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Synced Folders

Synced Folders keep a cloud folder (OneDrive, SharePoint, Google Drive, Box, or Dropbox) in step with a destination in Files. After files land, they follow the same extract → categorize → ingest pipeline as uploads.

Developer (individual) accounts cannot create folder watches. Corporate workspaces use this feature; if you see a quiet empty state instead of an error, that is expected.

Getting Started​

  1. Connect the cloud provider under Integrations (user-level OAuth for personal drives)
  2. Open Files and switch to the Synced Folders tab
  3. Click to create a watch and complete the wizard: connection → source folder → destination → schedule and filters

The first run inventories the source (bootstrap). Later runs use the provider's change feed when available (delta). Use Force full only when you need a repair walk.

How a watch works​

ModeWhen it is used
DeltaAfter the first successful inventory, when the provider supports change tracking
BootstrapFirst run, or after you reset sync state
Full walkForce-full, repair, or providers without delta

Each discovered file becomes a sync item and is imported into the destination tree. Imported files then enter the files pipeline with source sync.

Mirror vs additive​

  • Mirror — local files track remote additions and deletions. A file removed in the cloud is removed locally (with safety checks against mass deletes)
  • Additive — import only. Remote deletions do not remove local files

Prefer additive when you are unsure. Mirror is powerful and is the mode that can delete.

Destination lock​

While a watch is active and lock destination is on, the destination tree is read-only in Files:

  • Upload, move, copy, rename, and delete of content are refused
  • Organization, collections, and folder defaults can still be edited

The engine is the only writer. Overlap is refused: a folder destination cannot sit inside, contain, or equal another active folder or mailbox destination.

A lock badge on managed rows in the Files grid points you back to Synced Folders.

Creating and managing watches​

Wizard​

Pick the connection, the remote folder, a local destination, and a schedule (cron + timezone). Optional filters:

  • Maximum file size
  • Allowed or blocked extensions and MIME types
  • Subfolder scope — include or exclude branches under the source

Saving a narrower scope can delete local files that fall out of the mirror. The scope dialog shows a preview of what would be added or removed before you confirm.

Run, pause, stop, history​

ActionEffect
Run nowStart a sync immediately
PauseStops discovery and import dispatch for that watch. Pending imports sit until you resume
StopCancels the current run
HistoryRuns and per-item status (synced, pending, failed, skipped)

Paused backlog is not "currently importing". Pipeline status labels it Not imported (sync paused) so a progress bar does not sit frozen.

Pipeline paused vs watch paused​

Two independent brakes can stop files moving:

BrakeWhat it stopsHow you clear it
Watch pausedDiscovery and import for that watchResume on the watch
Pipeline holdExtract, categorize, and ingest for a destination pathResume in the folder Pipeline status dialog

A pipeline hold lasts up to seven days and is keyed by destination path. Recreating a watch on a previously paused destination inherits the hold: files import, then sit until you resume the pipeline. The Synced Folders row shows a Pipeline paused chip when this applies.

Disconnect​

Deleting a watch asks whether to keep files:

ChoiceWhat happens
Keep files (default)The watch is removed. Files stay and become editable
Delete filesThe destination tree is purged from storage and the database

The delete-files path is previewed with a file and byte count before you confirm. The purge runs in the background with visible progress. Always read the preview — it counts everything under the destination, including files the mirror never imported.

Important: Purging a destination cannot be undone. Use keep-files unless you are sure the tree should disappear.

Progress while a large sync runs​

The folder Pipeline status dialog shows a Cloud sync card above extract/ingest counters. During a walk, "remaining" can grow as the source is discovered — treat the number as a lower bound until discovery finishes.

A cloud file that is not imported yet does not appear in Files processing totals. The Cloud sync card is the view of that backlog.

Best Practices​

  • Start with additive unless you explicitly need deletions to follow the cloud
  • Keep destination folders dedicated to one watch — overlap is blocked for a reason
  • Set size and extension filters before the first large run
  • Preview scope changes before you shrink a mirror
  • If imports stall, check whether the watch is paused and whether the pipeline is held
  • Disconnect with keep-files first when you are retiring a watch; purge only when the tree should go

Troubleshooting​

Scanned 0 / run looks stuck​

Problem: A run sits with no progress. Solution: Open history for errors. Pause and run again. If the watch has failed repeatedly, credentials or the remote folder may be invalid. Contact an administrator if runs keep dying mid-walk.

Files import but never extract​

Problem: Cloud sync completes, knowledge stays empty. Solution: Look for a Pipeline paused chip. Resume in Pipeline status. Also confirm Settings → Files Configuration allows extract on sync.

Cannot edit a synced file​

Problem: Upload or rename returns an error (often 423). Solution: The destination is locked. Pause or unlock the watch (administrators) for repairs, or work in a folder that is not sync-managed.

Disconnect preview count looks too high​

Problem: The confirmation shows more files than the watch imported. Solution: The purge removes the whole destination tree, including files you added manually. Move those files out first if you need to keep them.

Prerequisites​

  • A connected cloud storage account in Integrations
  • The file storage capability on your subscription

⏱️ Read time: 12 minutes | 📊 Difficulty: intermediate | 🔄 Last updated: 2026-08-30