Overview

x360Sync supports Web Distributed Authoring and Versioning (WebDAV), which is an extension of the HTTP protocol. WebDAV is another way for end users to view and edit files—both personal and through team shares—located in the cloud.

While WebDAV can provide a number of benefits for an organization, it is important to note that WebDAV is an extension of the HTTP protocol, and is unrelated to the x360Sync system. Some of its limitations and known issues may be not be controlled by the x360Sync support team.

Newest Windows 11 versions

Starting with Windows 11 24H2 (releasing in September-October 2024), the built-in WebDAV functionality might be removed from the operating system.

If you and your customers rely on WebDAV, you can configure your Group Policy to keep the machines on Windows 11 23H2. This version still has WebDAV and it will support all critical and security updates up until November 2026.

• To make this change for a single machine, go to Local Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc), then Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update > Windows Updates for Business and modify Select the target Feature Update version. Set the Windows product version to “Windows 11” and the Target Version for Feature Updates to “23H2" and click OK.
• To apply this change for all machines in the domain, you need to utilize the Group Policy Management Console on a Windows server or a device running Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT). See this article from Microsoft for details.

Microsoft patches and updates

In some instances, Microsoft patches and updates have been known to cause issues with WebDAV. For example:

• Office update 1704.8067.2115 might prevent Excel files from opening over WebDAV. While we investigate this issue, you can optionally downgrade Microsoft Office to a previous build and report the issue to Microsoft.

If it can be avoided, we recommend that you do not install the following patches:

• Microsoft update KB3101521 has been known to cause issues when opening Microsoft Office 2010 files over WebDAV. 
• Microsoft update KB3008923 has been known to cause WebDAV login prompt issues, and issues with the WebDAV login prompt not accepting credentials. Microsoft has released update MS3025390 to address issues related to update MS3008923.
• Microsoft update KB3055034 has been known to break Microsoft Office 2010’s ability to open files over WebDAV.
• Microsoft update KB3054886 has also been known to break Microsoft Office 2010’s ability to open files over WebDAV.

Microsoft Word for Mac

Office 2016 for Mac users might experience issues while working over WebDAV. For example, Word 2016 for Mac users have reported errors when attempting to save files over WebDAV connections. 

Limitations and Expected Behaviors

WebDAV and x360Sync’s context menu

When working through WebDAV, end users will not have access to x360Sync ’s right-click context menu. Without the right-click context menu, end users will not be able to lock files, create a share link, launch the web portal, or view file revisions from their local machines. This is expected behavior, and is not related to the x360Sync service.

WebDAV locks are not compatible with and x360Sync locks

Files cannot be locked or unlocked from WebDAV. WebDAV locks function in a way that would result in excessive bandwidth and CPU usage for x360Sync desktop clients that are syncing the same locked file. Due to this technical hurdle, the WebDAV client can only honor locks that x360Sync places on a file, which results in an error upon saving a locked file. For this reason, locking files through WebDAV is not supported at this time.

Multiple login prompts

In some instances, end users might be prompted to log in each time they open or save a Microsoft Office file while working in WebDAV. While the x360Sync support team cannot prevent Microsoft Office from prompting for credentials, it might be possible to configure Microsoft Office so that end users do not have to enter credentials each time they open or save files in a mapped drive. For more information on this issue and a potential workaround, please reference the How Do I Avoid WebDAV Login Prompts Knowledgebase article. 

Excluded extensions policy is not enforced

Enforcing the excluded extensions policy causes WebDAV clients and applications to break in unexpected ways and introduces a potential for data loss. Therefore, the excluded extensions policy is not enforced for WebDAV clients. If enforcement of the excluded extensions policy is a concern, please consider using the x360Sync Thin Client.

Other known issues 

Other known WebDAV issues have been noted related to accessing files through WebDAV. These known issues are not related to x360Sync. For example:

• Uploading large files (over 100 MB) might fail (refer to this TechNet article for more information).
• Microsoft Word files might open in Read-only mode (refer to this TechCenter discussion for more information).
• WebDAV might disconnect at random intervals.
• WebDAV might fail to restore mapping after rebooting the operating system.
• Security such as firewalls, packet sniffing, deep packet inspection, intrusion preventing, and so forth;
• Unstable internet connection at the client's site; or
• Microsoft and Mac clients poorly handling the WebDAV connection.
• For private cloud environments, existing Certificate Authority signed SSL certificates must be modified to allow for WebDAV functionality.  For more information, please reference the How Do I Configure the x360Sync Server for WebDAV Support Knowledgebase article.
• For information on how end users use WebDAV, please reference the How Do I Map a Drive Using WebDAV Knowledgebase article.
• For more information on how end users can avoid multiple WebDAV Login prompts, please reference the How Do I Avoid WebDAV Login Prompts Knowledgebase article.

Possible Workarounds

In some instances, you might see improved performance when using a third-party application (such as Cyberduck or WebDrive) to replace MS Explorer or Mac Finder. Please note however, that these third-party applications are not supported by the x360Sync support team.

Additional Information

• For private cloud environments, existing Certificate Authority signed SSL certificates must be modified to allow for WebDAV functionality.  For more information, please reference the How Do I Configure the x360Sync Server for WebDAV Support Knowledgebase article.
• For information on how end users use WebDAV, please reference the How Do I Map a Drive Using WebDAV Knowledgebase article.
• For more information on how end users can avoid multiple WebDAV Login prompts, please reference the How Do I Avoid WebDAV Login Prompts Knowledgebase article.