SharePoint folders created by flows do not trigger the sync via OneDrive app

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Posted on by konsto

I have synchronized a folder in Sharepoint to my Win 11 device using the latest version of the OneDrive app. When I create a new subfolder in this folder using Power Automate, it is not created locally on my device, even though "Always keep on this device" is selected. According to the app, all content is synchronized. If I pause the sync and reactivate it a second later, the folder is created immediately. However, this intermediate step makes the automation obsolete, I want to save work, not swap task A (create folder) for task B (manually switch sync off and on again). So, how do I get content from SharePoint synced to my device without workarounds?

Addendum 1: This is also the case on other devices, so it doesn't seem to be a specialty of my device/setup.

Addendrum 2: This problem does exist for a while already: Sharepoint files and folders created with Power Automate do not sync to desktop (OneDrive) | Microsoft Community Hub

Addendum 3: The proposed solution to simply add any file to trigger the sync also only does work if the file gets added manually. If I add it with Power Automate, no sync is being triggered.

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Building flows

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Jon Unzueta 1,827 Super User 2025 Season 2 on at

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@konsto

You're encountering a known and persistent issue: folders created via Power Automate in SharePoint do not immediately sync to the local OneDrive client, even when "Always keep on this device" is enabled. This behavior has been widely reported and discussed in the Microsoft community .

🧠 Why This Happens

The OneDrive sync client does not actively poll for empty folders created via backend processes like Power Automate. It typically waits for a change event (like a file being added manually) to trigger a sync. This is a limitation in how OneDrive handles background updates from SharePoint.

✅ Workaround-Free Solutions (Current State)

Unfortunately, there is no official fix yet that eliminates the need for a manual or artificial trigger. However, here are the most effective strategies:

1. Add a Dummy File via Power Automate

Even though you mentioned this doesn't work, it’s worth ensuring the file is:

Non-zero in size (e.g., a small text file with content).

Created in the same folder immediately after folder creation.

Not a duplicate (OneDrive may ignore identical files).

Example:

Create folder → Create file "trigger.txt" with content "sync" → Optionally delete it later

2. Use PowerShell to Trigger Sync (Advanced)

If you're managing devices centrally, you can use PowerShell to trigger OneDrive sync:

Start-Process "$env:LOCALAPPDATA\Microsoft\OneDrive\OneDrive.exe" "/allusers"

Or use Invoke-WebRequest to touch the folder, though this is more of a hack.

3. Group Policy for Auto-Sync

If you're using OneDrive for Business, you can configure Group Policy to auto-sync specific SharePoint libraries. This doesn’t solve the folder sync delay but ensures the library is always monitored.

More info: Configure team site libraries to sync automatically

🧩 Possible Future Fixes

Microsoft has acknowledged this issue in community threads, but no timeline for a fix has been provided. You might consider upvoting or following the relevant threads to stay updated.

🏷️ Tag me if you have any further questions or if the issue persists.

✅ Click "Accept as Solution" if my post helped resolve your issue—it helps others facing similar problems.

❤️ Give it a Like if you found the approach useful in any way.

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konsto 16 on at

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Dear @Jon Unzueta,

thanks for your thorough reply!

The only route I could go is with the dummy file. Sadly, I already tried your solution (creating a non-empty .txt file in the folder I just created) which did not trigger the sync, as already described. The other options are not possible due to managed devices and environments.

So none of the suggested options solves my issue.

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