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One Drive storage is local also?

Anonymous
2025-03-24T14:48:06+00:00

I am new to W11 and OneDrive, mainly have been a Dropbox user. I see that my data analysis program and software files, instead of being on what I thought were local folders, are all within the OneDrive folder on my C drive. Are these files also available offline and just backed up into the OneDrive data cloud? Is this best practice or should I move the files locally on my C Drive? Everything seems to operate normally on my software, but I just noticed that the paths all led to C/Users/me/OneDrive instead of onto the root C/Users/me folder. I'm concerned that if I move the data onto the local folder then the software won't be able to find the data files, and also if the data is local on my computer and also backed up to One Drive cloud then perhaps there is nothing to worry about?

Any thoughts appreciated.

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Files, folders, and storage

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  1. Anonymous
    2025-03-24T16:01:49+00:00

    Hello,

    To answer your question about the status of the files, that depends.

    If a file/folder has a cloud next to it (like this: ), that means that the file/folder is available only when you're online. This should be the default if you haven't opened it at all before.

    If a file/folder has a green check next to it (like this: ), that means that the file/folder is available when you're online or offline. This is the normal behavior if you open the file.

    Finally, if a file/folder has a green filled check (like this: ), that means that the file/folder is always available, whether you're online or not.

    Does this clear things up?

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  2. Anonymous
    2025-03-24T16:26:56+00:00

    Is this best practice or should I move the files locally on my C Drive?

    It's a choice that you can make, or not. It's really up to you.

    If you want your OneDrive and your computer to display the same files, and if you want any changes that you make in one place to be automatically reflected in the other place, then file syncing is for you. I personally don't do this. If I want certain folders and files to be in my OneDrive, rather than on my hard drive, I upload those folders and files to my OneDrive. I leave the rest of my folders and files on my hard drive.

    If you aren't currently backing up, and you're not sure how to backup, then backing up with the OneDrive app is for you. I personally don't do this, because I backup in other ways.

    The OneDrive app is part of a longer term strategy that Microsoft has to gradually move its users to the cloud, which means that we store our files on the internet ('the cloud') and use internet applications, instead of storing our files locally (i.e., on our hard drive) and using applications installed on our computer. There are many advantages to cloud computing, which I appreciate, and a few disadvantages, but that's a different subject.

    The operation of the OneDrive app is not obvious. One thing I would suggest is that you learn how it works, and about the changes that Microsoft made to the familiar folder structure we've been using forever, in order to accommodate the OneDrive app. That way, you can make an informed choice.

    However you choose, I wish you the best of success.

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  3. Anonymous
    2025-03-24T15:22:01+00:00

    Hello,

    These files are "synced" to OneDrive, so it means if you delete from device, it will also delete in the cloud, and vice versa.

    Whether they work offline or not depends on if you have OnDemand turned on. If OneDrive OnDemand are turned on, they are cloud files, meaning OneDrive desktop app must be running for you to access the files, otherwise you will not be able to access when OneDrive app is not running or when the computer is not connected to the internet.

    If you don't have a OneDrive subscription, I would recommend against this, because 5GB of free space can fill up quickly.

    To restore them back to local only, right click on OneDrive cloud icon on the lower right, go to Settings > Sync & backup tab > Manage Backup. Turn off those folders.

    Restart the computer and that would get those folders back to local path without being nested in OneDrive.

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