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Richard_Gration's avatar
Richard_Gration
Copper Contributor
Nov 08, 2023

Change in Files On-Demand behaviour in recent update to OneDrive for Windows

I have two PCs - one I use at home and another I use at work.  Both are running Windows 11 23H2 and are fully up to date with Microsoft updates.  Both are running OneDrive version 23.214.1015.0001.  ...
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LeonPavesic's avatar
LeonPavesic
Silver Contributor
Nov 13, 2023

Hi Richard_Gration,

To disable Files On-Demand in OneDrive, follow these steps:

  1. Click on the OneDrive icon in the taskbar corner.
  2. Select the Help & Settings (gear) icon, then click on Settings.
  3. In the Settings window, go to the "Sync and backup" section.
  4. Under the "Files On-Demand" sub-section, click on the "Download all files" button.

By doing this, all your OneDrive files will be downloaded to your local hard drive, and the Files On-Demand feature will be turned off.

If you prefer using the Group Policy editor to disable Files On-Demand, follow these steps:

  1. Press Win+R to open the Run prompt.
  2. Type gpedit.msc and press Enter to open Group Policy Editor.
  3. Navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates.
  4. Scroll down to find OneDrive and double-click to open it.
  5. Open the "Use OneDrive Files On-Demand settings" policy.
  6. Choose the Disabled option.
  7. Click OK to apply the changes.

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Kindest regards,


Leon Pavesic
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Richard_Gration's avatar
Richard_Gration
Copper Contributor
Nov 13, 2023

Hi LeonPavesic,

Thanks for your reply. However, I'm not sure it is correct that by clicking on the new 'Download all files' button that 'all your OneDrive files will be downloaded to your local hard drive, and the Files On-Demand feature will be turned off'.  The link in your reply to https://www.elevenforum.com/t/enable-or-disable-onedrive-files-on-demand-in-windows-11.4371/ actually says:

 

You will know that Files On-Demand is turned on if you see the https://www.elevenforum.com/t/what-do-the-onedrive-sync-status-icons-mean-in-windows-11.11685/ next to your files in File Explorer.

 

As per my original post, what I am seeing is the status icons next to the files in File Explorer (rather than superimposed on the file icons as occurs when you have files on-demand disabled). So what appears to be happening is that files on-demand is being forced on, but all files on OneDrive are being marked as 'always keep on device'.

 

I had previously tried the Group Policy Editor approach, but there is no 'Use OneDrive Files On-Demand settings' policy:

I tried manually creating [HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\OneDrive\FilesOnDemandEnabled] as a REG_DWORD in the registry and setting it to 0, but that didn't seem to make any difference.

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