---
id: cloud-accounts.what-is-onedrive-files-on-demand-on-a-mac
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/cloud-accounts/what-is-onedrive-files-on-demand-on-a-mac
category: "Cloud accounts"
subcategory: "Cloud apps on your Mac"
question: "What is OneDrive Files On-Demand on a Mac?"
alt_questions:
  - "OneDrive always keep on this device meaning"
  - "OneDrive free up space option Mac"
  - "how does OneDrive save space on Mac"
  - "OneDrive files on demand macOS explained"
  - "What does Free up space do in OneDrive?"
  - "OneDrive cloud icon vs green tick"
short_answer: "OneDrive's way of showing all your files in Finder while keeping them in the cloud until opened. Free up space removes the local copy; Always keep on this device keeps one. Neither deletes from OneDrive."
tags: ["onedrive", "online-only", "mac space"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/cloud-accounts/free-space-used-by-onedrive", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/cloud-accounts/can-i-connect-onedrive-to-storage-studio"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

# What is OneDrive Files On-Demand on a Mac?

It's how the OneDrive app shows your whole OneDrive in Finder without downloading all of it. Files stay in the cloud until you open them; you can then choose, per file or folder:

- **Always keep on this device** — keep a local copy so it opens offline (uses space).
- **Free up space** — remove the local copy; the file stays in OneDrive and downloads again when opened.

Neither option deletes anything from your OneDrive account.

Storage Studio can't change these settings for you — macOS only lets OneDrive's own app do it — and OneDrive isn't an account type you can add in Storage Studio right now. You can still see how much space OneDrive's local copies take in **Preferences → Rules → Free Up Space includes**, and use the OneDrive folder in transfers as a [Local folder account](https://storagestudio.us/faq/cloud-accounts/what-is-a-local-folder-account). See [freeing OneDrive's space](https://storagestudio.us/faq/cloud-accounts/free-space-used-by-onedrive).