How to disable Files On-Demand in OneDrive MacOS? It's enforced since the last update ...

Hi,

Thanks for posting in our community.

Based on the detailed description, we do understand the inconveniences it caused on your side with the latest updates in OneDrive for Mac desktop app that Files On-Demand will be enabled automatically. Kindly check the statement in the official article: Save disk space with OneDrive Files On-Demand for Mac (microsoft.com)

For the possible workaround currently, it is suggested to right-click on the offline-needed files/folders and select 'Always keep on this device'.

For this updated setting, we do understand that it would be better if there have another button/option to turn off the Files On-Demand feature instead of selecting all files/folders manually. As forum engineers here have limited resources to the building of OneDrive apps, kindly submit your feedback to the related OneDrive for Mac product team so that they can get informed that this can cause some inconveniences for users who need files locally when offline. See: How do I give feedback on Microsoft Office?

Your understanding is highly appreciated and hope a nice day for you!!

Best Regards,

Mia

Hello Mia, sorry your reply is not helpful at all. The problem is not that Files On-Demand are enabled by default, the problem is that Microsoft rolled-out an update few days ago that ENFORCES Files On-Demand.

I use my OneDrive cloud files with some integrations of other services, including having symbolic links to app setting files. By removing these files without permission you broke some stuff on my device. Files On-Demand also uses a virtual drive which is not what I want for above reasons. I want the files local and no hybrid solution.

You guys'n'girls are so smart. Did your dev team never learned to never touch a working system? Your cloud solution was perfect and reliable, OneDrive on macOS improved a lot, it was very stable without Files On-Demand in my instance. It was reliable, I was able to integrate it in so many automation work-flows and those stuff broke.

Not only that, you even deleted all my files without permission. Some people have metered bandwidth, you actually caused cost and damage to those people. Who ever decided this move needs to get down from his/her position, seriously.

Your solution is unfulfilling to me, I don't want a virtual drive for my OneDrive, it's causing trouble in my system. You don't want to know how much time it took to link all those files properly.

Mia, this is the support forum for Microsoft software, how can you redirect me to any feedback form of Microsoft Office (which I already filled out, btw), wouldn't it be appropriate to take action and get it contact with your supervisor, so this concern will be redirected to the management/dev team of Microsoft Office?

My work-flows are partially hindered and I have really no time for all that mess. Microsoft really ruined a perfect cloud experience for me, I'm very disappointed, mad and confused how Microsoft acts like a father who has to teach us what's best. It's one thing to just not provide a requested feature, it's another heavier thing to REMOVE perfectly working features many people rely on.

Total nonsense. Obviously, no-one at Microsoft understands that we are not all interested in a cloud-based solution. I need my files on my hard drive, not three steps away on a remote server.

Yes, exactly and after doing some research I think I understand what's going on. I think we all are using the 100GB plan. Check https://onedrive.live.com/?v=upgrade&WT.mc\_id=PROD\_OneDrive-Sync-MacOSX\_SystemTray\_Normal\_GoPremium&sw=bypassConfig

If you click on "√ Productivity Tools" in any of the more expensive plans it says:

"Offline Folders: Stay productive and access entire folders even when there is no internet connection."

They decided to remove the ability to disable Files On-Demand for the lowest tier to force us to upgrade. I really have to keep myself strongly together to not swear right now.

They should've warned us months before at least with a message within the app. This really pisses me off, because I think their greed will cause it to stay that way, unless someone in the management is smart to understand that this is a good way to lose customers.

Well, I was planning to upgrade once I reach the 100GB limit for 100 Euros per year. Now I will find another cloud service and pay my bill there. Nice job, Microsoft. I doubt I can trust them to carry my files on my system properly anymore.

Nope, have 1tb on business, same problem since yesterday. Local fiels deleted and replaced by link to hidden directory with nothing in it. But I have several licenses and several users on my mac. Also a family and ms does handle that badly. If I install office from business it still says I'm on my family license. Wil delete everything and install business to see if I have KEEP FILES ON MY MAC. Otherwise exit MS. I'm self employed and this is costing me money. Which m** thought of this?

Same here. I have 1 Tb business plan and woke up this morning to find all my files were deleted. This is Microsoft at its worst. If this is not fixed soon, I am going to another syncing service.