Prompt clients to move Windows known folders to OneDrive

When a client is signed in to Windows, usually there are 3 known and common folders. These folders are Documents, Pictures, and Desktop folders. Most of important content of a client are saved under these folders. So in case if the client loses the machine due to an unexpected reason, the data under these known folders may not be recovered. To avoid this, you can protect client’s known folders with OneDrive. So if the client loses machine, their data can be still recovered via OneDrive. If you’re IT admin, in this guide we will see how you can prompt clients to move Windows known folders to OneDrive.

As we have already shared in earlier guides, it’s possible to control OneDrive sync settings using Group Policy. Prompting clients to move their windows known folder to OneDrive is a part of this. To accomplish that, you have to deploy a Group Policy setting on client machines. Once the policy setting is deployed, clients will see Your IT department wants you to protect your important folders window. Clients can hit Start protection in this window to start protecting their known folders with OneDrive.

Image credits: Microsoft

If the client simply close or skip or ignore the above window, they’ll still be sent a reminder for the same via Action Center. According to Microsoft, if a client has already redirected the known folders to a different OneDrive account, he/she will be prompted to direct the folders to the account for the organization they belongs now (this will leave existing files behind).

Here’s how you can deploy this setting.

Prompt clients to move Windows known folders to OneDrive

1. Open the GPO Editor by executing gpedit.msc in Windows client edition and via gpmc.msc command in Windows Server.

2. Next, open the GPO Editor window, navigate here:

Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > OneDrive

If you don’t have OneDrive listed after Administrative Templates, follow this guide.

Note: You should have Policies folder after Computer Configuration, if you’re on Windows Server.

3. In the right pane of OneDrive folder, look for the policy setting named Prompt users to move Windows known folders to OneDrive. Double click and set the policy to Enabled status. Then under Options, type the client’s Tenant ID, which you can get from Azure portal.

4. Click Apply, followed by OK. Close GPO editor and update GP engine to make changes effective.

That’s it!

Related: Silently Sign In Users To OneDrive Sync App With Windows Credentials.