OneDrive Introduction

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WCCS uses Microsoft OneDrive to store and sync your documents to the cloud. This provides increased reliability and safety of your data, as well as allowing access to these files from any device with an internet connection.

What gets Synced/Backed up?

Similarly to before, your Documents and Desktop folders will by syncing to OneDrive, in additional to your Pictures folder. This sync process is continuous so long as you are connected to the internet.

Please note that anything in your Downloads, Videos or any other folder not in your Desktop, Documents or Pictures will not be backed up and instead remain on the one device.

OneDrive Icons

A blue recycling icon indicates a file or the contents of a folder is currently syncing with OneDrive

A blue cloud icon that the file is only available online. Online-only files don’t take up space on your computer until you open them. At this point, a copy is downloaded and stored on your device. You can’t open online-only files when your device isn’t connected to the Internet. See 'Files On-Demand' for more information.

A green tick will appear when you open an online-only file, it downloads to your device and becomes a locally available file. You can open a locally available file anytime, even without Internet access.

Files On-Demand

Files On-Demand is a feature of One-Drive that allows you to save space on your physical machine and reduce how much you need to download each time you sign-in to a machine.

In general, it is good to have Files On-Demand enabled. However, if you are expecting to work somewhere with no internet connection, you may wish to disable it whilst connected to the internet in preparation.

Here is an explanation for how it works.

Files On-Demand Enabled

User logs in to device.
An internet connection is required to sync with User's OneDrive account. If no internet connection is available, only files that were physically stored on the device at previous sign-out will be available.
After OneDrive account is found, links will be inserted on the users device to their files. These files will have a blue OneDrive cloud icon.
When the user opens a file with the blue OneDrive icon, a copy will be downloaded onto the User's device and then opened. The blue cloud icon will be replaced with a green tick.

Files On-Demand Disabled

User logs in to device or disables Files On-Demand feature in OneDrive settings.
An internet connection is required to download the entire contents of the User's Desktop, Documents and Pictures folder.
All files will have the green tick icon indicating there is a physical copy of them stored on the User's machine.
The User is free to sign-out or shutdown and move to an area without an internet connection and still have access to their files.

How to toggle File On-Demand

Click on the OneDrive icon in the bottom-right corner of your device and select 'Help & settings'.

2. Click 'Settings'.

3. A settings Window will open. Select the 'Settings' tab.

4. Toggle tick-box as desired and press 'OK'.

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