Microsoft adds shared folder syncing to OneDrive

Microsoft is going to add the ability to sync shared folders on a Windows PC or Mac as functionality to its OneDrive service. Until now, Shared Folders can only be accessed via the website or app and not directly from a computer.

Group Program Manager Jason Moore made this known via Uservoice.com. The post explains how it works. There will be a new option to add a shared folder to OneDrive. The corresponding button is visible if the user is using OneDrive via the website or via the mobile app and someone else has shared a folder with the user. Via the local synchronization client it is then possible to synchronize the added shared folders with a Windows PC or Mac.

The rollout of the new functionality will take some time, says Moore. It will be available to users of Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, and OS X. Windows 8.1 users must upgrade to Windows 10 to use the feature. Many other online sharing systems have already allowed this way of sharing for some time. The feature’s arrival was previously announced.