Exclude certain file types from syncing to your computer

Exclude certain file types from syncing to your computer

With the file-based exclusion feature, you can exclude any file types that you do not want to sync to your computer. By restricting unwanted file types from syncing to your computer, you will be able to save space on your device and also reduce cloud storage consumption.

Add file types to the exclusion list

When you exclude a file type, the sync app will stop syncing the file types excluded from the web app to your computer and vice versa.
  1. Click the WorkDrive icon  in the system tray or menu bar. A small screen will appear.



  2. Click the Settings icon  and select Preferences. The Preferences screen will appear, and the General tab will be selected by default.
  3. Click the Configure button under File exclusion.



  4. Enter the file types separated by a comma and click Add.
    Supported formats:
    MP3, PNG, MP4...
    mp3, png, mp4...


Zoho native file formats ('zslide', 'zsheet', and 'zdoc') cannot be excluded.

  1. Once excluded, the syncing will be stopped between the web app and your computer and vice versa.

  2. You can still access the excluded files that have already been synced to your device, but any changes (for example: rename/move/edit/delete) you make to these files during exclusion will not be synced to the web app, other computers, or team members.

  3. Any changes made on the web app to the excluded file types will not be synced to your computer, but they will be synced to other computers and team members unless the file exclusion is enabled on their devices.

Remove file types from the exclusion list

When you remove a file type from the exclusion list, the sync app will start syncing all the related files from the web app to your computer and vice versa.
  1. Click the WorkDrive icon  in the system tray or menu bar. A small screen will appear.
  2. Click the Settings icon  and select Preferences.  The Preferences screen will appear, and the General tab will be selected by default.
  3. Click on the Configure button under the File exclusion.
    Here you will see the complete list of file types excluded from syncing to your computer.



  4. Click on the Remove icon.
    If you want to remove all the extensions in one go, click Remove All.
The following issues can occur upon removal if you have made some changes to the excluded files on your computer:
  1. If you've moved or renamed the excluded files on your computer, duplicate files will be created and synced to your workdrive account.
  2. If you've edited the excluded files on your computer, then file conflicts will occur. 
    Note: Conflict occurs only when there is a different version on the web app and your computer. 

    Here you will find the options to resolve file conflict: Upload as top version, Download from web, and Keep both files. To resolve multiple file conflicts in one go, mark the required checkbox at the bottom.
    Learn more on how to resolve file conflict

  3. If you've deleted the excluded files on your computer, files will be synced to your computer again from the web app.
If you want to edit a particular file without removing it from the exclusion list, you can use the web app so that the changes will be available to other users.