300 GB of them.Īll these files are stored locally as well as on the internet.

All My Documents files are within OneDrive for business… approx.

I have an i7 6 core computer and running Office 365 for Business.

When I search for files using Windows File Explorer on Windows 10 it is agonizingly slow. Here is one data point from the popular OneDrive forum hosted by UserVoice:Įven if you disable “Files on demand”, searching files using OneDrive for Business is painfully slow and “Not Fit for Purpose” Several folks experiencing slowness were able to speed things up by disabling Files On-Demand. Complaints of slow uploads with Files On-Demand It would be a disaster in an office where OneDrive is mapped to a shared folder because the files not downloaded would never fully show up on the shared drive!Īnd furthermore, as Microsoft mentions, “you cannot search the contents within online-only files because they aren’t stored on the device” - a potential deal-breaker in a commercial environment. However, please be cautious when considering Files On-Demand in a professional setting. It’s a fine choice for individuals/hobbyists looking to conserve precious resources. At best you wait a few seconds for the download to complete and the file to open at worst you can’t retrieve the document because you are not connected to the Internet.Īs contributor Craig Long points out, “Files On-Demand is for those who have limited space available or for those who only occasionally need to open a file”. With Files On-Demand enabled, double-clicking the PowerPoint issues a command to the cloud to dynamically download the file. The document loads quickly because it is already on your computer. Without Files On-Demand, you simply double-click the file and away you go. Your hard drive stores 10 MB less - great.īut the downside of Files On-Demand becomes evident when you need to use the file. With Files On-Demand, OneDrive will “know about” the file but will not automatically transfer it. Without Files On-Demand, that document will be automatically copied to your computer, immediately consuming 10 MB on your hard drive. For example, let’s say you have a 10 MB PowerPoint presentation in the cloud. Files On-Demand trades space for speed of access.

Onedrive download large files