65.011 OneDrive: OneDrive Shortcut vs OneDrive sync

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Document Name	65.008011 Outlook:OneDrive: HowOneDrive toShortcut movevs Outlook'sOneDrive navigation bar from left side back to the bottomsync
Version	v1.0 Current
Author	Neil Tancock, IT Services (Safeharbour Support Ltd), neil@safeharboursupport.com
Approval	Safeharbour Support
Approval date	01-JAN-2025	Review date	31-DEC-2027
Absract	ForWhat some users of Outlook,is the latestdifference releasebetween ofAdd Office, you may find the navigation bar no longer reside at the bottom. Instead, the navigation bar is movedShortcut to the upper left side of the Outlook window. Some may feel it is a good update, but many may be accustomed to the old styleOneDrive and preferOneDrive to use that. There is a way to return the navigation bar from the left side to the bottom once more.sync?
Scope	This document applies to all clients of Safeharbour Support Ltd
Inputs	None
Outputs	None

 

Change Control 

Date	Author	Version	Change
02-DEC-2024	Neil Tancock	0.0	First version
01-JAN-2025	Neil Tancock	1.0	Approved

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ForHaving somebeen usersborn of Outlook,in the latestformer releaseSoviet ofUnion Office,and having spent my teenage years there in the late 80s and early 90s, I am not used to having too many choices in life. In a way, it made life simpler – you may find the navigation bar no longer reside at the bottom. Instead, the navigation bar is movedgo to the upperstore left– sidethere is just one kind of milk (if at all), so you don’t spend too much time guessing which one to buy – because if you wait too long – it will be gone.

Now that I consult and train clients on SharePoint, I always draw a parallel and can see how having too many choices can confuse the hell out of people. One of the Outlookfrequent window.questions SomeI mayhave feelbeen itgetting lately is ahow goodthe update,new Add Shortcut to OneDrive is different from OneDrive sync. They imply the same thing, but manywhat mayexactly beis accustomedthe difference? Should I use one or another? My friend, I am glad you are asking these questions, because I am here to thehelp oldyou styleanswer and prefer to use that. There is a way to return the navigation bar from the left side to the bottom once more.

them!

---

To

WHAT moveIS ONEDRIVE SYNC?

Let’s start with OneDrive Sync since it has been around for a while. OneDrive sync is the navigation bar

1. Open Outlook,application you caninstall seeon your computer that allows you to synchronize the navigationentire barlibrary to your computer and be able to access the files from the convenience of your Windows Explorer or a Mac. I explained this feature in great detail here.

WHAT IS ADD SHORTCUT TO ONEDRIVE?

Add Shortcut to OneDrive is locateda onnew feature recently added to SharePoint Document Libraries that allows users to bookmark folders within a library or an entire library to their OneDirve, making the uppershortcut leftavailable side:

within

the OneDrive application. And, of course, I documented this feature as well for you here.

2.

Hold

WHAT downIS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ADD SHORTCUT TO ONEDRIVE AND ONEDRIVE SYNC?

So the primary difference between WindowsAdd keyShortcut to OneDrive and ROneDrive keysync is that the former does not sync anything to your computer; it just creates a link/bookmark to the content in your OneDrive for Business. In contrast, the latter takes care of the synchronization (download and sync) of SharePoint document libraries as well as OneDrive for Business to the user’s computer (desktop).

HOW DO ADD SHORTCUT TO ONEDRIVE AND ONEDRIVE SYNC WORK TOGETHER?

So far, so good, right? Well, let me complicate things a bit for you. The confusion occurs when you use both Add Shortcut to OneDrive and OneDrive Sync together. The experience for you will depend on what exactly it is that you synchronize. Let me explain the various scenarios to you.

Scenario 1:

1. You Added a shortcut to OneDrive for one of the folders
2. You synchronized just the SharePoint Document Library (but not OneDrive for Business)

No issues here. When you Add a shortcut to OneDrive – the link will appear in your OneDrive for Business Application…

…and your Synchronized Document Library will appear in your list of synchronized Document Libraries locally on your keyboardPC.

Scenario 2:

1. You Added a shortcut to openOneDrive for one of the folders
2. You synchronized Runjust dialogyour box.OneDrive Inputfor Business (regeditbut innot the OpenSharePoint document library box.where Thenthe clickshortcut OK.was created from)

If you Added a shortcut to OneDrive and then decided to synchronize just OneDrive for Business (but not the Document library you created a shortcut from) using OneDrive Sync, you will get your OneDrive for Business files and folders synchronized locally to your PC. The folder or a library that you happened to bookmark from SharePoint will be synchronized as well. It will appear as a folder icon with a person icon overlaid on top of it. Once again – no issues here.

3.

Scenario Then a User Account Control dialog box pops up. Click the Yes button to continue.

3:

And

4.this Inbrings the Registry Editor window, navigateus to the following path: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Common\ExperimentEcs\Overrides

5. Locatethird and clickfourth scenarios. You know how in movies, when there is a scary scene approaching, you typically hear the “Microsoft.Office.Outlook.Hub.HubBar”corresponding stringmusic valuethat warns you that something bad or scary is about to happen? Well, this is the kind of scene in themy Namepost columnwhere insuch music would be appropriate. Here is the rightscenario:

section

1. You Added a shortcut to OneDrive for one of the page.folders
Then
2. You setsynchronized your OneDrive for Business first
3. You then try to sync the SharePoint Document library where the shortcut was created from

You will get this lovely message: ValueSorry, datawe can’t sync this folder. You’re already syncing a shortcut to falsea folder from this shared library..

ButTo inaddress mythis, case,you would need to remove the “shortcut from OneDrive first, then sync the SharePoint Document Library.

Microsoft.Office.Outlook.Hub.HubBarScenario 4:”

string

This valueone inis thiseven registryworse…

key

1. You doesn’t exist. So I shouldsynchronized createboth your OneDrive for Business and a newSharePoint stringdocument valuelibrary
2. You Added a shortcut to OneDrive namedfor “Microsoft.Office.Outlook.Hub.HubBar” in this location first.

   

   6. To create the “Microsoft.Office.Outlook.Hub.HubBar” string value, please right-click on the Overrides folder, then click New > String Value in the popped-up menu lists.

   

   7. Copy and Paste “Microsoft.Office.Outlook.Hub.HubBar” in the text box.
   Tip: If the nameone of the stringfolders

value is not in editable mode, please right click it and select Rename from the context menu.

or…

8.

1. You Double-clickAdded a shortcut to OneDrive onfor the newly created string value. The Edit String dialog pops up. Type “false” in the Value data box. Then click OK.

   

   Now restart Outlook. You will see the Navigation bar is back at the bottomone of the Outlookfolders pagein likea SharePoint document library

2. You synchronized the above SharePoint Document Library
3. You then try to sync OneDrive for Business as well

In both cases above, you will get this lovely message: Unable to sync shortcut.

The problem with this specific message is that to resolve the conflict, it usedis to be.

Note: Ifasking you want to restoreUnsync conflicting folder. When you press this button, it stops the left-sidesynchronization navigation bar setting, just locateof the “Microsoft.Office.Outlook.Hub.HubBar”ENTIRE stringSharePoint valueDocument Library! So in an instant and most of the time, unintentionally, you will stop the sync of the entire library! This will lead to loss of data and any changes you make going forward!!!

To prevent this disaster from happening, what you need to do is go to your OneDrive for Business, and remove the Shortcut infrom there.

Then wait a minute so that OneDrive for Business “catches up and tries to resync”, the error message and the Registryred EditorX window,over right-clickthe oncloud it,icon will then go away. I wish the error message allowed for this graceful workaround instead of unsyncing the whole damn library.

Long story short – you have to be really careful when using both Add Shortcut to OneDrive and clickOneDrive DeleteSync.

While

both features are unique and different, using them together can be quite toxic!

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