How to selectively sync OneDrive files to free up your disk space

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Published onNovember 7, 2016

published onNovember 7, 2016

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Recently, we learnt thatOneDrive placeholders would return to Windows 10 as ‘On Demand Sync’. It will allow users to store a file offline or re-enable online sync. The advantage of these smart placeholders is that they do not consume the space as the original file, and you’d only need to sync if you need the file on your machine – else it sits pretty on yourOneDrivecloud.

Till that happens, you can still selectively sync files on your Windows 10 PC and leave the folders you don’t need (the ones which you only need backed up) on the cloud. This is particularely useful for devices with limited storage, specially tablets.

Right-click the OneDrive icon on your taskbar, and selectSettingsfrom the menu that opens up. SelectChoose foldersunder theAccounttab.

In the window that opens next, clear the check boxes for any folders you don’t need offline, and then select OK.

Remember that the folders you clear won’t show up in File Explorer on this machine anymore (unlike the placeholders), but they’ll still be online at OneDrive.com.

Radu Tyrsina

Radu Tyrsina has been a Windows fan ever since he got his first PC, a Pentium III (a monster at that time).

For most of the kids of his age, the Internet was an amazing way to play and communicate with others, but he was deeply impressed by the flow of information and how easily you can find anything on the web.

Prior to founding Windows Report, this particular curiosity about digital content enabled him to grow a number of sites that helped hundreds of millions reach faster the answer they’re looking for.

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Radu Tyrsina

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How to selectively sync OneDrive files to free up your disk space