder input box.
6. Make sure the check boxes of Reconnect at sign-in and Connect using different credentials are selected, and then click Finish.
7. Enter the username and password of your Office 365 when you are prompted to enter the credentials> Click OK."

Check if you will get this error after following the steps above.

Regards,

Melon Chen

Forum Support

Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
April 9th, 2015 2:20am

This is not the solution I am after. I'll define my requirements further:

  • Log into Office365--> Go to "OneDrive"
  • Click on "Sync" in the library
  • Right HERE is where I want to and should be able to change it to a pre-existing, mapped network drive....

But I get the error I originally posted. Thoughts or work arounds, anyone?


April 9th, 2015 8:43am

This is not the solution I am after. I'll define my requirements further:

  • Log into Office365--> Go to "OneDrive"
  • Click on "Sync" in the library
  • Right HERE is where I want to and should be able to change it to a pre-existing, mapped network drive....

But I get the error I originally posted. Thoughts or work arounds, anyone?


  • Edited by R. Callahan Thursday, April 09, 2015 12:44 PM
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
April 9th, 2015 12:42pm

This is not the solution I am after. I'll define my requirements further:

  • Log into Office365--> Go to "OneDrive"
  • Click on "Sync" in the library
  • Right HERE is where I want to and should be able to change it to a pre-existing, mapped network drive....

But I get the error I originally posted. Thoughts or work arounds, anyone?


  • Edited by R. Callahan Thursday, April 09, 2015 12:44 PM
April 9th, 2015 12:42pm

Hi,

Please refer to this kb below:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2965687

For the OneDrive for Business sync app to work as designed, the following requirements must be met:
  • The application must be installed on the local computer.
  • The user must be able to write to the user profile.
  • Data that's written to the user profile must be saved to the local hard disk and be available without a network connection.

So based on the description, it's a by design thing that we cannot sync to a mapped network drive.

The workaround that I can provide so far is mapping the SharePoint library directly:
How to configure and to troubleshoot mapped network drives that connect to SharePoint Online sites in Office 365
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2616712

I hope the provided information is helpful to you.

Regards,

Melon Chen

Forum Support

Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
April 13th, 2015 5:09am

Hi,

Just checking in to see if the information was helpful. Please let us know if you would like further assistance.

Regards,

Melon Chen

Forum Support

April 15th, 2015 9:59pm

Hi,

I'm marking the reply as answer as there has been no update for a couple of days.

If you come back to find it doesn't work for you, please reply to us and unmark the answer.

Regards,

Melon Chen

Forum Support

Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
April 19th, 2015 9:36pm

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