How to use the OneDrive Files On-Demand feature in Windows 10

OneDrive Files On-Demand is an added feature in Windows 10 Fall Creators Update - Version 1709 that I introduced to you in the previous article. And as far as I can see, this is a really useful feature for computer users.

If you do not know, let me remind you about the feature of OneDrive Files On-Demand that is directly viewing the content of files on OneDrive (Microsoft's cloud storage service) without having to download. computer.

In previous versions, if you want to open files on OneDrive, you must download them to your computer to open them, but when you have used the OneDrive Files On-Demand feature, it is Not needed anymore.

You will save a lot of time as well as memory capacity of that computer.

But first, if you want to use this feature then you need to follow some step-by-step instructions.

This article is only really useful for those of you who are using Microsoft's OneDrive as your cloud storage, otherwise if you do not use this service, you can skip this tip.

1. How to activate OneDrive Files On-Demand

+ Step 1: OneDrive Files On-Demand only works on OneDrive version 17.3.6998.0830 or later. 

+ Step 2: After downloading, install it on your computer. Double-click the downloaded file or right-click the file and select Run as administrator to run as administrator.

After that, wait a while for the program to install and restart your computer to apply the changes.

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+ Step 3: If you are already logged into your OneDrive account, you do not need to do this step anymore, otherwise, if you are not logged into your account, please do as follows:

Right-click the icon of OneDrive => select Settings to enter the settings.

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Next, you switch to the tab Account => select Add an account to add your account.

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Enter the email you signed up for using your OneDrive account => then click Sign in to sign in.

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The login process was successful, followed by some Microsoft introduction to OneDrive features, you can click Next to skip.

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Select Not now to skip ads.

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Click the arrow to the right to skip through the feature's introduction.

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Finally, click Open my OneDrive folder as shown below to open the OneDrive folder on your computer.

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+ Step 4: This is the most important setting here, go to the Settings tab => then check the line Save space and download files as you use them => click OK to perform as shown below.

Note: If this line is not available, it means that your current version of OneDrive does not support the OneDrive Files On-Demand feature.

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+ Step 5: After doing the above steps, it means that you have successfully activated the OneDrive Files On-Demand feature. Now we will set up how to sync data on OneDrive.

Perform:

You select the tab Account => select Choose folders => then check or uncheck the folders you want to sync.

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+ Step 6: Now I will access the OneDrive folder on my computer to take a look. To access the OneDrive folder is very simple.

Press the Windows + E key combination to open File Explorer => then click the OneDrive icon in the left column.

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I will explain more clearly to you about 3 symbols in the Status column. We will have 3 symbols equivalent to 3 features as shown below.

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Details are as follows:

1. Online-only Files: When the Status column has a white cloud icon, it means you will not waste hard drive space to store data. And this is the OneDrive Files On-Demand feature we need, and now you can open all the files on your OneDrive service without having to download it to your computer (but of course you want to. if you see it, your computer must have an internet connection).
2. Locally available files: If in this state, it means that when you open the file online, the file will be downloaded and stored on your computer, and you can view it offline as normal files.
3. Always available files: This option will download the data to your computer. You should only use this feature in case it's important data, or small files . because this option will consume the file storage space on the computer.

In case you want to change the archive file state from Online-only Files to Always available files, do the following:

Perform:

Right-click the cloud icon icon => select the line Always keep on this device as shown below:

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Conversely, if you want to bring the file from Always available to Online-only Files state, right-click on that icon => select Free up space.

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When you double-click on any file that is in Online-only Files state, that file will be downloaded to your computer.

And the Status column now changes to Locally available files. And of course now that this file is in your computer, you can edit the file as usual.

In case you want to save space, you can put the downloaded file back to avoid Online-only Files by right-clicking on the file and selecting Free up space. And now that file will only remain on OneDrive and not on the computer anymore.

=> In short, it is understandable that the main feature of OneDrive Files On-Demand is to avoid storing files on your computer, but allowing you to access files when needed easily.

2. A few notes when using OneDrive Files On-Demand

When you delete a file Online-only Files on any 1 device, it will be deleted on all other devices.

To recover data, if you accidentally deleted it, please access your OneDrive account and go to the trash to recover. If after 30 days you do not restore, the file will be permanently deleted.

3. How do I disable the OneDrive Files On-Demand feature?

On the contrary, if you do not want to use this feature anymore, you are done in reverse. That means you go to Settings => then uncheck the line Save space and download files as you use them => click OK to finish.

The instructions are enough, but I think no one is foolish to turn this feature off, right

Isabella Humphrey

Update 17 April 2021