Managing OneDrive
with the Sync Health Dashboard

Stop wasting time dealing with OneDrive sync issues. And start fixing things before the end user notices any problems. The OneDrive Sync Health Dashboard in Microsoft 365 Apps Admin Center will give you a bird’s-eye view of your organisation’s OneDrive sync health, letting you spot and squash problems before they snowball into user complaints. You’ll be able to monitor, manage, and resolve common issues quickly, which will help you focus on more exciting work, instead of troubleshooting.

We have put together some tips for effectively using the OneDrive Sync Health Dashboard to manage OneDrive adoption and performance.

Why Use the OneDrive Sync Health Dashboard?

The dashboard delivers real-time insights to help administrators:

Identify Issues Proactively: Track sync errors and address them before they disrupt workflows.
Promote User Adoption: Monitor the rollout of features like Known Folder Move (KFM) to encourage users to keep important files protected and accessible in the cloud.
Enhance Efficiency: Get a clear view of OneDrive app versions and sync statuses, ensuring your organisation uses the latest features and updates.

Using the Dashboard

Before setting up the OneDrive Sync Health Dashboard, ensure the following prerequisites are met:

OneDrive Sync App Requirements

Devices must run the OneDrive sync app version 22.232 or later for Windows or macOS.
The sync apps must belong to the Insiders, Production, or Deferred update ring. You can configure the update ring through Group Policy or Intune.

Administrator Role Access

Office Apps Administrator or Microsoft 365 Administrator roles are required to enable and configure the dashboard.
Once enabled, additional roles like Global Reader, Reports Reader, or Security Administrator can view the dashboard.

Connectivity and Access

Devices must allow connections to https://clients.config.office.net.
Ensure compliance with your organisation’s policies on connectivity and device configuration.

Setting Up the OneDrive Sync Health Dashboard

Step 1: Verify Required Components

Confirm devices meet the requirements for the sync app version, update ring, and admin role access.

Step 2: Enable the Sync Health Reporting Policy

To enable reporting, you’ll need to set the EnableSyncAdminReports Group Policy on devices.

a) Edit the Windows Registry:

Open the Registry Editor.
Navigate to HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\OneDrive.
Create a new DWORD (32-bit) Value named EnableSyncAdminReports.
Set its value to 1.

Alternatively, use Command Prompt: reg.exe add HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\OneDrive /v EnableSyncAdminReports /t REG_DWORD /d 1

b) Use Group Policy:

Open Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc).
Navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > OneDrive.
Enable the setting Enable sync health reporting for OneDrive.

c) Rollout Strategy: Gradually enable the setting across devices:

Start with test devices (up to 100 per day).
Scale up to 10,000 devices per day until all are configured.

d) Wait for Sync Data:

Devices will appear on the dashboard within three days of enabling the setting, provided they remain powered on and signed in to OneDrive.

You can easily deploy these settings using an Administrative Template in Intune. Under OneDrive you will find Sync Admin Reports, copy in your Tenant ID from config.office.com under Setup, and you are good to go.

Step 3: Generate a Tenant Association Key

Sign in to the Microsoft 365 Apps Admin Center. https://config.office.com
Navigate to Health > OneDrive Sync > Setup.
Verify or generate a Tenant Association Key.

Navigating the Dashboard

Once configured, the dashboard becomes your central hub for monitoring OneDrive sync health.

Overview Tab

The default view provides a summary of:

Sync Errors: The number of devices with sync issues. Use this card to identify patterns and resolve common problems.
Known Folders: Monitor the progress of KFM deployment, ensuring users’ important folders like Desktop, Documents, and Pictures are protected.
Sync App Version: Track the percentage of devices running the latest OneDrive version to ensure compatibility with new features.

Devices Tab

This tab lists all devices in your organisation and their sync health details, including:

User and device names.
Current app and OS versions.
Known Folder Move status.
Timestamps for the last sync and status report.

Use filters to customise the view, such as showing only devices with errors. Clicking on a user provides detailed error insights for faster troubleshooting.

Issues Tab

View a list of all reported error messages, along with the number of devices affected.

Select an error to see impacted devices and users.
Collaborate with users to resolve common issues using actionable insights provided in the dashboard.

Best Practices for OneDrive Sync Health Management

Regular Monitoring: Use the dashboard daily to catch and address sync issues proactively.
Educate Users: Provide guidance to users on resolving sync issues to minimize disruptions.
Gradual Rollout of Policies: Test new Group Policy changes on a small set of devices before organisation-wide implementation.
Encourage Updates: Ensure all devices use the latest OneDrive version for better performance and fewer errors.

Known Limitations and Troubleshooting

Limitations

Devices must stay powered on for at least 5 hours for reporting eligibility.
The dashboard doesn’t track whether the Mac App Store edition of OneDrive is the latest version.

Troubleshooting Steps

Run the following command to verify the EnableSyncAdminReports setting:

reg.exe query HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\OneDrive /v EnableSyncAdminReports

*If reports don’t appear after three days, check settings or contact Microsoft support.

The OneDrive Sync Health Dashboard is a powerful tool for administrators to optimise OneDrive performance across the organisation. By using the tools, you can resolve issues faster, improve user adoption, and maintain great collaboration. With the right setup and proactive management, OneDrive will become more reliable and support your organisation’s cloud storage needs.

Managing OneDrive with the Sync Health Dashboard