#ONEDRIVE DESKTOP SYNC APP FOR MAC HOW TO#

The drive space on the computer is then the same as the space used on OneDrive online.īy enabling Files On-Demand, all the files on the computer can be replaced with links to the online files, and this uses almost no drive space on the computer, while still providing access to all the files. It is possible to sync all the files on OneDrive and keep a mirror copy on the Mac’s drive.

The file remains on the Mac in case it is needed again and is automatically synced with the online version, but there is an option to replace it with a link again. The file then opens as a local file on the Mac’s drive. Any attempt to access it, such as by opening it in an application, triggers a download. Opening a local file (link) automatically downloads it first.īasically, it looks like the file is on the Mac’s drive, but really it is a link to the inline version. This is a feature of Microsoft OneDrive that replaces local files in the computer’s OneDrive folder with links to the online files. A better solution is to use the Files On-Demand feature. This works, but is inconvenient when you need to access files in folders that are not synced. There are two solutions to this problem and one is to sync only some of the folders on OneDrive online with the OneDrive folder on the Mac’s drive instead of all of them. Another problem is that syncing so many files can use a lot of internet data. Hopefully, you have a bigger drive in your Mac, but there still may not be sufficient free space to sync all your online files and have local copies on the Mac’s drive. Clearly you cannot sync the OneDrive folder on the Mac with your OneDrive folder online if the drive is not big enough. Some Apple MacBooks have as little as 128 GB drives. Here is the problem: You can have up to 1 TB of online storage with OneDrive for your work or personal files and even if you don’t have the top of the range subscription, you could still have tens of gigabytes of online files.

#ONEDRIVE DESKTOP SYNC APP FOR MAC HOW TO#

Here’s how to use Files On-Demand with the OneDrive app on macOS. Microsoft OneDrive online storage works great with the Apple Mac and it enables you to access work and personal files.

Onedrive desktop sync app for mac