Policy

Configure Background Sync

Windows 11 25H2

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Policy overview

Key metadata and intent for this policy.

ClassComputer
CategoryNetwork > Offline Files
Supported onAt least Windows Server 2008 R2 or Windows 7

Supported OS tags: Windows10, Windows10RT, Windows11, Windows7, Windows8, Windows81, WindowsRT, WindowsRT81, WindowsServer2008, WindowsServer2012, WindowsServer2012R2, WindowsServer2016

This policy setting controls when background synchronization occurs while operating in slow-link mode, and applies to any user who logs onto the specified machine while this policy is in effect. To control slow-link mode, use the "Configure slow-link mode" policy setting. If you enable this policy setting, you can control when Windows synchronizes in the background while operating in slow-link mode. Use the 'Sync Interval' and 'Sync Variance' values to override the default sync interval and variance settings. Use 'Blockout Start Time' and 'Blockout Duration' to set a period of time where background sync is disabled. Use the 'Maximum Allowed Time Without A Sync' value to ensure that all network folders on the machine are synchronized with the server on a regular basis. You can also configure Background Sync for network shares that are in user selected Work Offline mode. This mode is in effect when a user selects the Work Offline button for a specific share. When selected, all configured settings will apply to shares in user selected Work Offline mode as well. If you disable or do not configure this policy setting, Windows performs a background sync of offline folders in the slow-link mode at a default interval with the start of the sync varying between 0 and 60 additional minutes. In Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2, the default sync interval is 360 minutes. In Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012, the default sync interval is 120 minutes.

Internal name
Pol_BackgroundSyncSettings
Policy ID
eab344a2869e
Elements
6

Registry values

How enabled and disabled states update the registry.

Registry locationTypeEnabled valueDisabled value
HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\NetCache\BackgroundSyncEnabledREG_DWORD
1
0

Policy elements

Inputs and configuration options exposed by this policy.

ElementTypeRegistry mappingConstraints & behavior
Sync Interval (minutes)
ID Lbl_BackgroundSyncDefaultSyncTime
decimal
HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\NetCache\BackgroundSyncPeriodMin
Type REG_DWORD
Range: 1 to 1440
Sync Variance (minutes)
ID Lbl_BackgroundSyncVariance
decimal
HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\NetCache\BackgroundSyncMaxStartMin
Type REG_DWORD
Range: 0 to 3600
Maximum Allowed Time Without A Sync (minutes)
ID Lbl_BackgroundSyncIgnoreBlockOutTime
decimal
HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\NetCache\BackgroundSyncIgnoreBlockOutAfterMin
Type REG_DWORD
Range: 0 to 4294967295
Blockout Start Time (HHMM)
ID Lbl_BackgroundSyncBlockOutPeriodStartTime
decimal
HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\NetCache\BackgroundSyncBlockOutStartTime
Type REG_DWORD
Range: 0 to 2400
Blockout Duration (minutes)
ID Lbl_BackgroundSyncBlockOutPeriodDuration
decimal
HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\NetCache\BackgroundSyncBlockOutDurationMin
Type REG_DWORD
Range: 0 to 1440
Enable Background Sync for shares in user selected "Work Offline" mode
ID Lbl_BackgroundSyncInForcedOffline
boolean
HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\NetCache\BackgroundSyncEnabledForForcedOffline
Type REG_DWORD
Options: true (1), false (0)
True: Set value = 1 · False: Set value = 0

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