• Typically, users who have just installed Windows will find the OneDrive automatically set up with On-Demand.
  • Files that are only available on the cloud require an internet connection to get accessed.
  • Windows 11 typically uses its Storage Sense utility to offload files you don’t need to OneDrive after 30 days (which can be changed in Settings).
  • Windows Search won’t be able to find files that are stored only on the cloud within a folder, as they’re not physically on the device.

With Windows 11 (and to a lesser extent, Windows 10), OneDrive has become practically mandatory software that gets installed the first time you launch the PC. Security concerns of that move aside, you can use OneDrive to free up storage if you’re running low. In particular, the OneDrive On-Demand feature can save your work on the cloud, making it both lighter on your device and also available from all other device where your OneDrive is connected.

How to Use OneDrive to Free Up Storage for Specific Folders

Suppose you have a specific folder filed with previous projects or personal files that you might occasionally need as a refresher, but are otherwise just wasting space. OneDrive’s OnDemand feature can be toggled for each folder separately, where each file will only get downloaded as you need it.

Step 1. Go to the parent directory of the folder or file you want to offload to the cloud.

Step 2. Select the folder or file that you want to move, then Right-click on it and select “Free up space.”

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Step 3. Wait for OneDrive to finish uploading the file to local storage.

You can tell whether a file is available On-Demand or not based on the “Status” icon in File Explorer:

  • A cloud icon indicates that the folder is only available on the cloud, and accessing it requires an internet connection, upon which you’ll get temporary access to the folder to make changes (which are then synced to the cloud).
  • A hollow checkmark indicates that the file is stored on the PC temporarily, usually because it has been accessed recently, but that it will eventually be (or already have been) moved online.
  • A full green checkmark means that the file is directly on your hard drive, but there’s likely a backup copy on OneDrive that gets synced occasionally.
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How to Check OneDrive’s On-Demand Status for All Files

Apart from turning on the feature for each file or folder separately, you can use global OneDrive settings to move entire folders or categories of items to the cloud.

Step 1. Open OneDrive from your Windows toolbar (you may need to use the “Show hidden icons” arrow).

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Step 2. Click on the cog icon on the top-right and select “Settings.”

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Step 3. Expand the “Additional settings” option, and you’ll get two more settings to work with. In the “Files On-Demand” category, you can either use “Free up space” to move ALL files online, or you can use “Download all files” to ensure OneDrive keeps a physical copy on the cloud.

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Step 4. Alternatively, you can use the “Manage backup” option on the top to select common system folders to exclude from being automatically backed up. Toggling each option uploads it to the cloud (while keeping a temporary copy that will likely stay if you keep accessing it).

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Notable Issues With OneDrive On-Demand

While you can free up disk space with OneDrive with a few clicks, there are a few issues you might encounter:

  • Large files might take a while to upload or download each time you access them, but it’s also most worthwhile saving online if you need it sporadically. So videos from your gallery should probably get backed up, but games are pretty much impossible to save only online.
  • Files that are tagged as available online might not be accessible to your PC even if you’re editing them in that moment. If you want to move or copy the file elsewhere, or even include it for uploading to an online service like mail or Slack, you’ll need to close out the editor and possibly force OneDrive to download it manually.
  • OneDrive has a 5GB limit for files for a free account, so you’ll eventually need to pick and choose which files you’re saving and which ones are permanently online to keep using OneDrive On-Demand without paying for extended storage.

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