This post shows students and new users steps to enable or disable OneDrive files on-demand when using Windows 11. Files On-Demand is a feature that works with all the apps from the Windows Store, including OneDrive.
With files on-demand, you can choose to have your files store online only while saving disk space or set files and folders to be always available locally on your Windows device.
OneDrive Files On-Demand helps you access all your cloud storage files and folders in OneDrive without having to download all of them and use file storage space on your Windows device.
When you turn on Files On-Demand with OneDrive, you’ll see all your files in File Explorer. 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’ll be able to use the files like every other file on your device.
How to enable or disable files on-demand with OneDrive in Windows 11
As mentioned above, OneDrive Files On-Demand helps you access all your cloud storage files and folders in OneDrive without having to download all of them and use file storage space on your Windows device.
To turn on files on-demand with OneDrive, follow the steps below.
First, you’ll need to make sure you’re signed in to OneDrive with your Microsoft account on your Windows device.
Once you’re signed in, select the white or blue OneDrive cloud icon in the Windows taskbar notification area.
You might need to click the Show hidden icons arrow 
next to the notification area to see the OneDrive icon. If the icon doesn’t appear in the notification area, OneDrive might not be running.
Alternatively, you can open OneDrive by going to the Start menu, then typing OneDrive in the search box, and then selecting OneDrive in the search results.
When OneDrive app opens select Help & Settings > Settings.
On the Settings tab, select the Save space and download files as you use them box to turn on files on-demand with OneDrive.
Click Ok to apply your changes and exit.
To disable OneDrive files on-demand, simply reverse the steps above and go to OneDrive settings tab, and uncheck the Save space and download files as you use them box to turn off files on-demand with OneDrive.
Files On-Demand settings are unique to each device, so make sure you turn it on for each device where you want to use it.
That should do it!
Conclusion:
This post showed you how to enable or disable files on-demand with OneDrive in Windows 11. If you find any error above or have something to add, please use the comment form below.
