Connected Folders on the Desktop App

Welcome to the guide on Connected Folders, a feature that gives users the flexibility and power to sync local files with the cloud effortlessly. Let’s demystify this tool and discuss some key scenarios where it can be incredibly beneficial.

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What are Connected Folders?

Benefits of Using Connected Folders

How to Use Connected Folders

Connecting a Folder

Connecting to an Existing Folder

Managing Connected Folders

How the Files are Synchronized

Connected Folders from External Drive

Connected Folders from External Devices on Desktop App Core for Mac

Connected Folders from External Devices on Desktop App for Windows (Limited Availability)

Sync Limits and Minimum Requirements

Quick Connect in Desktop App Core

Administrator Guide

Recommendations and Supported Configurations

 

What are Connected Folders?

In simple terms, Connected Folders are local folders on a computer that have been linked to a folder location on the cloud storage. Once linked, these folders will automatically sync, making local files available in the cloud and vice versa. This functionality is particularly useful when certain folders cannot be moved to Egnyte drive but still need to be synced, such as Documents, Download, or folders predefined by other applications for data storage.

 

Benefits of Using Connected Folders

The real power of Connected Folders becomes evident in specific scenarios:

Scenario 1: Access Frequently-Used Folders Remotely

What it does?: Link commonly accessed local folders — like Desktop, Documents, or Downloads — to the cloud.

Why it’s useful?: This ensures that the user or any authorized users can access these folders remotely, from any device, at any time.

Scenario 2: Backup Important Data

What it does?: Connect local folders that contain sensitive or important files to the cloud.

Why it’s useful?: Data is not only backed up in the cloud but also synchronized, adding an extra layer of security and protection against data loss.

Scenario 3: Keep Folders Synchronized Between Multiple Devices

What it does?: Connect commonly accessed local folders on multiple devices.

Why it’s useful?: For those who frequently work on multiple computers, whether Mac, Windows, or both, having Documents and Downloads folders synchronized across all devices allows for seamless switching between them.

Scenario 4: Working on Complex Projects Using Third-Party Applications

What it does?: Connect folders containing all project assets, to ensure seamless work.

Why it’s useful?:

Some third party applications allow working on linked assets and files making very frequent and intensive work on them.  In these cases, Connected Folders can offer performance comparable to working on a local hard drive while still ensuring all assets are synced to the cloud.

Example: Adobe Indesign.

 

How to Use Connected Folders

Connecting a Folder

To use the Connected Folders feature, simply follow these steps:

1. Right-click a folder on the local hard drive and select Connect to Egnyte... from the context menu.If this option is not visible, please contact the admin to see if this functionality is enabled for the domain (see Enable Connected Folders from the Web UI)
   Win:
   
   Mac: 
   
   
2. Choose a folder from either the Private or Shared directories, or any of its subfolders and click Connect.
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   Mac:
   
   
3. A new folder will be created under the selected folder, named after the local folder. All files and subfolders within it will be synchronized.
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4. The connected folders tab in the Desktop App UI will display the synchronization progress.
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Connecting to an Existing Folder

Connecting to an existing cloud folder is possible and can be useful if a Connected folder was previously disconnected or if syncing contents from two computers is needed. Follow these steps for instructions:

1. Ensure the local folder has the same name as the folder that is to be connected in the cloud. Right click the folder on the local hard drive and select Connect to Egnyte... from the context menu.
   Win:
   
   Mac:
   
   
   
2. Choose a folder that is one level higher in the folder hierarchy. For instance, if the goal is to connect to the Downloads folder located within the user’s Private folder, select the user’s Private folder.
   Win:
   
   Mac:
   
3. A message will be displayed that the Folder already exists in Egnyte. Users may choose to:
   • Keep Both: This option creates a distinct copy of the local folder in Egnyte, syncing only the files from the currently selected local folder.
   • Merge: This option merges the contents of both folders. Files from the local drive that are not in the cloud are uploaded, and files from the cloud that are not on the local drive are downloaded. Overlapping content is synchronized based on the most recent version of the file.
     Win:
     
     Mac:
     

 

Managing Connected Folders

Connected folders can be reviewed by navigating to the Settings page of the Desktop App. From there, users can choose to view them in either the cloud location or on the local drive.

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Mac:

Disconnecting a Folder

To disconnect a folder, simply select the checkbox next to it and click the "Disconnect selected" button.

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Mac:

Users will be prompted to choose whether to remove the folder and its content from the cloud or to keep it. Choosing to keep it in the cloud means the content will remain on Egnyte but will no longer be synced.

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Mac:

 

How the Files are Synchronized

Upon successfully connecting a local folder to the cloud, its contents will synchronize in the background. This means that any new files created or existing files edited and saved will automatically upload to the cloud folder. Similarly, if a file is created or edited in the cloud (using the WebUI, for instance), it will be downloaded to the local drive and updated to the most current version.

Collaboration in Connected Folders

Although files can be synchronized to the cloud using Connected folders, their primary location remains in the local file system, not in Egnyte drive itself. Therefore, there are some limitations to collaboration capabilities in those folders:

1. File Locks - In Connected folders, there are no file locks. When a file is opened, no lock is created, enabling others to access and edit it concurrently. If two users save changes simultaneously, a conflict copy is generated, requiring manual resolution.
2. Microsoft Co-Edit - The Microsoft Co-edit feature if enabled in the domain won't be available in Connected folders.

 

Connected Folders from External Drive

Egnyte’s Desktop App allows users to connect folders from external storage devices, such as external SSDs, flash drives, and SD cards. This is particularly useful when working with large datasets that are stored outside of your primary drive.

 

Connected Folders from External Devices on Desktop App Core for Mac

Supported File Systems

The following file systems are supported:

• APFS
• exFAT

Other file systems are not supported for Connected Folders.

External Device Sync Prompt in Desktop App core

When an external storage device is connected, Egnyte Desktop App Core will detect it and display a pop-up offering to sync the content to the cloud. 

From this pop-up, users can:

• Choose to connect the entire drive. 
• Close the pop-up and initiate the connection manually at any time using the steps below. 

Connect Using Context Menu

Users can also connect folders from external devices by:

• Right-clicking the external drive in Finder (under Locations) and selecting Connect to Egnyte.
  
• Right-clicking any folder within the external drive and selecting Connect to Egnyte.
  

Visual Indicators in Desktop App Core

Once an external folder is successfully connected, it will appear under Settings > Connected Folders with a distinct external drive icon next to its path. This icon clearly differentiates external device folders from internal or local folders.

Users will notice:

• A drive symbol overlay indicating that the folder resides on an external volume.
• Standard sync status indicators (for example, Syncing, Synced) remain visible as with all connected folders.
  
  If the external drive is later disconnected, the folder’s icon will change to a "Not Connected" state.
  

Drive Identification and Reconnection

External drives are identified by their serial number. Reconnection is only possible if the drive is the same physical device.

If the drive is removed, the associated Connected Folder will appear in the "Not Connected" state under Settings > Connected Folders and will not sync until the drive is reconnected.

If the same external drive is reconnected:

• A pop-up will appear, indicating that folders previously connected from this drive have been found.
  
• Users will be able to:
  
  • Resume synchronization and remove connections for missing folders (for example, when some folders were deleted or moved).
  • Remove connection entirely. 

Choosing to resume synchronization ensures the folder setup remains persistent across drive disconnections and reconnections.

Behavior on Removal or Reboot

• If an external drive is disconnected, synchronization will pause after a short delay (~5 seconds) and the connected folder will remain in Not connected state until it is reconnected or manually removed in the UI.
  This delay is intentional to tolerate intermittent disconnections, such as from unstable cables or brief contact loss, without immediately disrupting the sync.
• If the Desktop App or system is restarted, the external drive is connected during boot up and the folder will remain in the Connected state.
  
  • Any changes made to the folder contents while the app was not running will be automatically synced once the app is back online.
  • If a previously connected folder no longer exists on the drive when it is scanned, that connection will be automatically removed (only the connection—not the cloud content).
• If the system or app is restarted and the external drive is not connected, the folder will be shown in the "Not Connected" state.
  
  • Once the drive is reconnected, the app will trigger the regular reconnection pop-up, prompting the user to resume synchronization or remove the connection. 

Data Protection

Removing a connected folder or disconnecting a drive does not delete any files stored in the cloud. Only the sync connection is removed; the cloud data remains untouched.

 

Connected Folders from External Devices on Desktop App for Windows (Limited Availability)

Supported File Systems

The following file systems are supported:

• NTFS
• exFAT

Other file systems are not supported.

Connecting External Devices on Windows

When an external storage device is connected on Windows, users can connect folders from it by following these steps:

1. Open File Explorer and navigate to the external device.
2. Right-click on the folder that is to be connected.
3. In Windows 11, select Show More Options to reveal the full context menu.
   
4. Click Connect to Egnyte.
   

This will launch the standard Connected Folder flow in the Desktop App, identical to connecting a local folder.

Visual Indicators in Desktop App (Windows)

Unlike on macOS, the Windows Desktop App does not visually distinguish between folders connected from external vs internal storage.
There is no dedicated icon for external device folders in the Connected Folders list.

Behavior on Removal or Reboot (Windows)

• If an external drive is disconnected, the associated Connected Folder is immediately removed from the sync list.
• If the external drive is still connected at the time of system or app restart, and its identity (serial number + drive letter) remains unchanged, the connection may persist.
• In all other cases, the folder must be manually reconnected by the user.

Data Protection

Removing a connected folder or disconnecting a drive does not delete any files stored in the cloud. Only the sync connection is removed; the cloud data remains untouched.

 

Sync Limits and Minimum Requirements

• External drives count against the given sync threshold configured in the Web UI at Settings -> Configuration -> Applications -> Desktop section.
  
• Drives must have at least 1 GB of free disk space to enable syncing.
• Drives with total capacity up to 250 GB are supported. 

Temporary Storage Requirement for Uploads

When syncing files from an external device, Egnyte creates a temporary staging copy of each file to ensure a safe and complete upload to the cloud.

This means that:

• If syncing a 10 GB file, at least 10 GB of free space is needed on the external device at the time of upload.
• If there’s not enough space for this temporary copy, the file will not sync and an error will be displayed.

Make sure the external drive has sufficient free space, especially when working with large files.

 

Quick Connect in Desktop App Core

Quick connect feature enables users to connect their local folders - Documents, Downloads, and Desktop to Egnyte with a single click via the Connected folders tab in Desktop App, ensuring these folders are backed up and synced to their Egnyte folder.

On clicking Connect, the Finder window with Private folder listing opens by default. Any folder inside the Private folder of the Egnyte drive can be selected to connect with Documents, Downloads or Desktop folder.

Once connected, the folder appears in the Connected folder section.

 

Administrator Guide

Here we cover some more advanced configuration options and how to turn this functionality on/off for the domain.

Enable Connected Folders from the Web UI

If the Connect to Egnyte... option is not visible in the context menu, make sure that the Connected Folders feature is enabled in the WebUI settings or request the administrator to enable it.

How to Use Connected folders Using Command Line Interface

Command Line Interface can be used to access more advanced options or to set up Connected folders with Mass Deployment software.

Windows

Setting up a Connected folder

To set up connected folders in Desktop App for Windows, open the Command Line tool and paste in the provided code after making the necessary changes.

Here's an example of setting up a connected folder connecting C:\Users\%username%\Desktop with a folder called Desktop in the user’s Private folder. Here:

-a is used to specify the local path 

-r is used to specify the cloud path. 

-l is used to specify the drive label.  The drive label is usually the domain name unless modified by the user. If there is a space in the drive label, then the label name needs to be encapsulated in quotes:

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Egnyte Connect\EgnyteClient.exe" -command connect_folder -l selkirk -a "C:\Users\%username%\Desktop" -r "/Private/::egnyte_username::/Desktop"

Disconnecting A Connected folder

Here is an example of removing a connected folder using the -rm command. It requires executing the command with a local file path and following parameters:

Required parameters:

• -command connect_folder -l label
• -rm local_path
• -d (optional: removes data from the cloud) - this parameter is available starting with version 3.20

If the command is run without the -d parameter, only the local folder is removed. If the -d parameter is included, the corresponding data from the cloud is removed as well.

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Egnyte Connect\EgnyteClient.exe" -command connect_folder -l selkirk -rm "C:\Users\%username%\Desktop" -d

In Windows, %username% will resolve in the currently logged in users' space.

The Command Line tool in Windows will not confirm that the action was successful. Go to the Connected Folders tab in the widget to verify if a connected folder was added or removed successfully.

Mac Desktop App Core

To set up connected folders in Desktop App Core , open the Terminal and paste in the provided code after making the necessary changes. 

Here's an example of setting up connected folders to connect the "Desktop" and "Documents" folders to "Desktop" and "Documents" folders in user's private folder. Replace "drive_label" in the two commands below with the actual drive label name(typically the Egnyte domain name) and run them in the Mac terminal:

egcli connected-folders add --drive <drive> -lp “~/Desktop” -cp “/Private/::egnyte_username::/Desktop”

Arguments used during set-up of connected folder via CLI

  -d, --drive <drive>          Label or UUID associated with drive.

  -lp, --localPath <lp>       Local path for which to establish the connection.

  -cp, --cloudPath <cp>    Cloud path for which to establish the connection.

  -c, --child                         Add path as a child.

  -h, --help                         Show help information.

 

Mac Desktop App 

Learn more about the Command Line interface tool for Mac here.

Here's an example of setting up connected folders to connect the "Desktop" and "Documents" folders to "Desktop" and "Documents" folders in user's private folder. Replace "drive_label" in the two commands below with actual drive label name(typically the Egnyte domain name) and run them in the Mac terminal:

/Applications/Egnyte\ Connect.app/Contents/MacOS/EgnyteDriveCLI connected-folders add drive_label ~/Desktop /Private/::egnyte_username::/Desktop

 

Recommendations and Supported Configurations

• Connected folders can be set up through Mac Finder/Windows File Explorer or from the command-line tool. Any user can set this up on their own, or Admins can set it up through mass deployment.
• The local folder path must not end with a backslash (for example, C:\Users\Administrator\Desktop\local\).
• If using connected folders to sync user's library folders (Desktop, Documents, or Downloads), Egnyte recommends connecting to a location within the user's Private folder in the cloud to ensure sufficient permissions exist to keep content in sync.
  • Multiple local folders can be connected to the same folder in the cloud; however, it is not recommended. 
• If Desktop Sync is being used to redirect users' library folders to the cloud, Egnyte recommends uninstalling Desktop Sync before installing and setting up connected folders on the Desktop App. This will prevent any unintended conflicts in two different sync engines synchronizing the same content.  Steps on how to uninstall the Desktop Sync can be viewed here.
• The automatic locking mechanism will not take effect when accessing content from the connected folder on the hard drive. However, automatic locking will still occur when accessing the same folder from inside the drive added by the Desktop App.
• Users can use extension filtering rules and permissions to control what is synchronized from connected folders.
• There are absolutely no changes made to the existing file structure on the user's machine. Users don’t have to do anything different once a folder is designated as a connected folder. They work as normal, and the folders are automatically synced to Egnyte. If a connected folder is moved, renamed, or deleted locally, the corresponding folder in the cloud is not deleted, but the link is broken.
  
  

  Deleting files or sub-folders inside the connected folder will delete the corresponding files or sub-folders in the cloud.

• If a connected folder is moved, renamed, or deleted in the cloud, the Desktop App will attempt to re-create the folder in the same location. If re-creating the folder is not possible (i.e., due to permissions), the link between the local folder and the cloud folder is broken, and content in the local folder will remain.
• Connected folders are not deleted from the machine when a remote wipe is triggered.
• Users can still set up connected folders if the ability to sync content for offline access is turned off.
• The supported maximum number of files is up to 500,000 files in all connected folders for each local user on each instance of the Desktop App. There is no limit to how many connected folders can be set up.

Learn more about Connected Folders by watching a Quick Tip on Egnyte University: Connected Folders.