14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft’s Joe Belfiore announced at Build earlier this year that Windows 10 Falls Creators Update would reintroduce the OneDrive placeholders file which first debuted in Windows 8, and now the company has released the update to let insiders try it out.
Officially called OneDrive Files On-Demand, the new feature allows users to browse files stored in the cloud without actually having to download them. The download process is started only when the user attempts to view a specific file, otherwise all files and folders are displayed just like locally-stored content in File Explorer.
“With Files On-Demand, you can access all your files in the cloud without having to download them and use storage space on your device. All your files - even online-only files - can be seen in File Explorer and work just like every other file on your device,” Microsoft says.
“You’ll be able to open online-only files from within any desktop or Windows Store apps using the Windows file picker. And you’re covered in both your home and professional life since it works with your personal and work OneDrive, as well as your SharePoint Online team sites.”
Online-only files
The updated client is only available for insiders and it can be downloaded using this link, requiring users to provide their OneDrive credentials to have the synchronization process configured.
The Files On-Demand feature can be found in the settings screen, and once the process comes to an end, you’ll see a cloud icon for each online-only file in File Explorer. This means that you can actually browse files and folders, but no content would be downloaded until you double-click it to attempt a launch.
Once a file is downloaded to your system, it becomes available locally and no longer requires Internet access to launch, even at a later time. You can always toggle a downloaded file back to online-only by simply right-clicking it and hitting the option that reads “Free up space.”
The final version of this feature is projected to be implemented in the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update launching in September, with insiders set to get more improvements by that point.
