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Where Does OneDrive Store Partial or Incomplete Downloads?
Question details
The user needs to find the local storage location of partially downloaded or incomplete OneDrive files that are taking up disk space.
- Product
- OneDrive
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Attempting to locate and manage storage space consumed by incomplete or stuck OneDrive file downloads.
- Observed behavior
- Partially downloaded OneDrive files are temporarily consuming local disk space even though the files are set to appear as online-only.
Before attempting to delete any temporary or partial files, ensure your device has a stable internet connection to allow OneDrive the opportunity to finish the synchronization process.
Locate Partial Sync Files in the Desktop OneDrive Folder
Check the local OneDrive sync folder if the partial download occurred via the desktop synchronization application.
When using the desktop application, files being synchronized are held directly in your local OneDrive folder. Incomplete downloads will remain here until the sync process finishes.
Press the Windows Key + E on your keyboard to open File Explorer.
Click on the 'OneDrive' folder icon located in the left-hand navigation pane to open your local sync directory.
Look for files that have a blue circular arrows icon in the status column, or check for files with temporary extensions indicating an incomplete download state.
Find Incomplete Web Downloads via Your Browser
If you were downloading files directly from OneDrive on the web, the incomplete files will be stored in your web browser's designated download location.
Manage Your Documents Seamlessly with WPS Office
If you are experiencing frequent sync and download issues with Microsoft OneDrive and Office, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible alternative to Microsoft Office, featuring its own reliable built-in cloud storage (WPS Cloud) for smooth document management and secure backup without the hassle of stuck syncs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I manually back up the OneDrive temporary cache data?
Normally, the OneDrive cache cannot be easily backed up or restored manually. Extracting usable data from the cache typically requires specialist software, so it is highly recommended to wait for the sync to complete and back up the actual finished files.
Why are my online-only files taking up local disk space?
When an online-only file is accessed or actively downloading, OneDrive temporarily caches the file data on your local hard drive to process the request. This temporarily consumes local disk space until the download finishes or until Windows automatically clears the cache.
How do I safely stop a stuck OneDrive download?
To safely stop a stuck download in the desktop app, pause the synchronization process. Click the OneDrive icon in your system tray, select the Help & Settings gear icon, and choose 'Pause syncing' for 2 hours. After pausing, you can safely restart your computer or resume syncing to clear the error.
