Windows 10: Onedrive Files on Demand not working as described

I am currently having a problem getting Files on Demand working as I would expect. I have done many searches and the problem I am experiencing has been described in many threads since Files on Demand was rolled out ~two years ago without an acceptable solution being provided.

I have three computers that I have setup to back up my Desktop, Documents and Pictures to Onedrive per the settings within Onedrive. I am logged into the same Microsoft account in Onedrive across the three computers. I also back up my photos from my Android phone to the same Onedrive account. All computers are running Windows 10 1903 with Onedrive 19.103.0527.0003 or 19.086.0502.0006 .

The problem I have is that Onedrive is downloading files despite having the "Files on Demand" setting on and no folders set to "Always keep on this device". The problem persists even after "Clearing space" from the affected folders. As far as I can tell it only affects image files (.jpg, .png etc) within the Onedrive Pictures folder. The Documents and Desktop folders behave as I would expect with Files on Demand. Even setting Storage Sense to clear unopened files daily doesn't work.

Based on my testing it appears that Runtime Broken is downloading the image files on behalf of the Windows Photos app. If I kill the Photos app in Task Manager then Runtime Broker with stop downloading pictures. However, Windows will inevitably start Photos and continue to download the images.

I have tried reinstalling Onedrive, Photos and Windows to no avail. Logging into Windows with a Local Account improved things slightly as Runtime Broker would only download images while Photos was open, though this isn't really a solution.

Can someone please point me to a setting to change? Sorry in advance if this is really simple to resolve but I've already spent a week trying to get Onedrive support to assist without a resolution. I am at my wits end. Surely this isn't the behaviour that Microsoft intends and I can't be the only person trying to use Onedrive to back up files with the default settings.

:)

 

File History & OneDrive on Demand

I know that "files on demand" aren't saved on my computer. However, I still have the following problems:

• After starting a new File History backup from scratch (as suggested in the first response) the majority of my Onedrive , including almost all files that are marked as "Always Keep on this Device" are not backed up.

• Even for files marked as "Files on Demand" - surely File History should be able to back them up anyway? The whole point of a good backup system is that you have copies of files in multiple places (and OneDrive's cloud system only counts as 1). The creation
  of the file history would be download heavy as it copies every file to my backup device, but after that it should only have to download single files as changes are made.
  

 

File History & OneDrive on Demand

Disable on demand by following the steps from this website Turn On or Off OneDrive Files On-Demand in Windows 10 then start backin up your files. on demand files are not being saved on your hard drive it is incloud only.

 

OneDrive Files on Demand not present

Reboot. At the sign-in screen, there is an internet access icon at the bottom right. I think you can turn access off there, sign in, & do what you will with OneDrive settings.

Regarding Files On-Demand...

Save disk space with OneDrive Files On-Demand for Windows 10

Learn about OneDrive Files On-Demand

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Why don’t I see the Files On-Demand options in OneDrive settings?

First, make sure you don't have Windows Information Protection (WIP), previously known as enterprise data protection (EDP) configured on your computer. Files On-Demand is not yet supported when WIP is enabled.

If you aren't seeing the Files On-Demand options, the latest version of OneDrive hasn't rolled out to you yet. Here's how to get the latest version of OneDrive.

1. Make sure you're running
   Windows 10 Fall Creators Update (version 16299.15 or later).
   
2. Download and install
   the latest version of OneDrive that's rolling out with the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update.
   
3. Restart your computer.
   
4. After your computer restarts, select the Start button, search for “OneDrive”, and then select the
   OneDrive desktop app.
   
5. When OneDrive Setup starts, enter your personal account, or your work or school account, and then select
   Sign in.
   
   
   
6. Follow the instructions to
   Turn on Files On-Demand.
   

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