Very slow downloads from OneDrive

BruceUK · Aug 28, 2024

I'm getting very slow download speeds from OneDrive, and sometimes a download never gets started and eventually times out. This seems to have happened since I initially decided to download all my files from OneDrive to my computer by selecting the option 'Download all files'. I did this because I have 1 TB of storage on this computer and all my files amount to just 350 GB, so why not make use of it. However, while the files were still being downloaded, I changed my mind and selected the option 'Free up disk space'. This appeared to instantly revert to my original setup, and OneDrive is showing that all my files are synced. But now, as an example, in File Explorer if I double-click on a large video file of 385 MB, it is taking more than a minute to download, and the download speeds are being displayed in the range 3 - 5 MB/sec. And as I mentioned, sometimes a download never even starts.

I'm sure I was originally opening such files almost instantaneously from OneDrive before I did those operations. So I'm wondering if I've done something wrong. Can anyone suggest what I should do?

Bruce

cereberus · Aug 28, 2024

Have you checked your broadband speed with Ookla or similar?

BruceUK · Aug 28, 2024

Hi cereberus, thanks for your response. I've just used Ookla as you suggested and the result is:

Download speed: 17.74 Mbps, Upload speed: 19.92 Mbps

These equate to 2.22 MBps and 2.49 MBps. So they are very low. My Broadband service provider claims to offer an "average" download speed of 132Mbps, so I'm getting no more than 15% of that claimed amount.

One option is obviously to call them and ask them to investigate. I suspect they will offer some sort of upgrade. But in any case, I might opt for my first idea and download all my files to my computer - as I mentioned, I have 1 TB of storage available and my files amount in total to about 350 GB, so I might as well have instantaneous access to the files. I just have a question about that option:

If I do have files physically stored on my computer hard drive, are they still linked (or synced) to their counterparts on OneDrive? For example, if I accidentally delete a file from the hard drive, will it automatically be deleted from OneDrive as well? If that is true, then I don't understand how OneDrive would be functioning as a backup.

Any further thoughts would be gratefully received!

Bruce

cereberus · Aug 28, 2024

BruceUK said:
Hi cereberus, thanks for your response. I've just used Ookla as you suggested and the result is:

Download speed: 17.74 Mbps, Upload speed: 19.92 Mbps

These equate to 2.22 MBps and 2.49 MBps. So they are very low. My Broadband service provider claims to offer an "average" download speed of 132Mbps, so I'm getting no more than 15% of that claimed amount.

One option is obviously to call them and ask them to investigate. I suspect they will offer some sort of upgrade. But in any case, I might opt for my first idea and download all my files to my computer - as I mentioned, I have 1 TB of storage available and my files amount in total to about 350 GB, so I might as well have instantaneous access to the files. I just have a question about that option:

If I do have files physically stored on my computer hard drive, are they still linked (or synced) to their counterparts on OneDrive? For example, if I accidentally delete a file from the hard drive, will it automatically be deleted from OneDrive as well? If that is true, then I don't understand how OneDrive would be functioning as a backup.

Any further thoughts would be gratefully received!

Bruce

Are you using Hyper-V at all?

For some intel nics, the hyper-v virtual nic can really slow down internet speeds. It is fixable by turning of coalescing in the nic properties.

cereberus · Aug 28, 2024

BruceUK said:
Hi cereberus, thanks for your response. I've just used Ookla as you suggested and the result is:

Download speed: 17.74 Mbps, Upload speed: 19.92 Mbps

These equate to 2.22 MBps and 2.49 MBps. So they are very low. My Broadband service provider claims to offer an "average" download speed of 132Mbps, so I'm getting no more than 15% of that claimed amount.

One option is obviously to call them and ask them to investigate. I suspect they will offer some sort of upgrade. But in any case, I might opt for my first idea and download all my files to my computer - as I mentioned, I have 1 TB of storage available and my files amount in total to about 350 GB, so I might as well have instantaneous access to the files. I just have a question about that option:

If I do have files physically stored on my computer hard drive, are they still linked (or synced) to their counterparts on OneDrive? For example, if I accidentally delete a file from the hard drive, will it automatically be deleted from OneDrive as well? If that is true, then I don't understand how OneDrive would be functioning as a backup.

Any further thoughts would be gratefully received!

Bruce

If you download files from Onedrive, copy them to folder outside the local onedrive folders then use free up space to only store them online.

BruceUK · Aug 29, 2024

I've checked, and I don't have the Hyper-V platform enabled. (My understanding is that it's normally used only with Windows Pro, whereas I just have Windows running on a single computer.)

I'm going to contact my Broadband service provider this morning and tell them what speeds I'm getting. They will probably do their own remote testing and then offer me a free upgrade to their latest service! Anyway, I'll post again to let you know the outcome.

Thanks for your help so far!

BruceUK · Aug 30, 2024

I called my Broadband supplier yesterday - they asked me to try moving my laptop into the same room as the router and test the download speed again and the difference was amazing. I was getting a download speed of about 380 Mbps, compared with about 18 Mbps when I have the laptop in its usual position, which is about 35 - 40 ft from the router. So an engineer is coming next week to look at possible ways to re-site the router. It is currently close to my TV, which is also dependent on the WiFi for various apps, so it could be tricky to find a position where both requirements are satisfied.

Meanwhile I've downloaded some of my larger video files from OneDrive to my computer hard drive, to give me immediate access to them.

BruceUK · Sep 1, 2024

Another possibility I'm considering is buying a WiFi extender. As far as I can see, my router doesn't have a WPS button, so that would complicate the setup process, but it might still be a worthwhile investment.

Any thoughts on that?

TairikuOkami · Sep 1, 2024

You could try switching WiFi to 2.4GHz, it has a better penetration through walls.
And since everyone is using 5GHz, you might get less interference, more channels.

TraderGary · Sep 1, 2024

I choose to not use the OneDrive default of Files On Demand. This way I keep all my files locally as well as mirroring my local OneDrive folder to the cloud in real-time. OneDrive is not a true backup, as it is simply constantly mirroring exactly what is in your local OneDrive folder. If you delete a file locally, it is deleted in cloud OneDrive. If you modify a file locally, it is modified in the cloud. All this occurs in real-time. This is exactly what I want to have happen as I never want to lose anything I'm working on throughout the day.

I love OneDrive for what it does, but I also protect my data by making a nightly backup image of my entire computer using Macrium Reflect. I make my images on a 4TB Samsung Portable SSD, rotating 7 images to always have a full week of complete computer backups.

I should add that my local SSD is 1TB and that I subscribe to Microsoft 365 which includes 1TB of cloud OneDrive.

badrobot · Sep 1, 2024

You can also try restarting your modem/router. Most of the time it solves the speed issue. And never do "Download All". Just download them by batches so if you don't have time to wait, you can continue later.

TraderGary · Sep 1, 2024

My ISP is Comcast/XFinity and my download speed is 960 Mbps. My OneDrive speed is reasonably fast but is limited to my download speed of 960 Mbps. My router is a NetGear Mesh system with 2 satellites.

TraderGary · Sep 1, 2024

You mention that you remember opening OneDrive files instantly. If you have chosen to keep your files mirrored locally, of course they will open instantly. If you have chosen "Files On Demand", anything you have used recently will also be there locally as well and will load instantly. Anything else will load at the speed of your Internet connection.

BruceUK · Sep 2, 2024

Hi Gary,

Many thanks for your posts, especially the one about OneDrive not being a true backup. That is exactly what I feel about it. Your use of Macrium Reflect sounds interesting, although I'm not really adding or modifying data as intensively as you seem to be. Currently I'm just using memory sticks to backup my data, which works quite well for my purposes.