OneDrive in Windows 365 Cloud PCs: where it struggles, and how to fix it
SOLUTION GUIDE
The OneDrive sync client works on a dedicated Windows 365 Cloud PC much as it does on a laptop, but it struggles on Windows 365 Flex in Shared mode, where Microsoft deletes all user data when a user signs out, and with large shared SharePoint libraries on any Cloud PC. Cloud Drive Mapper runs on Windows 365 Cloud PCs and maps OneDrive, SharePoint and Teams as drives without keeping a synced copy. It works best when its cache persists, but unlike the sync client it stays usable on Cloud PCs with no persistent profile at all.
What is a Windows 365 Cloud PC?
A Windows 365 Cloud PC is a Windows desktop that runs in Microsoft's cloud and streams to whatever device the user signs in from. Microsoft manages the infrastructure, and you manage the Cloud PCs in Intune like any other Windows device.
The type of Cloud PC decides how OneDrive behaves:
- Windows 365 Enterprise and Business give each user their own dedicated Cloud PC, and their files and settings persist between sessions.
- Windows 365 Flex in Dedicated mode also gives each user their own Cloud PC with persistent data. One licence covers up to three Cloud PCs used at different times, and each Cloud PC powers off after the user signs out.
- Windows 365 Flex in Shared mode lets a group of users share one Cloud PC, one at a time. When a user signs out, Microsoft deletes all of their user data before the next person signs in.
Windows 365 Flex is the new name for Windows 365 Frontline. Microsoft renamed it in May 2026 and says the product, licensing and capabilities are unchanged.
Does OneDrive work on a dedicated Windows 365 Cloud PC?
Yes, mostly. On a dedicated Cloud PC the sync client keeps its local copy between sessions, so it behaves much as it does on a physical laptop. That also means it has the same limits it has everywhere:
- Sync slows down as libraries grow, with a practical ceiling of around 300,000 items per Cloud PC.
- In busy shared SharePoint libraries, other people's changes can take minutes or hours to appear.
- The synced copy takes up space on the Cloud PC's own disk. Storage is part of the Cloud PC size you license (from 64GB upwards), so a growing sync cache competes with Windows and your apps for that space, and more space means moving to a larger, more expensive size.
- Synced folders aren't drive letters, so desktop apps that expect a real file path can struggle.
Why does OneDrive struggle on Windows 365 Flex in Shared mode?
Because nothing the sync client builds survives sign-out. Microsoft deletes all user data when a user signs out of a shared Cloud PC, so every session starts with an empty profile. The sync client has to set itself up again and rebuild its local view of the user's libraries each time, and that work grows with the number of files the user can see. In practice, the OneDrive sync client is close to unusable without a persistent profile.
Microsoft's User Experience Sync helps with the rest of the experience, but not with files: it saves user settings and app data between sessions. Files have to live in OneDrive, SharePoint or Teams, and anything saved only on the Cloud PC, or not yet uploaded, is gone when the user signs out.
How does Cloud Drive Mapper help on Windows 365?
Cloud Drive Mapper (CDM) runs on Windows 365 Cloud PCs and presents OneDrive, SharePoint and Teams as mapped drives, reading them through the Microsoft Graph API instead of syncing them:
- Usable without a persistent profile. CDM doesn't need a synced copy of your libraries. It uses a small, self-managing cache to speed things up, and it performs best when that cache persists between sessions, as it does on a dedicated Cloud PC. On a shared Cloud PC the cache starts empty each session and fills as files are opened, so CDM stays usable where the sync client essentially isn't.
- Real drive letters. Users and desktop apps get the same drive letters and paths on every Cloud PC.
- Real-time shared libraries. Changes from colleagues appear almost straight away, with no 300,000-item ceiling.
- Managed like the rest of your estate. You set up mappings once in Iris, our admin portal, and deploy the CDM client to Cloud PCs with Intune.
Should you use Windows 365 or Azure Virtual Desktop?
It depends on how much control you want. Windows 365 gives each user a Cloud PC for a fixed monthly price, with Microsoft running the infrastructure. Azure Virtual Desktop gives you more control, including pooled multi-session hosts, in exchange for managing more yourself.
CDM works on both, so your choice of platform doesn't change how users reach their files. Our guide to OneDrive in Azure Virtual Desktop covers the AVD side, including FSLogix.
Frequently asked questions
Does Cloud Drive Mapper work on Windows 365?
Yes. Cloud Drive Mapper runs on Windows 365 Cloud PCs and maps OneDrive, SharePoint and Teams as drives. You deploy it with Intune, the same way you manage the Cloud PCs themselves.
Is Windows 365 Flex the same as Windows 365 Frontline?
Yes. Microsoft renamed Windows 365 Frontline to Windows 365 Flex in May 2026. It says the product, licensing and capabilities are unchanged.
What happens to OneDrive files on a shared Cloud PC when a user signs out?
Microsoft deletes all user data on a Windows 365 Flex Cloud PC in Shared mode when the user signs out. Files already uploaded to OneDrive or SharePoint are safe, but anything saved only on the Cloud PC, or not yet uploaded, is lost, and the sync client has to set itself up again next time.
Does User Experience Sync keep OneDrive files?
No. User Experience Sync saves user settings and app data between sessions on shared Cloud PCs. Files need to be stored in OneDrive, SharePoint or Teams.
Does Cloud Drive Mapper work on shared Cloud PCs with no persistent profile?
Yes. CDM doesn't need a persistent cache or profile, so it stays usable on Windows 365 Flex Cloud PCs in Shared mode, where the OneDrive sync client essentially isn't. It works best when its cache can persist between sessions, as it does on a dedicated Cloud PC.
Do I need the OneDrive sync client on a Cloud PC with Cloud Drive Mapper?
No. CDM connects to Microsoft 365 directly through the Microsoft Graph API. You can leave the sync client off your Cloud PC image or keep it alongside CDM.
Related solutions
Get started with Cloud Drive Mapper
The fastest way to see if CDM fits your AVD environment is to try it for 30 days, free. Deploy to a single session host first, expand once the mapped-drive experience is proven with your users.