How to Enable or Disable Offline Files in Windows
Offline Files is a feature of Sync Center that makes network files available to a user, even if the network connection to the server is unavailable.
Users can use offline files (if enabled) to make their network files always available offline to keep a copy of the files stored on the network on your computer. This allows users to work with them even when they are not connected to the network or a server is unavailable. The next time the user connects to the network or the server is available, their offline files on your computer will automatically sync to the network files on the server to update.
See also:
- Folder Redirection, Offline Files, and Roaming User Profiles overview | Microsoft Docs
- Work Folders and Offline Files support for Windows Information Protection | Storage at Microsoft
This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable offline files for all users on the computer in Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10.
You must be signed in as an administrator to enable or disable offline files.
In Windows 7, the offline files feature is only available in the Professional, Ultimate, and Enterprise editions.
In Windows 8, the offline files feature is only available in the Pro and Enterprise editions.
In Windows 10, the offline files feature is only available in the Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.
Contents
- Option One: Enable or Disable Offline Files in Sync Center
- Option Two: Enable or Disable Offline Files using a REG file
- Option Three: Enable or Disable Offline Files via Policy in Local Group Policy Editor
- Option Four: Enable or Disable Offline Files via Policy using a REG file
EXAMPLE: Sync Center notification area icon available when Offline Files is enabled
1 Open the Control Panel (icons view), and click/tap on the Sync Center icon.
2 Click/tap on the Manage offline files link on the left side of Sync Center. (see screenshot below)
3 Do step 4 (enable) or step 5 (disable) below for what you want to do.
A) Click/tap on the Enable offline files button. (see screenshot below)
B) Click/tap on OK, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot below)
This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Disable offline files button. (see screenshot below)
B) Click/tap on OK, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot below)
6 When ready, click/tap on Yes to restart the computer to apply. (see screenshot below)
The downloadable .reg files below will modify the DWORD values in the registry keys below.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\CSC
Start DWORD
1 = Enable
4 = Disable
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\CscService
Start DWORD
2 = Enable
4 = Disable
1 Do step 2 (enable) or step 3 (disable) below for what you want to do.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Enable_Offline_Files.reg
Download
This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Disable_Offline_Files.reg
Download
4 Save the .reg file to your desktop.
5 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.
6 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
7 When ready, restart the computer to apply.
8 If you like, you can delete the downloaded .reg file.
If enabled or disabled, this option will override Option One and Option Two.
1 Open the Local Group Policy Editor.
2 Navigate to the key below in the left pane of the Local Group Policy Editor. (see screenshot below)
Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Network\Offline Files
3 In the right pane of Offline Files in Local Group Policy Editor, double click/tap on the Allow or Disallow use of the Offline Files feature policy to edit it. (see screenshot above)
4 Do step 5 (enable), step 6 (disable), or step 7 (default) below for what you would like to do.
A) Select (dot) Enabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 8 below. (see screenshot below)
A) Select (dot) Disabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 8 below. (see screenshot below)
8 When finished, close the Local Group Policy Editor.
9 When ready, restart the computer to apply.
If enabled or disabled, this option will override Option One and Option Two.
The downloadable .reg files below will modify the DWORD value in the registry key below.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\NetCache
Enabled DWORD
(delete) = Default
0 = Disable
1 = Enable
1 Do step 2 (enable), step 3 (disable), or step 4 (disable) below for what you want to do.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.
Enable_Offline_Files_via_policy.reg
Download
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.
Disable_Offline_Files_via_policy.reg
Download
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.
Default_Offline_Files_policy.reg
Download
5 Save the .reg file to your desktop.
6 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.
7 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
8 When ready, restart the computer to apply.
9 If you like, you can delete the downloaded .reg file.
That's it,
Shawn
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Enable or Disable Offline Files in Windows
Enable or Disable Offline Files in Windows
How to Enable or Disable Offline Files in WindowsPublished by Shawn BrinkCategory: Network & Sharing
24 Aug 2020
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