5 Syncing Files and saving space on your device
Natively, files will be downloaded only when you need to access them. However, if you plan to access a file while disconnected from the internet, you can make the file available offline by right-clicking it, and then selecting Always keep on this device. Alternatively, if you want to free space on your device and remove the downloaded copy of a file, right-click the file, and then select Free up space. The following image shows the right-click menu for OneDrive files.
Your files will have these statuses in File Explorer:
| A blue cloud icon next to a OneDrive file or folder indicates that the file is only available online. Online-only files don’t take up space on your computer. You see a cloud icon for each online-only file in File Explorer, 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. |
| 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.” With Storage Sense turned on, these files will become online-only files after the time period you've selected. |
| 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. |
Any time you want to mass change the folders you sync on your computer, right-click that cloud icon in the taskbar notification area, and select
Settings > Account > Choose folders.
Uncheck any folder or Files you don't want to sync to your computer. Once unchecked the folder or File will removed from your computer.
The information will still be available online via OneDrive.