File Picker vs Selective Sync

Last updated: November 26, 2025

Overview

This guide explains what File Picker and Selective Sync are, when to use them, and how they differ so you can choose the right setup for your product and end users.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠​

What is File Picker?

File Picker is a configurable UI component with Merge Link that lets your end users browse and choose items in their connected File Storage account. Typical uses include tagging selected files/folders or triggering other app-side workflows.

Selections in File Picker without Selective Sync do not modify Merge’s sync scope or data model.

Key characteristics:

  • When it appears: After authentication. No need to wait for the initial sync to complete.

  • What users can select: Files, folders, and drives.

  • Impact on syncs: None. Data synced to Merge remains unchanged.

  • How to enable: Add the filePickerConfig parameter to your embedded Merge Link configuration. See our docs on how to configure this parameter

Benefits:

  • Faster end-user task flows for actions on specific items

  • No risk to sync scope or compliance boundaries

  • Easy to add via a simple Link config change

What is Selective Sync in the File Storage category?

Selective Sync is Merge’s feature for filtering what gets synced from third-party systems. For File Storage, the Selective Sync experience uses a File Picker UI so end users can choose which drives or folders to sync.

Selective Sync filters what data Merge syncs from the third party.

Key characteristics:

  • When it appears: During linking and in "Edit filters" flows inside Merge Link.

  • What users can select today: Drives and folders for File Storage; support for file-level inclusion is being scoped.

  • Impact on syncs: High. Only selected drives/folders are synced to Merge, improving privacy and initial sync time.

  • How to enable: Turn on Selective Sync in Dashboard → Advanced → Selective Sync → Click Enabled

Benefits:

  • Data minimization and privacy control by syncing only what is selected

  • Faster initial syncs and smaller data footprint

  • Clear, end-user-driven control over shared content

Known limitations for Selective Sync in the File Storage category

  • Specific files cannot currently be selected. Only drives and folders can be selected.

  • Third party webhooks may be auto-disabled when Selective Sync filters are enabled, as the third-party providers' events cannot respect filters

Common scenarios and recommendations

Scenario

Recommendation

You want end users to pick specific items for actions like tagging, downloading, or custom workflows without changing your synced dataset.

Use File Picker

You need to minimize what is synced for privacy, compliance, or performance reasons, for example, restricting it to a few project drives.

Use Selective Sync for File Storage and have users select the relevant drives/folders

FAQs

  • Does File Picker change what Merge syncs?

    • No. It’s purely a selection UI for your app-side workflows.

  • Does Selective Sync for File Storage affect the synced dataset?

    • Yes. Selected drives/folders define the subset of Merge syncs and stores.

  • Can end users pick individual files for Selective Sync?

    • File-level inclusion is being scoped per integration; today, Selective Sync focuses on drives and folders for File Storage.