OneDrive Files On-Demand: How to Turn It On (Windows 11 Guide)

Microsoft‘s OneDrive Files On-Demand lets you see and access every file in your OneDrive from File Explorer without downloading and storing all of it on your device. It’s been a standard, built-in part of the OneDrive sync client for years now and ships enabled by default on most new Windows 11 installs — but if yours is off, or you’ve inherited a machine where it was disabled, here’s how to turn it back on.

What Files On-Demand Actually Does

Every file and folder in your OneDrive shows up in File Explorer, but each one carries a small icon showing its actual state on that device:

• Cloud-only (blue cloud icon) — the file is visible and searchable, but only downloaded to your device when you open it. It uses no local disk space until then.
• Locally available (green tick in a white circle, faded) — you’ve opened the file recently, so a local copy is cached alongside the cloud copy.
• Always available (solid green circle with a white tick) — the file is permanently kept on this device and works offline, even with no internet connection.

Files On-Demand works with Windows desktop apps, Microsoft Store apps, and both personal OneDrive and SharePoint Online team site files.

Step 1: Make Sure You’re Signed In to OneDrive

Click the OneDrive cloud icon in the notification area at the far right of the taskbar (click the Show hidden icons arrow if you don’t see it) and confirm you’re signed in with your Microsoft or work/school account. If OneDrive isn’t running at all, select Start, type OneDrive, and open it from the search results.

Step 2: Turn On Files On-Demand

1. Right-click the OneDrive cloud icon in the notification area and select the Settings gear (or “Help & Settings” on newer builds).
2. Choose Settings, then go to the Sync and backup tab.
3. Expand Advanced settings and look for Files On-Demand.
4. On older builds you’ll see a straightforward toggle; on newer builds this is presented as Free up disk space — select it and confirm by clicking Continue.

How to Mark a File or Folder as Always Available

Right-click any file or folder in File Explorer and select Always keep on this device. This downloads a permanent local copy that stays in sync but also works with no internet connection.

How to Free Up Space (Make a File Online-Only Again)

Right-click a file or folder that’s currently downloaded locally and select Free up space. The file stays visible in File Explorer and fully accessible — it just goes back to cloud-only until you open it again.

How to Hide a OneDrive Folder on a Specific Device

Sometimes you want a folder to not appear on a particular device at all — for example, keeping a personal folder off a work laptop.

1. Click the OneDrive cloud icon in the notification area.
2. Open the Settings gear from the Activity Center.
3. Next to the account you want to change, click Choose folders.
4. Clear the checkbox next to any folder you want to keep off this device, then click OK.

The folder and its contents disappear from File Explorer on that device only — nothing is deleted from OneDrive itself, and you can bring it back the same way at any time.

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