'%3e%3cpath%20d='M8%200C12.4183%200%2016%203.58172%2016%208C16%2012.4183%2012.4183%2016%208%2016C3.58172%2016%200%2012.4183%200%208C0%203.58172%203.58172%200%208%200ZM11.6162%204.38379C11.2257%203.99337%2010.5927%203.99338%2010.2021%204.38379L8%206.58594L5.79785%204.38379C5.40732%203.99334%204.77429%203.99329%204.38379%204.38379C3.99331%204.77429%203.99335%205.40733%204.38379%205.79785L6.58594%208L4.38379%2010.2021C3.99348%2010.5927%203.99341%2011.2257%204.38379%2011.6162C4.77426%2012.0066%205.40734%2012.0065%205.79785%2011.6162L8%209.41406L10.2021%2011.6162C10.5927%2012.0066%2011.2257%2012.0067%2011.6162%2011.6162C12.0067%2011.2257%2012.0066%2010.5927%2011.6162%2010.2021L9.41406%208L11.6162%205.79785C12.0066%205.40735%2012.0066%204.77429%2011.6162%204.38379Z'%20fill='%23080E17'%20fill-opacity='0.46'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3cdefs%3e%3cclipPath%20id='clip0_3761_713'%3e%3crect%20width='16'%20height='16'%20fill='white'/%3e%3c/clipPath%3e%3c/defs%3e%3c/svg%3e)
Fix OneDrive Rejecting Folders Beginning with _vti_
Question details
The user needs to store older website configuration files that contain folders starting with "_vti_" (like a FrontPage 2000 site) in OneDrive without them disappearing or being rejected.
- Product
- OneDrive
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Moving legacy website files and directories into the synchronized OneDrive Documents folder.
- Observed behavior
- Folders beginning with the "_vti_" naming pattern automatically disappear or are rejected by OneDrive because of built-in name restrictions.
Before attempting to move legacy website files to a cloud service, ensure you have a complete local backup of your folder structure to prevent accidental data loss during synchronization failures.
Store the Website in a Compatible Local Directory or Redesign Folders
Since OneDrive explicitly forbids files and folders starting with "_vti_", storing the site outside OneDrive or renaming the restricted directories is required.
Microsoft OneDrive and SharePoint Online have hardcoded limitations against specific file and folder names. The prefix "_vti_" is primarily used by legacy FrontPage Server Extensions, and its restriction is by design to prevent cloud configuration conflicts.
Because there is no supported workaround to force OneDrive to natively sync these specific folders, you must keep these files out of the synced OneDrive directory or archive them.
Locate your website folder in your OneDrive directory (e.g., OneDrive\Documents) and drag it back to a local-only folder, such as C:\Websites.
If you just want to back up the site to OneDrive, right-click the root website folder, select "Send to" and then "Compressed (zipped) folder". You can upload this .zip file to OneDrive without triggering the folder name restriction.
If your modern web hosting no longer requires FrontPage Server Extensions, safely delete or rename the "_vti_" configuration folders locally so the rest of your site can be uploaded directly to OneDrive.
Submit Feedback to Microsoft
If you require native support for legacy directory structures, you can voice your request via Microsoft's official feedback channels.
Looking for a Reliable and Highly Compatible Office Suite?
While OneDrive's naming restrictions are managed exclusively by Microsoft, your daily document work shouldn't be restricted. WPS Office is a free, lightweight, and incredibly powerful alternative to Microsoft Office. It seamlessly integrates with various cloud drives and offers flawless compatibility with Microsoft Office file formats.
- 1. Download and Install WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website, download the free installer, and complete the installation process in minutes.
- 2. Open Your Office Documents: Launch WPS Office and open your existing Word, Excel, or PowerPoint files instantly without needing to convert them.
- 3. Connect to Cloud Storage: Navigate to the Cloud section in WPS Office to link your preferred cloud services for seamless, restriction-free file backups.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Microsoft restrict the "_vti_" folder name?
The "_vti_" prefix is historically associated with Microsoft FrontPage Server Extensions. Microsoft restricts these folder names in OneDrive and SharePoint Online to prevent configuration conflicts and structural vulnerabilities on their modern cloud servers.
Can I compress the website folder to sync it on OneDrive?
Yes. If you zip the entire website folder containing the "_vti_" directories into a single .zip file, OneDrive will successfully sync the ZIP file because it evaluates the archive's file name, ignoring the restricted names of the internal contents.
Are there other file and folder names restricted by OneDrive?
Yes, OneDrive restricts system-reserved names like ".lock", "CON", "PRN", "AUX", and any files or folders containing unsupported characters such as <, >, :, ", |, ?, *, /, and \.
