Using OneDrive as cloud storage only - no local copies

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  1. Posts : 99
    Windows 10
       #1

    Using OneDrive as cloud storage only - no local copies


    I’m either using this all wrong or cant figure it out.

    Is there no way to get OneDrive to never store a local copy and basically only show cloud stored server side data in my OneDrive folder in file explorer’s nav pane?

    The only way I get it to work now is to clear up space manually through that right click menu item....
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  2. Posts : 15,444
    Windows10
       #2

    loungebob said:
    I’m either using this all wrong or cant figure it out.

    Is there no way to get OneDrive to never store a local copy and basically only show cloud stored server side data in my OneDrive folder in file explorer’s nav pane?





    The only way I get it to work now is to clear up space manually through that right click menu item....
    You have to copy data to a local onedrive folder first to upload it to cloud, even if using Files On Demand.

    With 1809, you can now automatically free up the online folders once uploaded after a period from Storage Sense (minimum one day).
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  3. Posts : 99
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #3

    No not really. For whatever reason, the shortest period I can choose in storage sense for keeping a local copy is 1 day, not 0.

    So 1D will always keep a local copy for at least 1 day before deleting the local file.

    If I want it faster I have to manually clear space.

    And it’s annoying since uploading 18TB that way now keeps TB of data duplicated until I manually clear it or the 24hrs are over.
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  4. Posts : 868
    Windows 10 x64
       #4

    Would you please excuse me and allow me to step in here. Reason is that I am / was looking an answer on the same question.

    Correct me if I am wrong and probably I am...
    So far I have understood that files that are stored within OneDrive are in fact copies of local files, i.e. files in the cloud are also stored within the OneDrive folder on C:\ taking valuable SSD space..

    Considering this (wrong?) idea the 1TB OneDrive space (that comes Office 365) can't be used together with 512GB SSD (nett 470GB, less Windows, applications and some Windows there is not so much space left.

    Uploading 2-300GB would not fit anymore then...
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  5. Posts : 147
    Dual boot windows 10 Pro 22H2 & Win 11 Pro 23H2
       #5

    Right click the Onedrive cloud icon in the Notification area and click "view online"
    This will open your cloud so you can view what's on there. You may have to login if you logged out last time.
    Open file explorer on your local computer and find the folder you want to upload. Resize the explorer window so you can see both the folder and the onedrive window, and simply drag the folder to the onedrive window.
    It will upload the folder direct without going into your local Onedrive folder.
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  6. Posts : 868
    Windows 10 x64
       #6

    Thanks!
    But.. eh .. likely I am doing something wrong. The idea is to have files on OneDrive only, i.e. not both OneDrive and HDD.

    I did what you said, log in into OneDrive (view online, log in, password, etc)
    Then using Explorer, dragged a big folder from HDD to OneDrive (webbrowser, i.e. not the OneDrive HDD folder)
    It was uploaded.
    However, upon checking 'free space' on HDD, it was reduced accordingly.

    Using OneDrive as cloud storage only - no local copies-snagit-31122018-074840.png
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  7. Posts : 147
    Dual boot windows 10 Pro 22H2 & Win 11 Pro 23H2
       #7

    Well tfwul, that doesn't make a lot of sense does it. They must be coming back from Onedrive onto your local drive.
    Can you have a look in your Onedrive folder on your local drive and see?
    You must going into Onedrive settings and make sure untick "make all files available" and then carefully choose which files, if any, you want to have on both. Untick the ones you just want on the cloud, and they won't come back.

    Using OneDrive as cloud storage only - no local copies-choose-folders.jpg
    Last edited by skcusime; 31 Dec 2018 at 18:24.
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  8. Posts : 9,765
    Mac OS Catalina
       #8

    tfwul said:
    Would you please excuse me and allow me to step in here. Reason is that I am / was looking an answer on the same question.

    Correct me if I am wrong and probably I am...
    So far I have understood that files that are stored within OneDrive are in fact copies of local files, i.e. files in the cloud are also stored within the OneDrive folder on C:\ taking valuable SSD space..

    Considering this (wrong?) idea the 1TB OneDrive space (that comes Office 365) can't be used together with 512GB SSD (nett 470GB, less Windows, applications and some Windows there is not so much space left.

    Uploading 2-300GB would not fit anymore then...
    Actually it is local files mirrored to your Cloud Drive. If you need more space, you are going to have to use either a external drive on your network or a bigger drive in your computer. If you stop syncing to your local folder, you will have to use just the OneDrive Cloud folder and will risk losing any data if you lose connection, while working with a file.
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  9. Posts : 868
    Windows 10 x64
       #9

    Thank you both skcusime and bro67.
    It is even worse: the laptop has 2x 512GB,
    1st 512GB (470 nett) is C: 120 (for Windows etc.) and D: 350 (Bitlocker encrypted partition)
    2nd drive E: 470GB

    When purchasing the laptop, I assumed this would be sufficient, it was already an upgrade from 1x256GB standard to 2x512GB.

    My desktop PC has some 4TB+ conventional HDD free space left (internal).
    Probably the 1TB OneDrive space makes sense if a user is running Windows from a multi-TB conventional HDD, but that time has gone a long time ago

    BTW: I always have 1 original plus 2 backups of files (backup on Internal HDD for quick access and external USB). I was considering to move some huge folders to OneDrive, freeing up some space from an internal encrypted partition.

    skcusime: If I were to move folders to OneDrive, then those folders should nót be synchronized right from the start.
    Maybe I should start out to first create an empty folder, then untag sync, then copy files to that folder as you described?

    bro67: and maybe relocate the OneDrive folder as per tutorial
    Change Location of OneDrive Folder in Windows 10
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  10. Posts : 194
    Windows 10 Pro
       #10

    If you don't want local files stored, Don't install one drive on the PC and just select and upload files from the online version.
    However, the files to be uploaded must come from somewhere so they are stored locally already?
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