
OneDrive KFM for Business and Enterprise is designed to provide seamless integration with your existing Microsoft 365 subscription, making it an ideal solution for teams of all sizes.
With OneDrive KFM, you can store and access your files from anywhere, on any device, which is especially useful for remote workers or teams working on large projects.
OneDrive KFM for Business and Enterprise offers advanced security features, including data loss prevention and compliance tools, to ensure your sensitive business data remains protected.
This feature allows you to set policies and controls to manage user access and data sharing, giving you peace of mind knowing your business data is secure.
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What is Known Folder Move
Known Folder Move (KFM) is a feature designed to help Windows users move their important files to OneDrive, making them accessible across different applications. It's primarily used to organize files and keep them safe.
The feature is automatically synced to Microsoft's cloud storage without disrupting productivity. Users don't need to prepare for this change, and once rolled out, they can move content from the Desktop, Documents, and Pictures folders to OneDrive via a single dedicated button.
On a similar theme: How Move Onedrive
The Desktop, Documents, and Pictures folders are the primary focus of KFM, with the Downloads folder excluded from the move. Once configured, users can view the folders redirecting to OneDrive, with icons indicating which files are in the cloud and which are on their device.
As an IT Admin, you can automate this task by using Group Policy, deploying a group policy to users in your organization to encourage them to perform KFM operations. This is especially useful for ensuring all important files are safe and accessible.
To configure Group Policy settings for KFM, you'll need to enable three specific policies: "Prevent users from moving their Windows known folder to OneDrive", "Prevent users from redirecting their Windows known folder to their PC", and "Silent redirect Windows known folders to OneDrive".
Take a look at this: Onedrive Folder
Configuring Known Folder Move
Configuring Known Folder Move is a straightforward process that requires some basic settings to be enabled in the Group Policy Editor. To start, you'll need to enable three policies: "Prevent users from moving their Windows known folder to Onedrive", "Prevent users from redirecting their Windows known folder to their PC", and "Silent redirect Windows known folder to OneDrive".
These policies can be found in Group Policy Editor > Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > OneDrive. Once enabled, users will be able to move their Desktop, Documents, and Pictures folders to OneDrive without any user interaction.
To configure OneDrive for Business, you'll need to assign a Configuration Policy to the device. This policy should include settings to use your company's Tenant ID and auto-sign-in using the Windows credentials. You'll also need to enable the policy to "Silently move Windows known folders to OneDrive" and "Silently sign in users to the OneDrive sync client with their Windows credentials".
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How It Works
To configure Known Folder Move, IT admins can deploy a group policy to users in their organizations. This will encourage them to perform KFM, but ultimately it will be the end-user's choice.
The KFM experience can be accessed by clicking on one of the KFM toast notifications or in OneDrive settings > AutoSave > Update folders.
KFM doesn't move folders to OneDrive, it's a simple redirection. This is similar to how OneDrive works for regular users.
Once users click on the Protect these folders button, it will directly take them to the Auto Save Settings of OneDrive. Here, they can select the Document, Photos, and Desktop folders.
The setup experience will also auto-select some predefined folders, as shown in the screenshot below.
Configure for Business
Configuring Known Folder Move for Business is a straightforward process that requires a few key settings to be enabled. You can do this by assigning a Configuration Policy to the device to configure the OneDrive agent to use your company Tenant and auto-sign-in using the same account used to log in to Windows.
To get your Tenant ID, head to the Azure AD Portal at https://aad.portal.azure.com/ and copy it to your clipboard. Give the policy a name like "OneDrive KFM" and search for "silently" in the results. Select the "Silently move Windows known folders to OneDrive" setting from the OneDrive path and enable it.
Paste in your Tenant ID and decide if you want to show the notification to your users that IT is cool and backed up their stuff. While testing, it's usually best to go with "Yes" and later change it to "No" when doing a wider rollout.
Enable the policy for "Silently sign in users to the OneDrive sync client with their Windows credentials" to prevent users from being prompted to login, and instead just use their Windows credentials. For AAD Joined machines deployed with Autopilot, this is great stuff.
Here are the key settings you'll need to configure:
- Silently move Windows known folders to OneDrive
- Silently sign in users to the OneDrive sync client with their Windows credentials
- Use OneDrive Files On-Demand
- Prevent users from redirecting their Windows known folders to their PC
Policy and Security
To manage OneDrive Known Folder Move (KFM) effectively, you need to configure three Group Policies.
These policies can be found in the Group Policy Editor under Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > OneDrive.
The first policy to enable is "Prevent users from moving their Windows known folder to Onedrive", with the option set to "Leave them".
The "Prevent users from redirecting their Windows known folder to their PC" policy should also be enabled.
Additionally, you'll need to enable the "Silent redirect Windows known folder to OneDrive" policy.
These policies work together to ensure a smooth OneDrive KFM experience for your users.
Troubleshooting and Prevention
If you're experiencing issues with Known Folder Move (KFM) on OneDrive, it's essential to act quickly to prevent data loss.
The rollout of KFM is expected to be completed by late July, so it's crucial to be prepared for the change.
If you're an IT admin, you can automate the task of moving folders to OneDrive using Group Policy, which can be deployed to users in your organization to encourage them to perform KFM operations.
To prevent disruptions to productivity, all user content will be automatically synced to Microsoft's cloud storage without any manual intervention required.
Preventing Windows Known Folder Redirects
If you enable the policy "Prevent users from moving their Windows known folder to Onedrive", users won't be prompted with the 'setup protection of important folders'. You should choose these options to choose what happens if users have already moved known folders.
To implement this policy, you'll need to configure three Group Policies in the Group Policy Editor. The policies are:
- Enable the policy "Prevent users from moving their Windows known folder to Onedrive" and select "Leave them" under options.
- Enable the policy "Prevent users from redirecting their Windows known folder to their PC".
- Enable the policy "Silent redirect Windows known folder to OneDrive".
These policies can be found in the Group Policy Editor > Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > OneDrive.
If you choose to disable or not configure this setting, users can choose to redirect their known folders back to their PC.
File or Folder Already Exists
If you're seeing the "File or Folder Already Exists" error, it's likely because the file or folder is already synced with OneDrive. This can happen when you choose not to sync a folder that's already present in OneDrive.
To resolve this issue, you can try removing the folder from the local machine manually. This has been known to resolve the error and allow syncing to continue.
Cross-Platform and Sync
OneDrive Sync is a key component of Office 365, providing a reliable way to store files in SharePoint Online and OneDrive for Business.
The Sync Client is essential for users to access and sync files across different locations, making it a crucial tool for organizations.
To deploy OneDrive Sync, tenant administrators need to consider their organization's requirements, as the Sync Client is a key component of Office 365.
By deploying OneDrive in a way that meets their organization's needs, administrators can ensure a smooth and efficient syncing experience for users.
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Syncing files across tenant boundaries is possible with Azure AD B2B Guest Access, allowing organizations to share documents with external users.
This feature, known as B2B Sync, enables users to access and sync files from external organizations, making it easier to collaborate across different teams and locations.
To remove a tenant from sync, users can simply go to the Sync Client settings and select "Stop sync".
This feature is particularly useful for organizations that work closely with external partners or vendors, allowing them to access and share files securely.
If syncing external locations is not desired, administrators can disable this feature by configuring the policy "Prevent users from syncing libraries shared from other organizations".
Check this out: Fix Onedrive Sync Problems
Help People Understand
Helping people understand OneDrive is crucial for its full functionality to be actualized. It's essential to support any technical rollout with an appropriate training and communication plan.
The modern OneDrive Sync Client can be a great tool that makes life easier for users. However, people need to know about it to use it effectively.
Users will see the empty desktop copied from the Default User profile on the machine after deployment. This is a normal part of the process.
After a few seconds, the OneDrive Agent will start and load the assigned configuration. This is when the magic happens and users start to see their files syncing.
Users can open the file as they normally would, and OneDrive will sync the file down. The cloud glyph over the document icon indicates the file is in OneDrive, not on the device.
The sync icons on the Desktop, Documents, and Pictures folders will also appear. Any content that is currently in OneDrive will be listed with the cloud status indicator.
Here are some key points to keep in mind:
- Users will see the empty desktop copied from the Default User profile on the machine.
- The OneDrive Agent will start and load the assigned configuration after a few seconds.
- The cloud glyph over the document icon indicates the file is in OneDrive, not on the device.
- Users can open the file as they normally would, and OneDrive will sync the file down.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is KFM in OneDrive?
Known Folder Move (KFM) is a OneDrive feature that automatically backs up important folders like Documents, Desktop, and Pictures to the cloud. This allows users to access their files seamlessly across multiple devices.
Sources
- https://www.thewindowsclub.com/known-folder-move-onedrive
- https://github.com/synapsepd/MacOS-OneDrive-KFM
- https://threeisacloud.tech/onedrive-and-its-unknown-folder-move-kfm-part-1/
- https://practical365.com/controlling-onedrive-synchronization/
- https://mrshannon.wordpress.com/2020/07/20/configure-auto-sign-in-and-sync-for-onedrive-with-intune/
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