This tutorial will show you how to turn on or off OneDrive Files On-Demand for your account in Windows 10 and Windows 11.
You can use OneDrive to sync files and folders between your computer and the cloud, so you can get to your files from anywhere - your computer, your mobile device, and even through the OneDrive website at OneDrive.com. If you add, change, or delete a file or folder in your OneDrive folder, the file or folder is added, changed, or deleted on the OneDrive website and vice versa. You can work with your synced files directly in File Explorer and access your files even when you’re offline. Whenever you’re online, any changes that you or others make will sync automatically.
OneDrive Files On-Demand helps you access all your cloud storage in OneDrive without having to download all of them and use file storage space on your Windows device.
When you turn on Files On-Demand, you’ll see all your files in File Explorer and get new information about each file. New files created online or on another device appear as online-only files, which don’t take up space on your device. When you’re connected to the Internet, you’ll be able to use the files like every other file on your device.
You will know that Files On-Demand is turned on if you see the status icons next to your files in File Explorer.
Your files will have these status states in File Explorer:
| Online-only | A blue cloud icon next to a OneDrive file or folder indicates that the file is only available online. Online-only files don’t take up space on your computer. You see a cloud icon for each online-only file in File Explorer, but the file doesn’t download to your device until you open it. You can’t open online-only files when your device isn’t connected to the Internet. |
| Locally available | When you open an online-only file, it downloads to your device and becomes a locally available file. You can open a locally available file anytime, even without Internet access. If you need more space, you can change the file back to online only. Just right-click the file and select Free up space. With Storage Sense turned on, these files will become online-only files after the time period you've selected. |
| Always available | Only files that you mark as Always keep on this device have the green circle with the white check mark. These always available files download to your device and take up space, but they’re always there for you even when you’re offline. |
With OneDrive Files On-Demand, you can:
- Save space on your device by making files online only
- Set files and folders to be always available locally on your device
- See important information about files, such as whether they are shared
- See thumbnails of over 300 different file types even if you don’t have the required application installed to open it
Reference:
Save disk space with OneDrive Files On-Demand for Windows | Microsoft Support
Learn how to use OneDrive Files On-Demand to sync your OneDrive files and save disk space in Windows 10.
support.microsoft.com
OneDrive Files On-Demand requires OneDrive running and you signed in to OneDrive with your Microsoft account.
When you turn off (disable) OneDrive Files On-Demand, all OneDrive files and folders will download to your PC.
Here's How:
1 Click/tap on the OneDrive icon on the taskbar corner, click/tap on Help & Settings (gear) icon, and click/tap on Settings. (see screenshot below)
2 Do step 3 (on) or step 4 (off) below for what you want.
3 Turn On OneDrive Files On-Demand
This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on Sync and backup on the left pane. (see screenshots below)
B) Click/tap on Advanced settings to expand it open.
C) Perform the available step below:
- (Old) Turn on Files On-Demand.
- (New) Click/tap on Free up disk space under Files On-Demand.
D) Click/tap on Continue (new) to confirm, and go to step 5. (see screenshot below)
4 Turn Off OneDrive Files On-Demand
A) Click/tap on Sync and backup on the left pane. (see screenshots below)
B) Click/tap on Advanced settings to expand it open.
C) Perform the available step below:
- (Old) Turn off Files On-Demand.
- (New) Click/tap on Download all files under Files On-Demand.
D) Click/tap on OK (old) or Continue (new) to confirm, and go to step 5. (see screenshots below)
5 Your OneDrive folder will now open. You can close it if wanted.
That's it,
Shawn Brink
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- Set up OneDrive in Windows 11
- Unlink Account and PC from OneDrive in Windows 11
- Set OneDrive Files On-Demand Status States in Windows 11
- Enable or Disable Show OneDrive Status on Navigation Pane in Windows 11
- Enable or Disable OneDrive in Windows 11
- Choose which OneDrive Folders to Sync in Windows 11
- Turn On or Off OneDrive Folder Backup Syncing Across Windows 11 Devices
- What do the OneDrive Sync Status icons mean in Windows 11
- Reset OneDrive in Windows 10 and Windows 11
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