How to Download All Files from OneDrive to Windows
To download all your OneDrive files to Windows, tell OneDrive to keep a full copy on your hard drive. You can then view and edit everything offline. The sync connects your cloud account to Windows 11 or Windows 10, and you can keep a local copy of up to 5 terabytes of data, depending on your Microsoft 365 plan.
The OneDrive website offers another route. It downloads up to 4 gigabytes per batch as a standard ZIP file. This guide uses the OneDrive app that comes with Windows 11. Windows 10 works the same way, though some labels may differ slightly.
To download all OneDrive files to Windows 11, open the OneDrive settings window, click Sync and backup, then Advanced settings, and select Download all files under Files On-Demand. Check that your PC has enough free space first, because the download needs room for your entire OneDrive. OneDrive then copies everything to your hard drive in the background.
What is OneDrive?
OneDrive is a cloud storage service built into Windows. It saves your photos and documents online so you can open them from any device. When you download your OneDrive files, you get a local copy on your hard drive. That copy works offline and stays available if your internet goes down.
The steps below apply to Home and Pro editions of a currently supported Windows 11 version (25H2 or 26H2). You must be signed in to OneDrive with your Microsoft account.
OneDrive can also back up folders such as Desktop, Documents and Pictures. Backup is a different job from downloading everything. Backup sends your local files up to the cloud, while this guide pulls your cloud files down to the PC.
By default, OneDrive shows most of your files as online-only links (Files On-Demand, a feature that keeps files in the cloud until you open them). They appear in File Explorer but take up almost no space on your PC. If you want every file saved locally, for example because you will be offline for a while, tell OneDrive to download everything.
Check your free disk space first. A full download uses as much space as your whole OneDrive holds. If your OneDrive is bigger than the free space on your drive, the download does not finish.
Steps to Download All Files from OneDrive
- Find the OneDrive icon in the notification area at the bottom right of the taskbar. If you don’t see it, click the up arrow (Show hidden icons). A white or blue cloud means OneDrive is running. If there is no cloud, open the Start menu, search for OneDrive and start it.
OneDrive Settings button on taskbar - Open the OneDrive settings window. Click the OneDrive icon, click the gear ⚙️ icon (it may be labelled Help & Settings) and choose Settings.
Alternatively, open File Explorer (click the folder icon on your taskbar or press
Windows + E) and open your OneDrive folder. Click the OneDrive button at the top right, then click Settings. This opens the same window, so use one route or the other, not both.
OneDrive Settings in File Explorer - Click Sync and backup in the menu on the left. The sync options appear on the right.
OneDrive Sync and backup settings - Scroll down to the preferences area and click Advanced settings. More options expand below it, including the Files On-Demand section.
OneDrive advanced settings - Click the Download all files button under Files On-Demand. If you can’t find the button, update the OneDrive app and try again. Older builds of OneDrive place this option differently.
OneDrive download all files button - Read the message that shows how much space your files need on your computer. If you have enough free space, click Continue to start the download. OneDrive downloads in the background, so you can keep using the PC. A large library can take hours. You do not need to restart Windows.
OneDrive download all files continue - Check progress by clicking the OneDrive icon in the taskbar. It shows how many files are left to sync. When it reports that your files are up to date, everything is on the drive.
Keep just one folder on your PC
If you don’t have room for everything, download a single folder instead. In File Explorer, right-click a OneDrive folder and choose Always keep on this device. That folder and its contents stay fully downloaded.
Why Download Your Files?
- Offline access. You can open and edit your files on a plane or when your internet is down.
- A local copy. You have your files on your computer in case something happens to your online copies. OneDrive syncs changes both ways, though. If you delete a file in the OneDrive folder, it is also removed online, after going to the recycle bin first. Treat this as a convenient local copy, not a separate backup.
- Faster opening. Files already on your device open without being fetched first. Large files benefit most.
- Independence from the cloud. Your work stays on your hard drive if you ever stop using the cloud service.
Summary
To get disk space back later, right-click a OneDrive folder and choose Free up space once syncing has finished. If the download stalls, check that your drive has as much free space as your OneDrive holds. If Download all files is missing, update the OneDrive app.
Frequently asked questions
How to download OneDrive files to PC?
To download OneDrive files to your PC, open the OneDrive folder in File Explorer, select the files, right-click them, and choose “Always keep on this device.” Windows copies them to your hard drive so you can open them without internet. You need to be signed in to OneDrive with your Microsoft account first.
How to download from OneDrive?
Open the OneDrive website in a browser, sign in, and select the files or folders you want. Then select Download at the top of the page. OneDrive packs the selection into a ZIP file, and the download is limited to 4 GB per batch. For a full local copy, use the OneDrive app in Windows instead.
How to download files from OneDrive to PC?
To download files from OneDrive to your PC, open File Explorer and go to the OneDrive folder. Right-click the files or folders, then choose “Always keep on this device.” The files save to your hard drive and stay available offline. The OneDrive website works for a few files but is slower for large batches.
How to download all OneDrive files to PC?
To download all OneDrive files to your PC, open File Explorer, right-click the OneDrive folder, and select “Always keep on this device.” Windows then downloads everything in the folder to your hard drive. Large libraries can take a long time, so make sure you have enough free space first.
How to download everything from OneDrive?
To download everything from OneDrive, use the OneDrive app, not the website. Open File Explorer, right-click the OneDrive folder, and select “Always keep on this device.” Check that your PC has enough free space for the full size of your OneDrive first, because the copy can take hours.
How to download one drive to laptop?
To get your OneDrive files onto your laptop, sign in to the OneDrive app with your Microsoft account. Then open File Explorer, right-click the folders you want, and choose “Always keep on this device.” Windows saves them to the laptop’s hard drive, so you can open them offline.
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About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard is a writer at Geek Rewind who turns complex IT tasks into clear, step-by-step guides. He draws on years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, focusing on Windows, Linux and WordPress: the problems people actually run into, and the fixes that work. His server and WordPress guides come from systems he runs himself. Richard builds and maintains the platform behind Geek Rewind, from its Ubuntu servers and Nginx configuration to its custom WordPress plugins. Many new tutorials start with readers' questions, and he's always glad to answer them in the comments.
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