Configure options through the registry

This article is for administrators setting up GWSMO for their users. If you're a user, go to Download & install GWSMO.

The registry contains data used for the operation of Windows, and the applications and services that run on it. Data is structured in a tree format with each folder in the tree called a key. Each key can contain both subfolders and data entries called values. Consult your Microsoft documentation for more information on the structure of the registry.

To modify the registry, you will:

• open the Registry Editor (a tool that allows you to view and modify registry settings)
• create or modify a registry key
• create or modify a value for a registry key
• modify the value with data

The sections below contain generic instructions on working with the registry. For specific instructions on modifying GWSMO registry settings, follow the instructions given for each setting under Optional registry settings for GWSMO.

Note: If you're running a 32-bit version of Outlook on a 64-bit version of Windows, modifying the registry is a little different. For details, go to Using a 32-bit version of Outlook on a 64-bit version of Windows.

Important: When adding a numeric data type value to the registry, you must always choose DWORD (32-bit) Value. This applies to both 32-bit and 64-bit Windows machines. Selecting QWORD (64-bit) Value applies the registry setting incorrectly.

Open the Registry Editor

1. In the Start menu, click Windows SystemRun.

   Note: Alternatively, press the Windows key + R.

2. In the Run box, enter regedit.
3. Click OK.

Create or modify a registry key

To create a registry key:

1. Go to the folder where you're instructed to create the key.
2. Click EditNewKey to create a new key folder.
3. Specify the key's name given in the instructions and press Enter.

To modify an existing key:

1. Using the path given in the instructions, go to the key folder using the tree format on the left pane of the Registry Editor. The path begins with HKEY_CURRENT_USER or HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE.

Create or modify a registry key value

To create a registry key value:

1. Go to the key folder where you're instructed to create the registry key value.
2. Select the key's folder.
3. Click EditNewDWORD (32-bit) Value or String Value.
4. Enter the value's name given in the instructions and press Enter.

To modify a registry key value:

1. Using the path given in the instructions, go to the registry key using the tree format on the left pane of the Registry Editor.

Modify value data

1. Right-click the value and select Modify.
2. In the Edit DWORD (32-bit) Value box or the Edit String box, under Value data, specify the value given in the instructions and click OK.

If you're running a 32-bit version of Outlook on a 64-bit version of Windows, registry setting edits must occur in the correct location for 32-bit applications. There are 2 ways to do this:

Option 1: 32-bit registry version

In the Run box, enter %systemroot%\syswow64\regedit (instead of regedit) to open the 32-bit version of the Registry Editor. Then, modify the registry using the instructions for each setting.

Option 2: Wow6432Node

Open the regular Registry Editor by entering regedit in the Run box. Then, when modifying the registry using the instructions for each setting, go to each registry key in the Wow6432Node location for 32-bit applications.

For example, instead of navigating to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Google\Google Apps Sync, go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Wow6432Node\Google\Google Apps Sync.

You can prevent the sync status from showing when a new user starts GWSMO:

1. In the registry of the client machine where GWSMO is installed, go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Google\Google Apps Sync\.
2. Click EditNewKey to create a new key folder.
3. Specify Other as the name of the key, and press Enter.
4. Select the Other folder you created.
5. Click EditNewDWORD (32-bit) Value.
6. Specify DefaultSyncStatusVisibility as the new value, and press Enter.
7. Right-click the DefaultSyncStatusVisibility value you created and select Modify.
8. In the Edit DWORD (32-bit) Value box, under Value data, specify 0 to hide the sync status at initial sign-in.

   Note: To show the sync status at initial sign-in, specify 1.

9. Click OK.

You can determine whether credentials are saved:

1. In the registry of the client machine where GWSMO is installed, go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Google\Google Apps Sync\.
2. Click EditNewKey to create a new key folder.
3. Specify SignIn as the name of the key, and press Enter.
4. Select the SignIn folder you created.
5. Click EditNewDWORD (32-bit) Value.
6. Allow users to save their credentials:
   • DWORD (32-bit) Value—SaveCredentialsAllowed
   • Value data—1 (default)

     Note: To disallow users to save their credentials, specify 0.

7. Click OK.

Important: These options are experimental and are not fully supported.

If you're experiencing issues with a product, you can turn off sync for that product:

1. In the registry, go to the HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Google\Google Apps Sync\.
2. Click EditNewDWORD (32-bit) Value.
3. Specify SyncFlagsEnabled as the new value, and press Enter.
4. Right-click the SyncFlagsEnabled value you created and select Modify.
5. In the Edit DWORD (32-bit) Value box, under Value data, specify 1.
6. Click OK.
7. Click EditNewKey to create a new key folder.
8. Specify one of the following values as the name of the key. These values represent the product you want to turn off:
   • ContactsSync—Google Contacts
   • CalendarSync—Google Calendar
   • EmailSync—Google Mail
   • TasksSync—Google Tasks
   • NotesSync—Notes
   • AddressBookSync—Google Address Book (shared contacts)

   Press Enter.

9. Select the product folder you created.
10. Click EditNewDWORD (32-bit) Value.
11. Specify DownloadEnabled as the new value, and press Enter.
12. Right-click the DownloadEnabled value you created and select Modify.
13. In the Edit DWORD (32-bit) Value box, under Value data, specify 0 to turn off download sync.
14. Click OK.
15. Click EditNewDWORD (32-bit) Value.
16. Specify UploadEnabled as the new value, and press Enter.
17. Right-click the UploadEnabled value you created and select Modify.
18. In the Edit DWORD (32-bit) Value box, under Value data, specify 0 to turn off upload sync.
19. Click OK.

If you want to limit a user's access to your organization's Global Address List (GAL) in Google Workspace, you can turn off this feature.

Tip: To turn off the GAL for everyone in your organization, go to Turn Directory on or off.

To turn it off for an individual user:

1. In the registry of the client machine where GWSMO is installed, go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Google\Google Apps Sync\.
2. Click EditNewKey to create a new key folder.
3. Specify AddressBookSync as the name of the key, and press Enter.
4. Select the AddressBookSync folder you created.
5. Click EditNewDWORD (32-bit) Value.
6. Specify DynamicGal as the new value, and press Enter.
7. Right-click the DynamicGal value you created and select Modify.
8. In the Edit DWORD (32-bit) Value box, under Value data, specify 0 to turn off the GAL.
9. Click OK.

Learn more about managing your Global Address List.

You can turn import options on or off in GWSMO. First, turn on the setting that allows import options to be controlled using registry keys.

Step 1: Set import options using registry keys

1. In the registry, go to the HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Google\Google Apps Sync\.
2. Click EditNewDWORD (32-bit) Value.
3. Specify SyncFlagsEnabled as the new value, and press Enter.
4. Right-click the SyncFlagsEnabled value you created and select Modify.
5. In the Edit DWORD (32-bit) Value box, under Value data, specify 1 to allow registry keys to turn import options on or off.

   Note: To prevent import options from being turned on with registry keys, specify 0.

6. Click OK.

Step 2: Turn import options on or off

You can turn all import options on or off. Or, you can turn the Calendar, Email, Contacts, Tasks, and Other import options on or off individually.

Choice 1: Turn all import options on or off

1. In the registry, go to the HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Google\Google Apps Sync\.
2. Click EditNewDWORD (32-bit) Value.
3. Specify ImportEnabled as the new value, and press Enter.
4. Right-click the ImportEnabled value you created and select Modify.
5. In the Edit DWORD (32-bit) Value box, under Value data, specify 1 to turn on all import options.

   Note: To turn off all import options, specify 0.

6. Click OK.
7. Click EditNewKey to create a new key folder.
8. Specify Migration as the name of the key, and press Enter.
9. Select the Migration folder you created.
10. Click EditNewDWORD (32-bit) Value.
11. Specify ImportEnabled as the new value, and press Enter.
12. Right-click the ImportEnabled value you created and select Modify.
13. In the Edit DWORD (32-bit) Value box, under Value data, specify 1 to turn on all import options.

    Note: To turn off all import options, specify 0.

14. Click OK.

Choice 2: Turn individual import options on or off

1. In the registry, go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Google\Google Apps Sync\.
2. Click EditNewKey to create a new key folder.
3. Specify one of the following values as the name of the key. These values represent the import option you want to turn on or off:
   • ContactsSync—Google Contacts
   • CalendarSync—Google Calendar
   • EmailSync—Google Mail
   • TasksSync—Google Tasks
   • Other—Other

   Press Enter.

4. Select the import option folder you created.
5. Click EditNewDWORD (32-bit) Value.
6. Specify ImportEnabled as the new value, and press Enter.
7. Right-click the ImportEnabled value you created and select Modify.
8. In the Edit DWORD (32-bit) Value box, under Value data, specify 1 to turn on the import option.

   Note: To turn off the import option, specify 0.

9. Click OK.

You can limit the size of a user's local primary mailbox account to a specified number of megabytes. The value also affects the size of delegated account mailboxes the user can access.

1. In the registry, go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Google\Google Apps Sync\.
2. Click EditNewKey to create a new key folder.
3. Specify EmailSync as the name of the key, and press Enter.
4. Select the EmailSync folder you created.
5. Click EditNewDWORD (32-bit) Value.
6. Specify MaxStorePstSizeMegaBytes as the new value, and press Enter.
7. Right-click the MaxStorePstSizeMegaBytes value you created and select Modify.
8. In the Edit DWORD (32-bit) Value box, under Value data, specify the maximum size of the mailbox, in megabytes.

   For example, 4000 MB = 4 GB.

9. Click OK.

Note: You can also set the local mailbox size using GWSMO. However, this only affects a user's primary mailbox account. For details, go to Set a local mailbox size.

You can update the folder locations of local PST and log files. The new locations only apply to:

• PST files associated with newly created Outlook profiles.
• Log files generated after Outlook is restarted.

PST folder path

1. In the registry of each client machine where GWSMO is installed, go to the HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Google\Google Apps Sync\.
2. Click EditNewString Value.
3. Specify PstFolder as the new value, and press Enter.
4. Right-click the PstFolder value you created and select Modify.
5. In the Edit String box, under Value data, specify the folder path to the PST file on the client machine.

   For example, C:\Program Files\Google\Google Apps Sync\PST\.

6. Click OK.

Log folder path

1. In the registry of each client machine where GWSMO is installed, go to the HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Google\Google Apps Sync\.
2. Click EditNewString Value.
3. Specify LogFolder as the new value, and press Enter.
4. Right-click the LogFolder value you created and select Modify.
5. In the Edit String box, under Value data, specify the folder path to the Log file on the client machine.

   For example, C:\Program Files\Google\Google Apps Sync\Logs\.

   For details about GWSMO log files, go to Where can I find trace log files?

6. Click OK.

Note: You can also update the PST and log folder paths using GWSMO. For details, go to Set a local mailbox size.

To turn on different logging levels (Information, Verbose, or Performance) for GWSMO, edit the Tracing registry key and its accompanying level DWORD value.

Note: Verbose logging can generate large log files, which can impact performance and the availability of disk space.

1. In the registry, go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Google\Google Apps Sync\.
2. Click EditNewKey to create a new key folder.
3. Specify Tracing as the name of the key, and press Enter.
4. Select the Tracing folder you created.
5. Click EditNewDWORD (32-bit) Value.
6. Specify Level as the new value, and press Enter.
7. Right-click the Level value you created and select Modify.
8. In the Edit DWORD (32-bit) Value box, under Value data, specify one of the following hexadecimal values:
   • f—Information
   • ff—Verbose
   • 4F—Performance
9. Click OK.

Logging levels for GWMMO

If you’re using Google Workspace Migration for Microsoft Outlook (GWMMO), you might need to turn on different logging levels. Follow these instructions to change the logging levels for GWMMO:

1. In the registry, go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Google\Google Apps Migration\.
2. Select the Tracing folder.
3. Right-click the Level value and select Modify.
4. In the Edit DWORD (32-bit) Value box, under Value data, change the default value of 7 to one of the following hexadecimal values:
   • f—Information
   • ff—Verbose
   • 4F—Performance
5. Click OK.

Learn more about GWMMO.

By default, UTF-8 headers for incoming messages are not turned on. You might want to turn on support for this if you receive messages where the sender, recipient, or subject appear distorted.

If you use Outlook 2016 or later...

First, turn on compatibility with RFC 6530 by using the CCSF_GLOBAL_MESSAGE flag to sync incoming messages to Outlook. Then, if it's not specified in the message, have GWSMO set the message's MIME charset to UTF-8.

1. In the registry, go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Google\Google Apps Sync\.
2. Click EditNewDWORD (32-bit) Value.
3. Specify UseGlobalMessageFlag as the new value, and press Enter.
4. Right-click the UseGlobalMessageFlag value you created and select Modify.
5. In the Edit DWORD (32-bit) Value box, under Value data, specify 1 to turn on the CCSF_GLOBAL_MESSAGE flag.
6. Click OK.
7. Repeat steps 2–6 to set the MIME charset to UTF-8:
   • DWORD (32-bit) Value—SetMIMECharsetToUTF8
   • Value data—1

If you use Outlook 2013 or earlier...

Outlook 2013 and earlier versions don't support RFC 6530. Instead, configure GWSMO to make messages compatible with RFC 2047 by re-encoding some UTF-8 headers with encoded words.

1. In the registry, go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Google\Google Apps Sync\.
2. Click EditNewDWORD (32-bit) Value.
3. Specify FixUTF8HeadersEnabled as the new value, and press Enter.
4. Right-click the FixUTF8HeadersEnabled value you created and select Modify.
5. In the Edit DWORD (32-bit) Value box, under Value data, specify 1 to turn on re-encoding of UTF-8 headers.
6. Click OK.

Important: Regardless of which method you use to support UTF-8 headers in incoming messages, it's crucial that after making registry changes you restart Outlook and do a full resync so the changes can take effect.

To resync your data, follow the steps on Resync or repair Outlook data while making sure to select the Delete and re-sync option. This removes Outlook-specific data from your local profile.