Is OneDrive actually of any use?

@zebal - just to clarify, in my local onedrive folder ALL the checkmarks are blue, including those I know have sync'd previously. No green checkmarks anywhere. Folders are the same, online and local.

fixer said:

@zebal I just ran your test. The local file was updated instantaneously, as was the changed version when I saved it over the top. However the online version has not shown at all yet.

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Are you tapping your browser's refresh icon?

I'm wondering if this is being caused by the way in which I add files to OneDrive. Rather than locating my Docs folder in OneDrive on my C drive, it is on D drive, my data partition. To get the files and folders on D into OneDrive I use symlinks instead. Obviously this does work as my files and folders do get into my online folders but it does take rather a long time - hours. Hard to see how this could cause a delay in syncing but clearly something is doing so.

TraderGary said:

Are you tapping your browser's refresh icon?

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Same even when I switch from FF to Edge and login again.

So you're not putting the actual files into local OneDrive but symbolic links instead?
I've never tested this, don't know how OneDrive handles them, but it might be the reason why.
Did you run previous test also with symbolic link?

fixer said:

in my local onedrive folder ALL the checkmarks are blue

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That means they're stored online only but not locally, so they should be present online as real files and locally as blue icon files (not real).

A blue cloud icon next to your OneDrive files or folders indicates that the file is only available online. Online-only files don’t take up space on your computer.

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See also:

When you turn on Files On-Demand, you’ll still see all your files as online-only files in File Explorer, but they won't take up space.

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@fixer

Apparently OneDrive doesn't work well with symbolic links:

I turn "Files On Demand" OFF. Using this option my local and cloud OneDrive are always mirror images.

TairikuOkami said:

The sync is instantaneous, maybe you have setup metered connection or something? You can try to re-sync or re-install it.

Enable or Disable OneDrive Syncing on Metered Network in Windows 11 Tutorial

This tutorial will show how to enable or disable automatically pause OneDrive syncing when on a metered network for your account or all users in Windows 10 and Windows 11. You can use OneDrive to sync files between your computer and the cloud, so you can get to your files from anywhere - your...

www.elevenforum.com

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It's an open, unmetered connection. All other online activity is instantaneous.

We've argued Onedrive backwards, forwards, and sideways too many times to count here. One loves it or hates it. IMO, there has never been any doubt to its usefulness depending on how (or if )one chooses to use it. It's the IF that most people have an issue with. It's not a "one size fits all" and not for everyone. Users should not have to jump through hoops if it doesn't fit them. It should be a clear user's choice, not default. I guarantee if MS would do that, everyone would be singing its praises.

zebal said:

@fixer

Apparently OneDrive doesn't work well with symbolic links:

One Drive Symbolic Link - Microsoft Q&A

Hi.. I just make symbolic link from OneDrive folder to specific folder in D drive, so this folder will be backup to the OneDrive. But when there are changes inside the folder, the OneDrive not sync automatically. I should exit the OneDrive and…

learn.microsoft.com

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Great find Zebal. I can test that, but first I want to check out what TraderGary has said

It depends on whether it's useful to *you*, I personally make a lot of use of it.
This isn't the sort of question that can be a straight yes/no answer

Ghot said:

IMO... it far more trouble than it's worth. Not to mention, these Cloud storage entities, keep getting hacked.

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When did OneDrive get hacked?

glasskuter said:

We've argued Onedrive backwards, forwards, and sideways too many times to count here.

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You forgot upside down

fixer said:

I've already several backups of my files, both local and online, but on the basis of 'you can't have too many backups' and despite previously checking out OneDrive without being very encouraged to use it, I thought I'd take another look at it. What I'm finding is that despite my local OneDrive folder always being up-to-date, the online files are not. There doesn't appear to be any way of reliably assessing how far behind they are but it's usually several hours, which isn't of much use to me I'm afraid. Is this the norm, or is there something I can do about it?

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I've read through the various posts. I don't have any problems with Sync speed with my OneDrive folder. They are updated in the cloud within seconds.

I also put my OneDrive folder on my data drive, in this case D:\onedrive. I don't use symlinks to my files. I have My Documents, My Desktop and My Pictures all on D:\OneDrive. I have the location set on these folders to D:\OneDrive\Documents, D:\OneDrive\Desktop, and D:\OneDrive\Pictures respectively.

cereberus said:

You had a 50:50 chance of getting answer right. Pity you got it wrong.

Onedrive is much more than backup software.

It enables access to data when away from home.

It enables backup of critical data away from home environment in case of fire etc.

So it might not be useful to you, but it is to lots of people.

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Yeah, i find it tremendously useful. I don't put absolutely everything on OneDrive. And sensitive things go into the Personal Vault.

z3r010 said:

I wouldn't be without one drive; it's one of the most useful features of modern windows.

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Agreed.

glasskuter said:

We've argued Onedrive backwards, forwards, and sideways too many times to count here. One loves it or hates it. IMO, there has never been any doubt to its usefulness depending on how (or if )one chooses to use it. It's the IF that most people have an issue with. It's not a "one size fits all" and not for everyone. Users should not have to jump through hoops if it doesn't fit them. It should be a clear user's choice, not default. I guarantee if MS would do that, everyone would be singing its praises.

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The forced issue is an issue. On the flipside, I can understand why MS does this for the less savvy users. For average joe's, the fact that files end up on OneDrive automagically is great for those who wouldn't have figured out how to do it. Their computer dies and they get another one and many just assume they lost their stuff, they log back onto their new computer and like magic, their stuff is back.

Maybe they could add a method for those of us who are sophisticated during setup to somehow acknowledge that we know what we are doing and we choose to go without OneDrive. Then those who didn't want it, don't have to use it.

I've said it before..., it really depends on the user's needs!
For an active professional of some sort, who shares and collaborates constantly, it's probably indispensable!
For me, I have no need or use for cloud storage.
If I have to have stuff readily accessible at all times, I've got 1TB of extra space on my Phone!

There is only one reason why one should be concerned about cloud storage:

The CLOUD Act primarily amends the Stored Communications Act (SCA) of 1986 to allow federal law enforcement to compel U.S.-based technology companies via warrant or subpoena to provide requested data stored on servers regardless of whether the data are stored in the U.S. or on foreign soil

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So if you want your OneDrive data to be inaccessible to anyone except you, you should encrypt it before putting into OneDrive as this way they can stick the cloud act [...] lol.

The only way your data could be exposed is:
1. You use too weak encryption, and your encrypted files get brute-forced by law enfacement agency.
2. Your PC gets hacked or stolen together with encryption key (your mistake)
3. By Interrogational torture

Therefore as always it all depends on you.

zebal said:

So if you want your OneDrive data to be inaccessible to anyone except you, you should encrypt it before putting into OneDrive as this way they can stick the cloud act

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Luckily, I'm really not interesting enough to have files that I would need to be hidden like that.

As far as I've got atm it looks as if OneDrive syncs when I restart the system or if I just restart OneDrive. However if I just leave OneDrive running it either takes hours or waits for a restart before syncing. All this could be because I set up Win11 to use a local account rather than a Microsoft account. More experimentation needed but thanks to all the contributions here it looks as if I should now be able to get to the bottom of it.

z3r010 said:

Luckily, I'm really not interesting enough to have files that I would need to be hidden like that.

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Yes, me neither, but even the most useless information about someone that is otherwise not a threat to anyone and not against the law can be used against them in bad spirit with the aim to damage their reputation or to steal their identity.

fixer said:

As far as I've got atm it looks as if OneDrive syncs when I restart the system or if I just restart OneDrive. However if I just leave OneDrive running it either takes hours or waits for a restart before syncing. All this could be because I set up Win11 to use a local account rather than a Microsoft account. More experimentation needed but thanks to all the contributions here it looks as if I should now be able to get to the bottom of it.

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I run my system as a local user as well without issues.