Microsoft Responds to OneDrive Mac User Criticism Following Decision to Enforce Files On-Demand Feature [Updated]

[PilotWoo]

The weak point of Office365.

Over a year since the M1 and still no production Apple Silicon version. Very slow to sync when compared to Google/Dropbox. I didn't think they could make the experience any worse.

Autosave has stopped working for me. Annoyed that Files on Demand can't be disabled. I understand that Apple have changed their OS etc, but I can't believe Microsoft have put so little effort into the Mac version of OneDrive over the years.

 

[sponch]

"Alias keep on this device" does not work. Files are not being download.

 

[bohraxe]

Working great for me! I am running the native M1 beta so maybe they’ve fixed whatever bugs you’re experiencing in that?

I'm running version 22.002.0103.0004 of the OneDrive sync app, which appears to be the most recent version, on a 2019 Intel iMac with macOS 12.2. The files *appear* like they are on your machine, but in most cases they are not. You can check this by opening a very large file, such as a video file. It will be obvious that the file is downloading from the cloud because it will take a protracted time to open, depending on your internet speed. I have verified this behavior with multiple different files over the 3+ days I've been trying to fix these problems.

 

[msackey]

Files on demand is probably the worst, most exploitive idea ever. NEVER use files on demand. Why?

1. You no longer own your own files. You lease it from your cloud provider.
2. You are totally dependent on your cloud provider. If they have a technical problem, go out of business etc. you loose everything.
3. You have no backup of your files.
4. If you buy a HD that cannot hold all your files, it's very hard to move from one cloud provider to another.
5. You cannot use your files without an internet connection.
6. etc.

So, of course cloud providers love files on demand. But for users it's a disaster. It's like peeing in your pants: at first it's nice warm (you save money on local HDD), but in the end it will become a disaster.

I mostly agree with this. There are advantages to storing files only in the Cloud such as when I have large video files that I'd like to be as part of my folder but not occupy local space. But generally, all my working files need to be stored locally because:
a) I don't need to worry about when I do and don't have internet access
b) sometimes working from home can mean unreliable power situation. With a laptop and files already locally stored, I can continue working on those files without having to worry that I've lost internet connection.

 

[msackey]

My dad wants to use this writing app called Scrivener. It only syncs with Dropbox, not iCloud. I guess Dropbox allows better syncing of Scrivener files than iCloud could ever do. Since my da, who's not at all tech-savvy, couldn't figure out how to use Dropbox.

Yes, I use Scrivener too and I believe only the iOS version of Scrivener limits syncing to Dropbox. My understanding is that Dropbox has certain APIs or something like that, that enables Scrivener to easily sync.

The desktop versions of Scrivener can sync to other Cloud services: https://scrivener.tenderapp.com/help/kb/cloud-syncing/using-scrivener-with-cloud-sync-services

 

[msackey]

Well done Microsoft and Apple!!! (A file that is "always on my Mac" - Not)

View attachment 1953867

Yup. I have that same issue. I've tried marking and unmarking my particular folders that have to be stored locally. It looks to be that some files in those folders are local and others are not. What gives?

 

[coolfactor]

Seems that the OneDrive application can run that Terminal command automatically. Why leave this out and then ask users to do it? Not Mac-friendly.

 

[bohraxe]

Yup. I have that same issue. I've tried marking and unmarking my particular folders that have to be stored locally. It looks to be that some files in those folders are local and others are not. What gives?

This new "feature" simply does not work.

 

[aevan]

For a bunch of Mac users who love to piss and moan about how they hate Microsoft and Windows, it's extremely satisfying to see them all crying when the thing they need doesn't work for them the way they want by the company they don't support.

Why doesn't apple make their own onedrive service... or rent out more icloud storage on googles servers. God forbid a computer company spin up some servers for their users.

No one hates Microsoft and I really, really don't like Windows, but I like OneDrive. It is possible to dislike one thing but like another, so I don't understand what you're saying. Windows sucks, OneDrive is fine.

 

[aevan]

Microsoft is Android first company with regard to mobile devices. iOS users need to realize that.

Microsoft is services first company and they don't care if you use Android or iOS, and we don't really know which mobile OS brings them more money. They are quite active to update all of their apps with latest iOS features.

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

There was an update for the Mac App Store version yesterday (22.002.0201) and this fixed the AutoSave issues for both my wife and me. It seems there is no need to install the standalone version to fix this issue anymore, then.

That's the Intel version and not the Insider Preview of the Apple Silicon version?

 

[alanpaone]

like half the reason i use a mac in the first place is not wanting to install microsoft apps, how are this many people using onedrive that its become a Big Story on here

 

[falainber]

Microsoft is services first company and they don't care if you use Android or iOS, and we don't really know which mobile OS brings them more money. They are quite active to update all of their apps with latest iOS features.

Microsoft actually builds and sells Android phones. They also cooperate with Samsung (maybe other vendors too) on integration between Windows PCs and Android phones (similar to Apple features for iOS/macOS integration). They just can't do it with iOS.

 

[falainber]

like half the reason i use a mac in the first place is not wanting to install microsoft apps, how are this many people using onedrive that its become a Big Story on here

Modern computing is becoming more and more about services and Apple sucks at services. That's how.

 

[ipaqrat]

Not sure why people are getting mad at Microsoft. This is directly because of a change that Apple made

Local files on a personal private PC summarily deleted with no notice? No warning upon opening the new version with such a radical behavioral change? No opportunity to interdict and click the "Nope" button? That is most certainly all microsoft's fault.

 

[bohraxe]

like half the reason i use a mac in the first place is not wanting to install microsoft apps, how are this many people using onedrive that its become a Big Story on here

OneDrive worked really well for me for years, and I was happy to pay for it as part of my Office 365 subscription. The app that syncs files from your Mac *was* reliable, simple and fast in my experience. And the online storage was a great value for the money -- I got up to 6 terabytes for $100 per year, along with all the Microsoft Office apps. I'm no fan of Microsoft, but it was a great product, maybe the only MS product I was happy about using. But now that app has been totally destroyed and the data on my system that was in the OneDrive folder is a mess. This "update" has been a total catastrophe for many, many users.

 

[Tagbert]

I didn’t know you can just hit “always keep on device” for the entire OneDrive folder! That solves my issues. I was doing sub directories one by one. I just like having offline/bad internet access. Loving the OneDrive update! Way better interface and way less CPU usage.

Yes, you can do that, but the files still don’t download. they only download when I open them. I’m not going to go through and manually open multiple hundreds of files. I suppose over time, most of them will be opened and downloaded and presumably then stay local. I have plenty of local storage, keeping them in the cloud offers no benefit at all.

 

[streetsandtheatres]

The issue is that Microsoft / OneDrive deleted the whole OneDrive directory without :-

1. Any notice
2. Any opt-in by the user

This affected me on one of my Macs. All of a sudden 80GB of data has disappeared. I tried to re-download, but it just keeps failing (as has been reported by many others). So, I'm left with no local data. Fortunately, I have backups, and my other Mac has not yet upgraded to the new version of OneDrive.

This is the scenario that worries me. Not least because my work doesn't permit me to keep backups. A lot of people in this discussion are talking about mainting local backups, but not everyone can do this (in my case for security reasons).

 

[bohraxe]

One other major bug, you can't apparently copy large files or folders out of OneDrive (the folder on your machine) onto your local hard drive. The process just keeps pausing (or failing) and you get a weird dialog in Finder (I've never seen this before) asking if you want to finish. But the process never seems to finish...

 

[bohraxe]

This is the scenario that worries me. Not least because my work doesn't permit me to keep backups. A lot of people in this discussion are talking about mainting local backups, but not everyone can do this (in my case for security reasons).

I had approximately 500 GB disappear from OneDrive online. My local files completely disappeared. I don't know what disappeared, and I am resorting to a Time Machine backup to restore from my "old" OneDrive folder on my machine.

 

[streetsandtheatres]

I had approximately 500 GB disappear from OneDrive online. My local files completely disappeared. I don't know what disappeared, and I am resorting to a Time Machine backup to restore from my "old" OneDrive folder on my machine.

Not knowing what is happening, or being able to account for what is where, is a major problem. (Major enough to cause some projects to fail, etc, etc) These kinds of changes can be serious problems for some users.

 

[Aljaafar]

Earlier this week, MacRumors reported on a OneDrive for Mac update that has caused upset among users of the cloud storage service, partly due to alleged bugs it has introduced but mainly because the new version no longer allows users to opt out of its cloud-based Files On-Demand feature, which was previously an optional setting.

In an update to its original blog post introducing this aspect of its new "Files On-Demand Experience," Microsoft has now responded to these concerns by explaining that the first version of Files On-Demand is built on several pieces of technology that are now deprecated by Apple in macOS 12.3, currently still in beta.

Apple is deprecating the kernel extensions originally used by OneDrive's syncing features, so the Mac client is now using Apple's File Provider extensions instead. On the question of whether this has introduced a technical reason for why Files On-Demand must always be enabled, Microsoft touts the benefits of OneDrive's new dependency on Apple's File Provider platform, including the resolution of compatibility issues, and how that has factored into its controversial decision to enforce its Files On-Demand feature:
Despite its rationale for enforcing Files On-Demand, Microsoft acknowledges that keeping all content locally on devices is "an important scenario for a small set of users," and says the best way to do this is to select Always Keep on This Device to mark content as pinned. "If you want all files synced on your device, you should pin the OneDrive folder," says Microsoft.

Users can do this by browsing to their OneDrive in Finder, changing the view to Icons view, and then right-clicking the blank space between icons and selecting Always Keep on This Device. "We're actively looking at ways to make this easier to configure on both macOS and Windows," adds Microsoft.

In addition, Microsoft offers an explanation for why some users have experienced slowdowns when browsing folders in OneDrive:
Microsoft says it is aware of users experiencing issues with AutoSave when using the App Store version of the OneDrive app and it is actively working to resolve the issue in the next few days.

In the meantime, users who can't wait until then can move to the Standalone build of OneDrive by unlinking their account, uninstalling the App Store version, and reinstalling the Standalone version [Direct Link].

Are you happy with Microsoft's explanation for enforcing the Files On-Demand setting? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Article Link: Microsoft Responds to OneDrive Mac User Criticism Following Decision to Enforce Files On-Demand Feature

I switched to MacOS last year and one of the biggest upsets was the File on demand feature, I need files that I have on my cloud storage, specially when on a plane or areas with poor internet connection, it was dumb not providing the user the ability to control if the files stay on the cloud or on the device's hard drive. OneDrive had an excellent capability of providing the user that choice, now that Apple are forcing Microsoft to choose a crappy feature, I'm considering going back to Windows OS

 

[valdikor]

That's the Intel version and not the Insider Preview of the Apple Silicon version?

Yeah, the official release is still Intel only.

 

[brio]

To begin with, OneDrive doesn't work well on Windows itself... so don't except it to be better on macOS. Microsoft can't code, that's all. The best file cloud sync solution I have experimented is pCloud, by far.

 

[Huwpne]

Earlier this week, MacRumors reported on a OneDrive for Mac update that has caused upset among users of the cloud storage service, partly due to alleged bugs it has introduced but mainly because the new version no longer allows users to opt out of its cloud-based Files On-Demand feature, which was previously an optional setting.

In an update to its original blog post introducing this aspect of its new "Files On-Demand Experience," Microsoft has now responded to these concerns by explaining that the first version of Files On-Demand is built on several pieces of technology that are now deprecated by Apple in macOS 12.3, currently still in beta.

Apple is deprecating the kernel extensions originally used by OneDrive's syncing features, so the Mac client is now using Apple's File Provider extensions instead. On the question of whether this has introduced a technical reason for why Files On-Demand must always be enabled, Microsoft touts the benefits of OneDrive's new dependency on Apple's File Provider platform, including the resolution of compatibility issues, and how that has factored into its controversial decision to enforce its Files On-Demand feature:
Despite its rationale for enforcing Files On-Demand, Microsoft acknowledges that keeping all content locally on devices is "an important scenario for a small set of users," and says the best way to do this is to select Always Keep on This Device to mark content as pinned. "If you want all files synced on your device, you should pin the OneDrive folder," says Microsoft.

Users can do this by browsing to their OneDrive in Finder, changing the view to Icons view, and then right-clicking the blank space between icons and selecting Always Keep on This Device. "We're actively looking at ways to make this easier to configure on both macOS and Windows," adds Microsoft.

In addition, Microsoft offers an explanation for why some users have experienced slowdowns when browsing folders in OneDrive:
Microsoft says it is aware of users experiencing issues with AutoSave when using the App Store version of the OneDrive app and it is actively working to resolve the issue in the next few days.

In the meantime, users who can't wait until then can move to the Standalone build of OneDrive by unlinking their account, uninstalling the App Store version, and reinstalling the Standalone version [Direct Link].

Are you happy with Microsoft's explanation for enforcing the Files On-Demand setting? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Article Link: Microsoft Responds to OneDrive Mac User Criticism Following Decision to Enforce Files On-Demand Feature

Not sure why people are getting mad at Microsoft. This is directly because of a change that Apple made.

People are

"Alias keep on this device" does not work. Files are not being download.

They do get downloaded they're hidden away in the Containers directory which is useless