The OneDrive app installed on your computer keeps your OneDrive files synced and available to you without having to log into the the Office 365 web application. You have many choices when it comes to how you sync your OneDrive files to the OneDrive all on your local computer.
Opening the OneDrive App
To customize your OneDrive settings, you will need to know how to open the OneDrive app. The easiest way is...
- Find the OneDrive icon (blue or white cloud) in your taskbar notifications area (bottom right corner near your clock)
- Right click the icon
- Log in using your Penn State userid and password (if not already logged in)
- Choose the settings option
Using Files On Demand
OneDrive Files On-Demand helps you access your files on your local computer without having to download all of them and use excessive storage space. This can be helpful (or necessary) if you have a large amount of OneDrive data.
When you turn on Files On-Demand, you will see all your files in File Explorer and get new information about each file. New files created online or on another device appear as online-only files, which don't take up space on your device. When you're connected to the Internet, you are able to use the files like every other file on your device.
- Open the OneDrive app (see steps above)
- Choose the Settings option
- Click the Setting tab
- Check the box for Save space and download files as you use them
With On Demand turned on, your files or folders will have these statuses in File Explorer:
Setting a file or folder for offline use/online-only
It is very easy to set a file or folder to be available offline or only available when online.
- Open File Explorer
- Right-click the file or folder
- Select Always keep on this device or Free up space
NOTE: Changing a file to online-only doesn't delete it from your OneDrive. The file name is still visible on your device, but the file no longer takes up space on your hard drive.
Hiding a folder on your device
Sometimes you might want to make sure a folder doesn't show up on a device. For example, you might want to hide a personal folder on a work computer or you may have a folder that you are keeping as an archive but don't need on your computer. Here's how you do that.
- Open the OneDrive app (see steps above)
- Choose the Settings option
- Click the Account tab
- Look for the OneDrive - The Pennsylvania State University option and click the Choose folders link
- Uncheck the folder that you wish to hide
- Click OK
NOTE: Files On-Demand settings are unique to each device, so you may need to do this on each device where you want to keep a folder hidden.
Moving and Deleting Files
Deleting Files
When you delete a file through File Explorer on your device, you delete it from your OneDrive on all devices and online. If the deleted file was set to be available on demand, the file will not go into your computer recycle bin, but instead into your OneDrive recycle bin. You can restore the deleted file from your OneDrive recycle bin on the web for up to 93 days for items stored in OneDrive personal (when you're signed in with a Microsoft account), or for up to 93 days. If you delete a locally available file, it goes into your computer recycle bin as well as your OneDrive recycle bin on the web.
Moving Files
You can move files and folders around within your OneDrive folder, whether they are set for online-only or offline use. However, if you move a file or folder to a location outside of your OneDrive folder, the files will be downloaded to the new location on your computer and then removed from OneDrive. If you accidentally delete something, you can always restore the files by going to your OneDrive recycle bin through Office 365 on the web.
Restoring Files from OneDrive Recycle Bin
Your OneDrive recycle bin can be accessed by visiting http://office365.psu.edu, opening the OneDrive app and clicking the Recycle been option in the left column.
