How do I enable OneDrive Files On-Demand? This is a recommendation from MicroSoft

Question

How do I enable OneDrive Files On-Demand? This is a recommendation from MicroSoft

Answer 1

Hi David Wiebe,

Welcome to Microsoft Q&A!

OneDrive Files On-Demand is a feature that lets you access all your files in OneDrive without downloading them to your device, saving disk space. To turn it on, please check out this article: Save disk space with OneDrive Files On-Demand for Windows - Microsoft Support

• Ensure you have the latest version of the OneDrive app (and Windows)
• Right-click the OneDrive cloud icon in the taskbar > Select Settings
• In Sync and Backup tab > Advanced settings > turn the feature ON
• You should see status icons on your files in the OneDrive folder:
  • Cloud icon = Online-only file.
  • Green checkmark = Locally available.
  • Solid green circle = Always available offline.

I hope the information above helps guide you to the right place and turn on the Files On-Demand feature. Thank you for your time.

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Answer 2

To enable OneDrive Files On-Demand, follow these steps:

1. Ensure OneDrive is installed: Make sure you have the OneDrive sync app installed on your Windows device.
2. Check Files On-Demand setting:
   • For Windows 10 and Windows 11, Files On-Demand is enabled by default. You can check this setting by right-clicking the OneDrive cloud icon in the notification area and selecting Settings. Under the Settings tab, ensure that the option for Save space and download files as you use them is checked.
3. Access Files On-Demand: Once enabled, you can view and manage your OneDrive files directly from File Explorer without downloading them. Files that are only in the cloud will show a cloud icon, while downloaded files will display a green checkmark.
4. Make files available offline: If you want to access a file while offline, right-click the file and select Always keep on this device. To free up space, you can right-click a downloaded file and select Free up space.

For more detailed instructions, you can refer to the official Microsoft documentation.