How to Enable or Disable OneDrive Files On-Demand Using Microsoft Intune

Microsoft OneDrive’s Files On-Demand feature helps users access all their cloud files directly from File Explorer without downloading everything to the device. This not only conserves local disk space but also reduces bandwidth usage, making it ideal for managed enterprise environments.

By default, Files On-Demand is enabled in the latest OneDrive versions. However, organizations often need to enforce this behavior through Microsoft Intune to ensure consistent settings across all devices — and to prevent users from disabling it manually.

What is OneDrive Files On-Demand?

Files On-Demand lets users view and interact with all files stored in OneDrive or SharePoint without using local storage until the file is opened. Files appear with a cloud icon in File Explorer, indicating they are available online-only. When a user opens one, it downloads automatically.

Icon meanings:

☁️ Blue cloud — File is online-only.
✅ Green checkmark — File is downloaded and available offline.
🔁 Syncing icon — File is currently uploading or downloading.

Prerequisites

Before deploying this policy, ensure the following conditions are met:

Operating System: Windows 10 (version 1709 or later) or Windows 11.
OneDrive Sync App: Installed and signed in with a Microsoft 365 or Entra ID account.
Device Management: The device must be managed by Microsoft Intune (either Entra joined or Hybrid Entra joined).
User Licensing: Microsoft 365 Business, Enterprise, or Education license including OneDrive for Business.

Steps to Configure OneDrive Files On-Demand Using Intune

Follow these steps to deploy the policy from the Intune Admin Center:

Sign in to the Intune Admin Center.
Navigate to Devices > Windows > Configuration profiles and click + Create profile.
Choose:
- Platform: Windows 10 and later
- Profile type: Settings catalog
  Then click Create.
Enter a Name and Description (e.g., Enable OneDrive Files On-Demand), and click Next.
Under Configuration settings, click + Add settings.
In the Settings picker, search for OneDrive.
Select the OneDrive category, then choose Use OneDrive Files On-Demand.
Configure the setting:
- Set to Enable to turn on Files On-Demand.
- Set to Disable to turn it off.
Click Next, assign the policy to a test device or user group, and validate the results before broad deployment.
Review your configuration and click Create to deploy the policy.

How to Verify the Policy on a Device

Once deployed, you can confirm the policy is active using one of the following methods:

🟢 1. OneDrive App Settings

Right-click the OneDrive cloud icon in the system tray.
Select Settings > Settings > Advanced settings.
Under Files On-Demand, check if the setting is enabled and greyed out (locked by admin policy).

🟢 2. Event Viewer

Open Event Viewer on the managed device.
Navigate to:
Applications and Services Logs > Microsoft > Windows > DeviceManagement-Enterprise-Diagnostics-Provider > Admin
Filter logs for Event ID 814 — this confirms that the Intune policy was successfully applied.

🟢 3. Registry Check

Open Registry Editor (regedit).
Navigate to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\OneDrive
Look for the DWORD value FilesOnDemandEnabled:
- 1 = Enabled
- 0 = Disabled

Why Enforce This Policy with Intune?

Implementing OneDrive Files On-Demand through Intune ensures:

Consistent experience across all managed devices.
Reduced local storage consumption — only essential files are downloaded.
Improved performance for users with limited disk space.
Simplified administration — users can’t change the policy manually.

This policy is particularly beneficial in enterprise or education environments where users sync large amounts of data from OneDrive and SharePoint.

Summary

Category	Details
Feature	OneDrive Files On-Demand
Purpose	Reduce local storage use by showing all files without downloading
Policy Location (Intune)	Settings Catalog → OneDrive → Use OneDrive Files On-Demand
Recommended Setting	Enable
Validation Methods	OneDrive settings, Event Viewer (ID 814), Registry check
Supported OS	Windows 10 1709+ and Windows 11

Final Notes

Using Intune to manage OneDrive Files On-Demand helps ensure devices remain optimized and compliant with your organization’s configuration policies. Always test new configurations on a small device group before scaling deployment to all users.