Proton

How on-demand sync works in the Proton Drive Windows app

Lesen
3 Min.
Kategorie
Windows app

Proton Drive’s on-demand sync feature lets you access all your cloud files directly from File Explorer without taking up unnecessary space on your hard drive. This article explains how on-demand sync works on Windows and how to control which files are stored locally.

Note: You must have the Proton Drive Windows app installed on your device to follow these instructions.

How does on-demand sync work in Proton Drive?

Once you install the Proton Drive Windows app and sign in, your cloud files are mirrored in a local Proton Drive folder.

The Windows File Explorer highlights the Proton Drive location and folders

Here’s how it works:

  • Files and folders that only exist in the cloud appear in your File Explorer as placeholders — only their metadata and thumbnails are displayed.
  • When you interact with a cloud-only file (such as opening or copying it), Proton Drive will automatically download it to your device.
  • You can manually manage a file’s availability by right-clicking it in File Explorer and selecting Free up space, Always keep on this device, or adjusting the options to make it temporarily available offline.
Proton Drive highlights the "Always keep on this device" and "Free up space" options in the Windows right-click menu
Proton Drive shows how enabling the "Optimize storage" setting in the Windows desktop app changes the file status to "Available on this device"

How to recognize the sync status on Windows

You can recognize a file’s sync status by the small icon overlay in File Explorer and by the detailed description shown in the status bar:

An explainer of the three types of sync states in Proton Drive

Available when online

By default, files synced from the cloud appear as online-only (cloud-only), with the Available when online status. These files take up no local storage and are marked with a icon in File Explorer.

Proton Drive shows the "Available when online" status in the Windows File Explorer

You need an internet connection to open online-only files. Proton Drive will automatically download the file when you access it, changing its status to Available on this device.

You can also make a file permanently available offline by right-clicking it and selecting Always keep on this device.

Proton Drive shows how to change a file's status to "Always keep on this device" from the right-click menu in the Windows File Explorer

If you later deselect Always available on this device, the sync status will change to Available on this device.

Available on this device

Once you open an online-only file, it’s downloaded and saved locally. Its status changes to Available on this device, indicated by a icon. These files take up space and can be accessed offline.

Proton Drive shows the "Available on this devce" sync status in the Windows File Explorer

Files you copy from your device into the local Proton Drive folder are Available on this device by default. You can also set this status by right-clicking a file, unchecking Always keep on this device, and not selecting Free up space.

Unlike files with the Always available on this device status, those marked as Available on this device may be removed automatically by Windows when you’re running low on disk space — depending on your Storage Sense settings(neues Fenster).

To make a file cloud-only again and free up disk space, right-click it and select Free up space.

Proton Drive shows how to make a file cloud-only by choosing "Free up space" from the right-click menu in the Windows File Explorer

Always available on this device

To permanently keep specific files or folders offline, right-click them and choose Always keep on this device.

Proton Drive shows how to change a file's status to "Always keep on this device" from the right-click menu in the Windows File Explorer

These items are marked by a

icon and, unlike files with the Available on this device status, they won’t be removed automatically — even if you’re low on storage.

Proton Drive shows the "Always available on this device" sync status in the Windows File Explorer

Regardless of a file’s availability status, any edits you make are synced to the cloud. For example, if you’re offline and edit a file marked Available on this device or Always available on this device, your changes will be automatically uploaded once your internet connection is restored.