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How to Copy OneDrive Cloud-Only Files to a USB Drive
Question details
The user needs to transfer files stored exclusively in OneDrive (cloud-only) to an external USB drive.
- Product
- OneDrive
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Backing up or transferring cloud-based files to a physical external storage device.
- Observed behavior
- Files marked as cloud-only cannot be copied directly to an external hard drive or USB drive, whereas duplicate local files transfer without any issues.
Ensure your computer has an active internet connection to download the files and enough local disk space to temporarily store them before transferring to the USB drive.
Download Files Locally Before Copying
Cloud-only files do not physically exist on your hard drive yet. You must force OneDrive to download them to your local storage before they can be copied to external media.
OneDrive uses a feature called Files On-Demand, which saves disk space by keeping files in the cloud until you need them. To transfer these files to a USB drive, they must first be fully downloaded to your device's local drive.
Navigate to the OneDrive folder on your computer where the cloud-only files are located.
Right-click the specific files or folders you want to copy and select 'Always keep on this device' from the context menu.
Wait until the file status icons change from a cloud symbol to a solid green circle with a white checkmark, indicating the download is finished.
Select the downloaded local files, copy them, and paste them into your connected USB or external hard drive.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why do my OneDrive files have a cloud icon next to them?
A cloud icon indicates that the file is only available online to save space on your local hard drive. You need an internet connection to open the file or download it for external transfer.
Can I copy OneDrive cloud files to a USB without the internet?
No. Because cloud-only files are not actually stored on your computer, you must have an internet connection to download them locally before you can copy them to a USB drive.
How do I free up local disk space after copying the files to my USB drive?
Once you have successfully copied the files to your USB drive, you can go back to your local OneDrive folder, right-click those same files, and select 'Free up space'. This will revert them to cloud-only files and remove the local copies from your hard drive.
