By default, OneDrive names the local sync root folder "OneDrive - {organization name}" in File Explorer. Microsoft Intune lets admins replace that name with a shorter, branded alternative using a Settings Catalog policy called Set a custom name for the OneDrive folder.
A shorter folder name increases the available path length for deeply nested files and folders, since Windows still enforces practical path length limits. It also gives a more consistent, recognizable name across every managed device in the organization.
This change only affects the local sync root folder name shown in File Explorer. It does not affect personal Microsoft account OneDrive folders, and it requires no ADMX import since the setting already exists in the Settings Catalog.
Before you start
What you will learn
- How to configure and deploy an Intune Settings Catalog policy that renames the local OneDrive sync root folder, plus how end users complete the change on existing devices.
- A shorter, consistent OneDrive folder name reduces the risk of hitting Windows path length limits and makes support documentation and screenshots consistent across the organization.
Requirements
- Global Administrator or Policy and Profile Manager role in Intune
- Microsoft Intune admin center, Microsoft Entra admin center, Windows devices enrolled in Intune with the OneDrive sync app installed
- Global Administrator
- Policy and Profile Manager
Good to know
- 15 to 20 minutes
- Applies to the Microsoft Intune Settings Catalog as of August 2026.
- This is a configuration change, not a read-only check. It updates a registry value on enrolled devices through Intune.
Quick answer
Set a custom OneDrive sync root folder name by creating a Windows Settings Catalog policy in Intune, enabling 'Set a custom name for the OneDrive folder', and entering your Entra tenant ID as the name with the desired folder name as the value. New users get the name immediately, existing users must unlink and relink their account.
Devices > Windows > Configuration > Settings Catalog > OneDrive > Set a custom name for the OneDrive folderStep-by-step tutorial
5 stepsFind the Microsoft Entra tenant ID
Retrieve the Microsoft Entra tenant ID required as an input for the policy.
Entra ID > Overview > Basic informationSign in to the Microsoft Entra admin center. Browse to Entra ID > Overview.
Under the Basic information section, locate the Tenant ID value. Copy it to a text editor, since you will enter it as the setting name in the next steps.
The tenant ID is a GUID and is the same value used across several other OneDrive Group Policy and Intune settings.
Create a Settings Catalog configuration profile
Create a new Windows Settings Catalog configuration profile in Intune.
Devices > Windows > ConfigurationSign in to the Microsoft Intune admin center. Go to Devices > Windows > Configuration, then select Create > New Policy.
Choose Windows 10 and later as the platform and Settings Catalog as the profile type, then select Next. On the Basics tab, enter a name and description for the profile, then select Next.
Find the custom folder name setting in the Settings Catalog
Locate and add the custom folder name setting from the Settings Catalog.
Settings picker > search 'OneDrive Folder'In the Configuration settings tab, select Add settings. In the settings picker, search for OneDrive Folder.
From the results, select the OneDrive category, then check the setting Set a custom name for the OneDrive folder. Close the settings picker to return to the profile.
No ADMX import is needed. This setting is already present in the Settings Catalog.
Configure the tenant ID and custom folder name
Enable the setting and configure the tenant ID and custom folder name pair.
Configuration settings > OneDrive > Set a custom name for the OneDrive folderEnable the policy setting Set a custom name for the OneDrive folder. Under the New OneDrive folder name section, enter the following:
- Name: your Microsoft Entra tenant ID, copied earlier.
- Value: the new custom name for the OneDrive sync root folder, for example
Contoso.
The custom name replaces the default OneDrive - {organization name} shown to users. Select Next once entered.
The custom folder name cannot be "OneDrive", cannot contain characters invalid for Windows folder names, and leading or trailing spaces are not allowed.
Assign scope tags and deploy the policy
Assign scope tags if used, then deploy the profile to a pilot group before a wider rollout.
Scope tags (optional) > AssignmentsIn the Scope tags section, add scope tags if your organization uses them. This step is optional and can be skipped.
In the Assignments window, select the Entra security groups you want to assign the policy to. Start with a small pilot group of users or devices. Review the configuration on the Review + Create tab, then select Create.
Once testing confirms the policy works as expected, expand the assignment to a broader group.
You can manually sync Intune policies on a test device to speed up initial validation instead of waiting for the default check-in interval.
Verify the custom folder name applied
After the policy assigns successfully and a user unlinks and relinks OneDrive (or a new user signs in for the first time), the local sync folder in File Explorer shows the custom name you configured instead of the default "OneDrive - {organization name}".
You can confirm this two ways: visually in File Explorer, or by checking the registry path HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\OneDrive\CustomSyncRootFolderName on the device, where the tenant ID appears as the value name and the custom folder name appears as its value.
- File Explorer shows the custom folder name in place of "OneDrive - {organization name}", and the registry key holds the tenant ID and custom name pair.
- The registry key is missing, still shows the old value, or the OneDrive folder in File Explorer still shows the default name after relinking.
- Registry key created by the policy on an applied device
Troubleshooting
Folder name does not change for a user who already has OneDrive set up
Cause: OneDrive only applies a new custom folder name at initial sync root creation. Changing the name after the folder already exists does not rename it in place.
Have the user unlink their OneDrive account from Settings > Account > Unlink this PC, then sign back in with their work or school account to relink. The new custom name appears during the relink flow.
Policy fails to apply and reports a conflict
Cause: The custom name value was set to the literal word "OneDrive", which conflicts with the default naming scheme.
Change the custom folder name to any value other than "OneDrive" and confirm it contains no characters that are invalid for Windows folder names, then reassign the policy.
Policy shows as assigned but has not applied on the test device yet
Cause: Intune policies typically apply at the next scheduled check-in, which can take up to a few hours by default.
Trigger a manual policy sync on the device from the Company Portal app or Settings, then check the policy overview page in Intune for updated check-in status.
Frequently asked questions
What is the default OneDrive sync root folder name?
By default, OneDrive names the local sync root folder "OneDrive - {organization name}" in File Explorer. This is separate from a user's personal Microsoft account OneDrive folder, which is unaffected by this policy.
Can the custom OneDrive folder name just be "OneDrive"?
No. The custom folder name cannot be set to "OneDrive" exactly. Attempting to use that value causes a naming conflict and the policy fails to apply on the device.
Do existing OneDrive users need to do anything after the policy applies?
Existing users whose device already has OneDrive configured will not see the change automatically. They need to unlink their OneDrive account from Settings and relink it with their work or school account for the new name to take effect.
Is there a length limit for the custom OneDrive folder name?
The full sync root folder path, for example C:\Users\{alias}\{CustomName}, cannot exceed 120 characters. Keeping the custom name short reduces the risk of hitting this limit with deeply nested files later.
Do I need to import OneDrive ADMX files into Intune for this policy?
No import is required. The setting for customizing the OneDrive sync root folder name is already available in the Intune Settings Catalog, since it reflects the latest OneDrive ADMX policy definitions.
