Save space with OneDrive

    

With OneDrive Files On-Demand, you can:

    

  • Save space on your device by making files online only

  • Set files and folders to be always available on your device

  • See important information about files, such as whether they are shared

  • See thumbnails of over 300 different file types even if you don’t have the required application installed to open it

    

Your files will have these statuses in Finder:

                                                  
            Blue cloud icon indicating an online-only OneDrive file         

Online-only files don’t take up space on your computer. You see a cloud icon for each online-only file in Finder, but the file doesn’t download to your device until you open it. You can’t open online-only files when your device isn’t connected to the Internet.
            Green check icon indicating a locally available OneDrive file         

When you open an online-only file, it downloads to your device and becomes a locally available file. You can open a locally available file anytime, even without Internet access. If you need more space, you can change the file back to online only. Just right-click the file and select Free up space.
            Green circle icon indicating an always-available OneDrive file         

Only files that you mark as Always keep on this device have the green circle with the white check mark. These always available files download to your device and take up space, but they’re always there for you even when you’re offline.

  

Download and set up OneDrive Files On-Demand

    

Download and install OneDrive Files On-Demand for Mac.

    

For new OneDrive accounts on Mac OS Mojave, Files On-Demand is turned on by default when you set up OneDrive. Existing users need to turn on Files On-Demand in OneDrive Preferences.

    

        Notes: 

      

  • OneDrive Files On-Demand requires an Apple File System (APFS) formatted volume for syncing files. If you've been using a previous file system, it will be automatically updated when you upgrade to Mac OS Mojave.

  • Files On-Demand settings are unique to each device, so make sure you turn it on for each device where you want to use it.

    

Screenshot of Preferences in Mac for OneDrive Files On-Demand

  

Mark a file or folder for offline use or as online-only

    

Once Files On-Demand is turned on, you'll see the following new options when selecting files or folders in Finder.

    

Screenshot of OneDrive Files On-Demand options in Finder on a Mac

    

If you don’t see the options above, you'll need to relaunch Finder:

    

  1. Press and hold the Control and Option keys.

  2. Click Finder in the Dock.

  3. Click Relaunch.

    

You can also relaunch Finder from the Force Quit dialog box:

    

  1. Launch Force Quit from the Apple menu (or press option + command + escape).

  2. Select Finder and press Relaunch.

    

Screenshot of Finder in the Force Quit Applications dialog box on a Mac

    

        Notes: 

      

  • New files or folders created online or on another device appear as online-only to save maximum space. However, if you mark a folder as "Always keep on this device," new files in that folder download to your device as always available files.

  • If a folder is online-only, you can still mark individual files within that folder as always available.

  • Finder can search for online-only files by name, but it cannot search the contents within online-only files because they aren't stored on the device.

        

Choose a folder to hide on your device

    

Sometimes you might want to make sure a folder doesn't show up on a device for privacy reasons. For example, you might want to hide a personal folder on a work computer. Here's how you do that.

    

  1. Click the OneDrive cloud icon up in your Menu bar, click the three dots to open the menu, and select Preferences.

            

    Screenshot of setting OneDrive personal preferences

  2. Click the Account tab, and then select Choose folders.

            

    Screenshot of adding an account in OneDrive preferences on a Mac

  3. Clear the check box next to the folder you want to keep off this device.

            

    The Choose Folders dialog box under the OneDrive for Mac Preferences window

    

        Important: Files On-Demand settings are unique to each device, so you may need to do this on each device where you want to keep a folder hidden.

  

Files On-Demand and deleting files

    

Can I move online-only files within my OneDrive folder?

      

Yes, you can move online-only files within your OneDrive folder for that OneDrive account. When you move files outside that OneDrive folder, the files download to the new folder and are removed from your OneDrive. If you accidentally delete something, you can restore files or folders by going to your OneDrive recycle bin.

    

What happens if I delete a file or move it to the trash?

      

When you delete an online-only file from your device, you delete it from your OneDrive on all devices and online. You can restore deleted files and folders from your OneDrive recycle bin on the web for up to 30 days. If you delete a locally available file, it also appears in your device recycle bin.

      

If you want to hide a folder on your device, see Choose a folder to hide on your device.

    

Does changing a file to online-only delete the file from my OneDrive?

      

No, changing a file to online-only doesn't delete it from your OneDrive. The file no longer takes up space on your device, and you will still be able to see the file from OneDrive mobile apps or on the website.