Files on demand, automatic cleanup
When using files on demand over time, OneDrive will start to sync a lot of files which after some time will become inactive. Today the user would have to right-click the OneDrive-folder and select Clean up in order to stop the sync of these files and delete the local files stored on the user's device.
I propose a new optional feature. When files or folders have been inactive for a period of time (say 30 days) I would like OneDrive to automatically clean up, deleting the locally stored files and folders but still keeping them in the cloud.
It should be possible to enable or disable this feature, and also change the how often the OneDrive client should perform the cleanup (ex. every week, every other week, every month).

Windows Storage Sense in RS5 now has the capability to automatically free up disk space by making older, unused, locally available OneDrive files be available online-only. You can read more about how to do this here:
https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/Storage-at-Microsoft/Windows-10-and-Storage-Sense/ba-p/428270
78 comments
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Hans Brender commented
>>Too complex and tedious to manage each folder sync cleanup. We need one setting on the OneDrive settings to clean-up all files older than x days.<<
You can run a Group Policy with all the diffrent stuff. Look for Windows Storage Sense, its not insider OneDrive GPO's
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Gary Herbstman commented
Too complex and tedious to manage each folder sync cleanup. We need one setting on the OneDrive settings to clean-up all files older than x days.
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Daniel Viklund commented
Hi Ryan, what is your recommendation now when Windows Virtual Desktop say that you should turn off Storage Sense?
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David commented
Please implement this feature!
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Brian Grinstead commented
This is desperately needed as users do not understand the ramifications of selecting sync everything
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Anonymous commented
@todd lorusso think you should open Support ticket with Microsoft to discuss on this. This is not normal behaviour
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Tod Lorusso commented
One Drive DOMINATES ALL my drives....how is that WHAT I SIGNED UP FOR? One Drive makes my files messy, duplicating, sinking all my personal files...how is that what I signed up for? I already pay for One Drive I don't NEED to PAY for MORE memory when many files I don't even want on ONE DRIVE! I didn't SIGN UP FOR ANOTHER PROJECT...(TO CLEAN UP ALL THE MESSES THAT ONE DRIVE CAUSES)!!!
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Caleb commented
So what is the justification of having having the solid vs open check box if the files are't treated any differently. It's putting the cart before the horse.
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Tomáš Hons commented
+ function "set all files ondemand" after logout. After logout OneDrive should safely delete all local files. Super function in case of shared notebook across Company. We have to encrypt local disc now on.
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Jonathan Stern commented
+1 for iOS
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Faisal Iqbal commented
Just posted same idea on Android section, for Camera Roll photos to automatically remove 30 days old photos from phone which are already uploaded to OneDrive.
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Michel Baradosa commented
I believe all files should be available but syncing of cloud files should be only on Demand.
We would love to use OneDrive for business across the organization but we are already afraid of the storage issues because syncing copies all files locally -
Judy Unger commented
This is a feature that you would need to be able to turn off. I intend to use OneDrive for offsite storage of my photos, I want it to keep all the files.
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Anonymous commented
Is there an update on this? A co-worker said he was listening to a podcast that said this feature was being released. I couldn't find any info on it searching around though.
I checked the link from Delphi down below and I can turn on Storage Sense but I don't see the Onedrive section. Does this require the 1809 update? Not sure what build 17720 is...
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James commented
The storage sense stuff is great, but we need a way to control this via Group Policy/SCCM
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Brian R. Quigley commented
Yes, thank you for the link @dsghi. That is a terrific solution (I checked my Storage settings and do not have an option for "Locally available cloud content" yet but hope it is coming soon).
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Brian R. Quigley commented
I am hopeful that, in the future, all OneDrive On-Demand files that are NOT marked "Always keep on this device" will remain as "cloud only" files whether accessed or not. Maybe all "cloud only" files are downloaded to "Temporary OneDrive Files" similar to the way "Temporary Internet Files" work with the web (but the Temporary OneDrive Files automatically purge at some point...like after the file has been closed (my preference), or overnight OR as a part of the shut down process)?
Essentially, if I want a file to be available locally (i.e. available offline) it has already been marked "Always keep on this device" and it is my expectation that everything else will be "cloud only" and not available offline and NOT saved locally on my machine.
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dsghi commented
It appears this is coming to Windows 10 directly as part of an update to Storage Sense https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/filecab/2018/08/30/9205/
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Cory Williams commented
I had a customer ask about this capability today, though theirs was a bit more frequent like every 24 hours, but if we can set the timeframe that would be great.
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christian otte commented
This would be a much appreciated feature, that lots of costumers would like.