How to Download All Files from OneDrive to Windows
Downloading all files from OneDrive to Windows copies your cloud storage directly onto your PC hard drive so you can view, edit, and open everything offline without an internet connection. This sync process connects your cloud account to Windows 11 or Windows 10, letting you keep a local backup of up to 5 terabytes of data depending on your Microsoft 365 plan.
You can also use the OneDrive web browser interface to grab up to 4 gigabytes per download batch as a standard ZIP file. Storing these files locally protects your photos and work documents from disappearing when your Wi-Fi drops out.
Open OneDrive settings, navigate to Sync and backup, then click Advanced settings. Select the “Download all files” button to save your entire OneDrive to your computer for offline access.
What is OneDrive?
OneDrive is a cloud storage service built into Windows that saves your photos and documents online so you can open them from any device. When you download OneDrive files Windows users get a local copy on their hard drive, which lets you work offline and keeps your data safe if your internet goes down.
You can even automatically back up important folders like Desktop, Documents, and Pictures to OneDrive. This keeps your files safe and synced on all devices.
Usually, OneDrive shows your files as online links, so they don’t take up space on your computer. But if you want to have all files saved on your computer (useful if you’ll be offline), here’s an easy way to download everything.
Steps to Download All Files from OneDrive
- Find the OneDrive icon on your taskbar (bottom right corner of your screen). You might need to click the up arrow to see it.
OneDrive Settings button on taskbar - Click the OneDrive icon, then click the gear ⚙️ icon and choose Settings.
- Alternatively, open File Explorer (the folder icon on your taskbar or press
Windows + E), then open your OneDrive folder. Click the OneDrive button on the top right, then click Settings .
OneDrive Settings in File Explorer - In the OneDrive settings window, click Sync and backup from the menu on the left side.
OneDrive Sync and backup settings - Under Preferences, click Advanced settings to open more options.
OneDrive advanced settings - You will see how much space your files will take on your computer. Click Continue to start the download.
OneDrive download all files continue
To download OneDrive files Windows users need to adjust their folder settings through File Explorer or the system tray icon to save everything locally. You can make all your cloud files download to your computer at once by opening the OneDrive settings menu and choosing the option to keep files always on this device.
Why Download Your Files?
- You can use your files offline.
- You have a backup copy on your computer in case something happens to your online files.
- Opening files is faster because they're already on your device.
Saving your cloud documents to your hard drive lets you open and edit everything without an internet connection. When you download OneDrive files Windows gives you a reliable offline backup, makes large files open much faster, and protects your work if you ever decide to stop using the cloud service.
Downloading all files can use a lot of space depending on how many files you have.
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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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