How to Sync Between Teams and File Explorer

Learn the step-by-step process of syncing folders between Microsoft Teams and File Explorer for efficient file management.

June 16, 2025 By Hayden Jones

In this guide, we'll learn how to sync folders between Microsoft Teams and File Explorer. Understanding this process is essential for managing files efficiently across platforms. We'll explore how folder structures in Teams can affect what you see in File Explorer and how to ensure the correct folders are synced. This knowledge will help you maintain consistency and access the necessary documents in both environments.

Let's get started

Alright. We will demonstrate how syncing between Teams and File Explorer works. What we're seeing here is... On my left screen, you can see all of my JEM folders displayed along the side.

Step #1: Click on "JEM Health" — Click on "JEM Health"

I have several folders synced. If we focus on the "JEM Health Accounts" folder and open it, we can see a General folder and a PDF document titled "Employee-Employer Disability Health Solutions."

Step #2: Double-click on "Jem Health Accounts - Documents" — Double-click on "Jem Health Accounts - Documents"

Step #3: Click on "Employer_Disability_Health_Solutions 2025-02-26_354.00.pdf" — Click on "Employer_Disability_Health_Solutions 2025-02-26_354.00.pdf"

Step #4: When I open Teams, you can see I have the JEM Health Accounts team open. — When I open Teams, you can see I have the JEM Health Accounts team open.

If I click on Files, at the top.

Step #5: Click on "Files" — Click on "Files"

Step #6: I can see "Documents > General" at the top, but within that I cannot see the "Employer Disability Health" file. — I can see "Documents > General" at the top, but within that I cannot see the "Employer Disability Health" file.

Now, moving back to the left-hand side, I see a folder named General.

Step #7: The two folders appear different. — The two folders appear different.

The document is not there. That's because I'm syncing a higher-level folder. If we look at my folder path, "JEM Health Accounts - Documents", we can see it references a Documents folder.

Step #8: Looking at the folder path: "Jem Health Accounts - Documents" — Looking at the folder path: "Jem Health Accounts - Documents"

Back to Teams - If I click on Documents up the top, I can see the General and Employee Disability Health Solutions.

Step #9: Click on "Documents" — Click on "Documents"

Now, those two folders look the same.

This can be a bit tricky.

I'll quickly switch to First Choice. In the Workplace Team under Files.

Step #11: Click on "Files" — Click on "Files"

We can see that General has no folders. However, if I click on Documents, I can see all the departments.

Step #12: Click on "Documents" — Click on "Documents"

If I go into Departments and press Sync on this folder, I will find a Workplace Departments directory at the top of my First Choice directory.

Step #13: Click on "DEPTS" — Click on "DEPTS"

Step #15: Click on "Workplace - Documents" — Click on "Workplace - Documents"

Step #16: Here, I would see only this directory. — Here, I would see only this directory.

Depending on your location in Teams, pressing Sync will display a different folder structure in your File Explorer.