Microsoft OneDrive provides cloud based file storage and sharing services that are available to UWM students (while enrolled), faculty, and staff as part of the Microsoft 365 offering. OneDrive is meant to be an individual's personal data storage service, a document library, where files are private by default, with the capability to share documents with others.

You can also setup OneDrive Files On-Demand. You’ll see all your files as online-only files in File Explorer, but they won't take up space. When you’re connected to the Internet, you’ll be able to use the files like every other file on your device.

You can also select files and folders to be always available, even if you're offline. OneDrive will download them, and they'll take up space on your PC.

The OneDrive service has the following features:

• All UWM students, faculty and staff have an OneDrive space established for them.
• Online cloud file storage accessible anywhere via the internet.
• Ability to use your ePanther login ID and password to sign into OneDrive.
• Integrated with the Microsoft 365 Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and Outlook).
• Capable of storing almost all file types. Exceptions are listed on Microsoft's site.
• Provides document management capability (create, delete, move, rename, download, version and share) as needed.
• Provides capability to grant access permission to a folder or a document on an individual-by-individual basis, i.e. light-weight, informal collaboration.
• The OneDrive desktop sync user is available for those who prefer a desktop application instead of an Internet browser application.

Backups are for service recovery purposes only. Users should not expect to have individual files restored. Deleted files are recoverable from the recycle area for up to 93 days.

To utilize OneDrive Files On-Demand to free up space on your computer please use the following directions:

1. If Files On-Demand is not enabled, make sure you’re signed in to OneDrive on your device.  
   
2. Open OneDrive settings (select the OneDrive cloud icon in your notification area, and then select the OneDrive Help and Settings icon  then Settings.) 
   
3. Go to the Sync and back up tab, expand the Advanced settings, and toggle on Files On-Demand 

Your files will have these statuses in File Explorer: 

• A blue cloud icon next to a OneDrive file or folder indicates that the file is only available online. Online-only files don’t take up space on your computer. You see a cloud icon for each online-only file in File Explorer, but the file doesn’t download to your device until you open it. You can’t open online-only files when your device isn’t connected to the Internet.
  
  
  
• Only files that you mark as "Always keep on this device" have the green circle with the white check mark. These always available files download to your device and take up space, but they’re always there for you even when you’re offline.
  
  
  
• 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. If you need more space, you can change the file back to online only. Just right-click the file and select “Free up space.”With Storage Sense turned on, these files will become online-only files after the time period you've selected.
  

To free up space on your computer using OneDrive:

1. Right-click a file or folder.

2. Select Always keep on this device or Free up space.

   

3. Click on free up space to make room on your computer for Windows updates and more.
   
   
4. If you do click on "Always keep on this device' those files WILL take up space.

Note:

• New files or folders created online or on another device appear as online-only to save maximum space. However, if you mark a folder as "Always keep on this device," new files in that folder download to your device as always available files.

• If a folder is online-only, you can still mark individual files within that folder as always available.

• Desktop search can search for online-only files by name, but it cannot search the contents within online-only files because they aren't stored on the device.

For more information on OneDrive click here.

Note: You can also free up space using Disk Cleanup by clicking here.