"Always keep on this device" in OneDrive - what does it do and how to stop it?

Question

While trying to explore file permissions in my Work OneDrive account (offline File Explorer version), I noticed that if you right click on any folder there is an option to "Always keep on this device".

As is often the case with OneDrive, it's NOT clear what this command does, but I appear to have accidentally activated it for my entire Work OneDrive account. When I go to the cloud icon in the taskbar, OneDrive appears to be in the process of downloading tens of thousands of files.

Two questions:

1. What does this "Always keep" option do, and how does it differ from simply having the "offline FileExplorer" version of OneDrive on my personal computer?
2. How do I stop this downloading process , and do I want to stop it? Or is it needed to have offline access to my work files?

Answer 1

Dear SBYH,

Good day! Thanks for posting in Microsoft Community. We are happy to help you.

For your queries,

1. The option "Always keep on this device" will help you to download this file/folder to your device. Normally, when you set up your OneDrive, all OneDrive files in the File Explorer (OneDrive sync folder) won't take up space on your computer. When you open one OneDrive file or select the option "Always keep on this device", the OneDrive app will download it. After that, you can open/edit these files offline.
2. To stop this downloading process, you can select OneDrive files, right-click them, and select "Free up space". After that, this downloading process will be stopped and these files won't take space on your computer.

We look forward to your response. Thanks for your cooperation.

Sincerely,

George | Microsoft Community Moderator

Answer 2

I understand that the "Always keep on this device" option saves the files in that folder on the PC/laptop locally, which is what I want to have control of my own files even if offline. I know it takes up space. What I don't know is if by saving files & folders locally, is this INSTEAD of backing up to OneDrive or IN ADDITION to backing up? Does it have to be an either/or scenario, and you can set a default to automatically save file locally AND back up?

Also, I am in the midst of trying to synch tons of files and folders to my laptop that I didn't realize were only only with OneDrive. Once this is done, will future files added to these folders remain local or do I have to adjust settings for future files to avoid having to synch again?

Bottom line, I want all of my existing AND future files to be local for offline access AND be simultaneously backed up to OneDrive in case my laptop is lost or destroyed. Can you please help? This is all confusing to me. I didn't understand that up until now all of my files were only accessible with online access. This is not what I want.

Thank you for your help.

Answer 3

Hi George, follow-up question to what DYogesh asked: when the option to "always keep on this device" is enabled, where is the local copy stored? It still appears to be in OneDrive, I assume there are 2 copies which are kept in sync with each other, but where is the 2nd copy on the device?

Answer 4

Dear Yogesh,

Good day! Thanks for posting in Microsoft Community. We are happy to help you.

For your query, if you uninstall the OneDrive application directly, these files will remain intact in OneDrive for Web. If you format your Desktop when the OneDrive application is still running (your account is still signing in), these files will also be deleted in OneDrive for Web.

Sincerely,

George | Microsoft Community Moderator

Answer 5

Hi Team,

When a file is downloaded/opened locally, the status icon appears like

When 'Always keep on this device', the status icon appears

I can open them both when offline.

May I know what is the difference?

Thanks!