Placeholders for OneDrive are coming back to Windows 10, but the feature will be called “On-Demand Sync” instead. OneDrive placeholders was the concept to store a small piece of metadata with a thumbnail of a file, instead of downloading the entire file to your computer. This allowed to “sync” gigabytes of data using only a few hundred megabytes. Then when you needed the file a simple double-click on the placeholder would download the rest of it.
The problem was that many users didn’t really understand how the feature worked. This resulted on a lot of users not knowing how to access their files offline. Unfortunately, to prevent further confusion, Microsoft removed the feature in the early days of Windows 10.
After much requests from numerous feedback, Microsoft has announced during its Ignite technology conference that the feature is returning. However, instead of calling placeholders, the feature will be called On-Demand Sync.
We heard a number of times rumors of placeholders coming back, the company even released a modern app of OneDrive that behaves similar to how placeholders used to work.
Microsoft hasn’t shared any details to when users can expect On-Demand Sync, but presumably the company has plans to roll out the feature with the Windows 10 Redstone 2, which is due in early 2017.
What do you think about OneDrive On-Demand Sync for Windows 10? Tell us in the comments below.
Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 21 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].