Autosave Files from Finder

Jonatan Berg 0 Reputation points
2026-08-26T16:08:43.7066667+00:00

Hi

i use onedrive a lot , but now when i open my files via Finder - Onedrive the are local on my computure even if i have autosaved them online 10 min earlier. this became a problem last week.
Jonatan

Microsoft 365 and Office | OneDrive | For business | MacOS
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  1. AI answer

    2026-08-26T16:09:02.8+00:00

    This is expected behavior when Office files are opened from Finder on macOS.

    AutoSave works for Microsoft 365 files stored in OneDrive, but if a file is opened from Finder or from a recent/local path, AutoSave may not turn on correctly, or the app may treat the file as a local file. On macOS 12.1 and later, OneDrive also moved its folder location to Library > Cloud Storage > OneDrive, which can break older recent-file entries and AutoSave behavior.

    Try this:

    1. Close the file.
    2. Open the Microsoft 365 app first, such as Word or Excel.
    3. In the app, open the file from File > Open and select the OneDrive location, instead of opening it from Finder.
    4. If the file was saved to an older OneDrive path, use File > Save As and save it again to the current OneDrive folder at Library > Cloud Storage > OneDrive.
    5. If AutoSave is still off, check the app setting:
      • File > Options > Save
      • Make sure AutoSave is checked.
    6. In OneDrive, confirm Files On-Demand is enabled correctly:
      • Select the OneDrive cloud icon in the menu bar
      • Open Preferences
      • Under Files On-Demand, choose Download files as you use them or Download all files now
    7. If offline access is needed for specific files or folders, right-click them in Finder and select Always keep on this device.

    Important details:

    • AutoSave only applies to files stored in OneDrive or SharePoint.
    • Opening from Finder can require closing and reopening from within the Office app to restore AutoSave.
    • On macOS 12.1 or later, Files On-Demand cannot be turned off completely.
    • If pinned or recent files stopped working last week, that matches the OneDrive folder path change on macOS.
    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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  2. Hendrix 990 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-08-26T17:29:00.35+00:00

    Hi Jonatan,

    Based on your description, may I confirm whether the Finder copy has the same modified time and content as the file on your OneDrive?

    Scenario 1: If it is the same

    If it does, the local status is normal Files On-Demand behavior. With OneDrive Files On-Demand, a file opened through Finder is downloaded to your Mac and becomes locally available, while remaining connected to and synchronized with OneDrive. AutoSave updates that same synchronized file online.

    You can double-check the status to confirm OneDrive is fully synced:

    • Select the OneDrive cloud icon in the macOS menu bar and check if it says "Your files are synced" and does not show “Sync paused” or an error.
    • In Finder, check the icon beside the file. The status is different based on the icon shows:
      • Cloud icon: Online-only
      • Green outlined check: Downloaded locally, but still synchronized
      • Solid green circle: Set to Always Keep on This Device
      • Circular arrows: Synchronization is still in progress

    If you want the file to stop occupying local disk space, right-click it in Finder and select Free Up Space. It will become online-only again, but opening it later will download a local copy automatically.

    For your reference: Save disk space with OneDrive Files On-Demand for Mac | Microsoft Support

    Scenario 2: If they're different

    In this case, it indicates a synchronization or file-path issue. Then, please follow these steps:

    • Open OneDrive in your browser and verify the file’s last modified time.
    • In Finder, go to Library > CloudStorage > OneDrive – [Organization] and open the file from there. (On newer macOS versions, this is the actual OneDrive location)
    • Quit and reopen OneDrive, then restart the Mac.
    • If the problem continues, unlink and reconnect the account:
      • OneDrive cloud icon > Help & Settings > Preferences
      • Open Account and select Unlink This Mac
      • Sign in again and select the existing OneDrive folder when prompted

    For references:

    Please give it a try and let me know whether it helps resolve the issue. Should you have any further questions or need additional assistance, please feel free to share them in the comment below. I'm very happy to help.  

    Thank you again for your cooperation and understanding. Hope to hear from you soon.

    If the answer is helpful, please click "Yes" and kindly upvote it.

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