Disastrous update of OneDrive coming for all macOS 12.3 users

[Marty_Macfly]

Re: Inside the new Files On-Demand Experience on macOS

This is a disastrous update. I used to spend the whole weekend on dealing with it in December 2021 and solving it by opting out Insider and re-installation. The new Files On-Demand experience is broken, syncing is broken, speed is slow, ... where is any advantage? Claim: This means a better...

techcommunity.microsoft.com

The advantages of this update they claimed are actually the biggest disadvantages ever for OneDrive on macOS.

Hiya b,

This sounds a real pain.

Can I ask a follow on question - Would this happen for Big Sur?

Reason I ask:
1. I'm not a techie buff
2. Running with OD a lot, for my MS office documents
3. Slow internet - having to download large files each time would be a pain!
4. If WIFI breaks down - and you cannot access important files - what an unnecessary show stopper - awful.


Hope you can advise
Martin

 

[Wando64]

Would this happen for Big Sur?

This is the information available at the moment:

“the new Files On-Demand experience requires macOS 12.1 or later.
… macOS 12.2 will be the last version that supports the classic Files On-Demand experience.”

so, as things stand now, this is not available on Big Sur.

 

[Marty_Macfly]

This is the information available at the moment:

“the new Files On-Demand experience requires macOS 12.1 or later.
… macOS 12.2 will be the last version that supports the classic Files On-Demand experience.”

so, as things stand now, this is not available on Big Sur.

Thanks for the info W,

Awesome! ?

I'm def staying on Big Sur for a while now, until this is sorted etc.

 

[chrfr]

I don't see the horrors of this. It has made me relook (in a positive way) at using OneDrive on my Mac. Yes, I need to sort out backup, but mostly that just needs folders to pinned.

I agree. I've had my share of corrupt files in the old version of OneDrive and have far too much stuff in there to not have Files on Demand turned on. I've been testing this with the Apple Silicon native version of OneDrive on a MacBook Air, and have had no issues with it at all.

 

[Wando64]

Could anybody with this update please try to backup some of the OneDrive files to Time Machine and restore them to a different location to confirm that they are backed up correctly?

I would very much appreciate if someone could confirm that.
Thanks

 

[lindros2]

I just got an email from Dropbox about this issue... they're addressing in a March beta.
So ... it's impacting all file storage (EFSS) services.

We’re reaching out with an update about Dropbox on the upcoming macOS 12.3 release. For this release, Dropbox doesn’t have full support for online-only files just yet. We’re actively working on full support, and the beta version will begin rolling out in March 2022.

What you might notice after updating to macOS 12.3

Some apps on your Mac might have trouble opening Dropbox files while they’re online-only. You’ll still be able to open Dropbox files by double-clicking them in Finder.

 

[tosbsas]

Do you have to install OneDrive app to use this?

Anyone ?

 

[gilby101]

Could anybody with this update please try to backup some of the OneDrive files to Time Machine and restore them to a different location to confirm that they are backed up correctly?

Time Machine works correctly - backup and restore.

TM backs up all the content which is in your synchronised copy of OneDrive. So it backs up ALL folders and whatever files are on your disk - it does not force a download from OneDrive in the cloud to your disk. So you need to pin files that you want to be included in the backup every time. I did this by marking some top level folders in OneDrive as "Always keep in this device". Those folders and their content are then included by TM as you would expect.

Note that TM backs up everything (in OneDrive) currently on your disk. A consequence of this is that, for unpinned files, you will get sporadic backup depending on whether the file is currently on your disk or only in the OneDrive cloud. If this becomes too messy I suggest excluding all unpinned folders from TM backup.

I have done the same with Arq for my cloud backup.

 

[mat1696]

What I dont’t understand is why don’t they let the option to disable file on demand? Even if they use standard macOS Api (which is a good thing for people using file on demand) that shouldn’t prevent them from offering an option, right? Or is it a specific limitation to using this API?

 

[wills11]

I'm confused. I don't really use OneDrive as a sync service—my main concern is that all the files in the OneDrive folder on my iMac drive be both there on the disk and backed up.

1. Will all the items currently in my OneDrive folder on my iMac's local disk remain there?
2. Will they all be backed up to OneDrive?
3. Will backing up the local OneDrive folder to another destination (a second local disk or other cloud service) back up all the files?
4. What possible complications could/would result from also running OneDrive on my MacBook (which I don't need to do)?

Thanks a million!

 

[gilby101]

I don't really use OneDrive as a sync service—my main concern is that all the files in the OneDrive folder on my iMac drive be both there on the disk and backed up.

The OneDrive app is not a backup app, it is a sync app. If you only use it on one Mac it is still a sync - between your Mac and the OneDrive cloud. To make sure all files are both on your Mac and in the cloud, you need to mark all folders (in the OneDrive location on your Mac) as "Always keep on this device" (pinned). But as a sync service you don't need all the files on your Mac - so long as they are stored in the OneDrive cloud.

If you want a backup (and not sync), don't use the OneDrive sync app. Use an app like Arq which can use the OneDrive cloud as a remote backup location. And by backup app I mean one that keeps versions of files which were on your disk at various times in the past - just the same as Time Machine does for local backup. That allows restoration of files you have since deleted or modified, or of files destroyed by malware (e.g. a ransomware attack).

Your questions:

1) Yes, unless you tell the OneDrive app to "free up space". To make sure copies remain on your disk, pin all top level folders using "Always keep in this device" in the Finder context (control-click) menu.
2) They will be synced to OneDrive.
3) A backup app (e.g. Time Machine or Arq) can only backup those files on your local disk. It will not backup files only in the OneDrive cloud (see my previous post).
4) None, so long as the OneDrive apps and the OneDrive cloud are trouble free.

 

[Wando64]

They do let you. It is right there in the OneDrive preferences - the "Turn Off Files On-Demand" button.

But the change to default behaviour is, I think, a deliberate design decision - not a technical limitation. It follows the philosophy of keeping all your stuff in the OneDrive/Microsoft cloud and being always connected. And you can have the best of both by leaving files on-demand enabled and using "Always keep on this device" on selected folders.

This response leaves me puzzled.
It is my understanding that the option to “Turn off files on demand” is to disappear in the new version starting from MacOS 12.2

What version of MacOS are you using and what version of OneDrive?

If you can still see the option to disable FOD you are probably still using the old FID system.
…unless the Microsoft blog is really confusing.

 

[gilby101]

This response leaves me puzzled.
It is my understanding that the option to “Turn off files on demand” is to disappear in the new version starting from MacOS 12.2

What version of MacOS are you using and what version of OneDrive?

If you vacanza still see the option to disable FOD you are probably still using the old FID system.
…unless the Microsoft blog is really confusing.

Yes, I was confused! The "Turn off files on demand" will disappear in the next version (22.x..). I am still on 21.x...
I have already deleted my post!

 

[Xenomorph]

This just got rolled out to my system and it has made the entire experience horrible. I checked the Mac App Store and I'm seeing the new 1-star reviews rolling in.

When I make a folder, the "untitled folder" sometimes disappears. Or another folder disappears. Or a file disappears. Or when I drag a file into the folder it disappears. Then stuff reappears. It changes the layout of the Finder window when files/folders show up and disappear at random.
Sometimes when I open a folder it takes nearly 30 seconds to populate it with files, even if there are very few. It's like every Finder window is now just a web view on Dial-Up instead of showing me my actual files on a file system. Browsing 3 folders deep now takes several minutes.

There is no "F5" to refresh Finder, is there? How do I trigger a refresh?

I saved a small PDF file (way less than 1KB in size) and it takes nearly 60 seconds to sync to the cloud. I sync documents between my Mac and iPad Pro for purposes of signing my name on documents. Something that would take a few seconds to sync is now taking minutes. Every file copy or change would take many, many seconds to actually update. How do you trigger or force OneDrive to update changes?

New 16" MacBook Pro w/ M1 Pro, macOS 12.1. Everything up to date. We have 10 Gbps Internet at work, but my connection is more like 800-1200 Mbps. I'm pretty sure it's not my system speed or Internet speed causing the problem.

My old 2013 MBP running Big Sur works just fine with OneDrive with Files On-Demand disabled.

I'm guessing the "developers" who decided on the new, forced, and terrible changes may have some birth defect that caused their own heads to be WAY up their own behinds. There is no other explanation for a change this awful to make it into production.

 

[southerndoc]

I prefer OneDrive files to always reside on my laptop and desktop. Will this new update force files on demand? If so, it's time I migrate my business files to Synology's Drive Client. Not the best, but at least I can keep files stored on my computer all the time. I have plenty of disk space and do not need nor want files on demand turned on.

 

[gilby101]

Will this new update force files on demand?

Yes. But for any (or all) files/folders you can set "Always keep on this device".

 

[gilby101]

It is my understanding that the option to “Turn off files on demand” is to disappear in the new version starting from MacOS 12.2

Yes, I can confirm that. I have OneDrive 22.002... on both my iMac (macOS 12.1) and my MacBook (macOS 12.2 RC). With macOS 12.1 it looks the same as before and with the capability to "Turn off files on demand". But with macOS 12.2 that button has gone:

The look of OneDrive in Finder is also different, depending on version of macOS. macOS 12.2 has the new non-coloured badges on OneDrive's folders and files - functionality is the same.

All looks good to me. I have always had the view that OneDrive is rubbish compared with Dropbox, but I am revising that now!

 

[Wando64]

Yes, I can confirm that. I have OneDrive 22.002... on both my iMac (macOS 12.1) and my MacBook (macOS 12.2 RC). With macOS 12.1 it looks the same as before and with the capability to "Turn off files on demand". But with macOS 12.2 that button has gone:
View attachment 1949496
The look of OneDrive in Finder is also different, depending on version of macOS. macOS 12.2 has the new non-coloured badges on OneDrive's folders and files - functionality is the same.

View attachment 1949497
All looks good to me. I have always had the view that OneDrive is rubbish compared with Dropbox, but I am revising that now!

Thanks, so now that we have clarified the issue of versions etc... I am still curious about the Time Machine backup (from the NEW OneDrive location) and restore to a different folder.

 

[Wando64]

All looks good to me. I have always had the view that OneDrive is rubbish compared with Dropbox, but I am revising that now!

I am actually thinking of going the other way.
I feel that this update removes control and clarity as to where the data is (some people reports that pinning does not ensure local storage) and how it is actually stored on the disk (whether pinned or not), and therefore how this will affect local backups (to TM or CC).

 

[decafjava]

I am also seeking clarity, I don't have much choice as my work has a Office 365 subscription (which I am mostly happy with) including OneDrive for all shared and cloud storage.

 

[Wando64]

Do you have to install OneDrive app to use this?

To use what?

OneDrive CAN be used without the app, by accessing it through the web interface (though it seems a bit pointless apart from specific use cases I.e. sharing of limited data with others).

Files-On-Demand CANNOT be used without the app.

 

[tosbsas]

To use what?

OneDrive CAN be used without the app, by accessing it through the web interface (though it seems a bit pointless apart from specific use cases I.e. sharing of limited data with others).

Files-On-Demand CANNOT be used without the app.

thanks

 

[durhambullsfan]

My OneDrive app just updated to the new version. As of today when I open an office document in the finder that’s in OneDrive, the office app does not auto save the document. I can only get auto save to work if I open the file through the file menu in the office app. Yesterday the apps would recognize the file was a OneDrive file when opened from the finder. Has anyone been able to get this functionality working on the new version of OneDrive?

I was very reliant on auto save and work with files primarily in the finder, and losing that functionality would be huge.

 

[VineRider]

My OneDrive app just updated to the new version. As of today when I open an office document in the finder that’s in OneDrive, the office app does not auto save the document. I can only get auto save to work if I open the file through the file menu in the office app. Yesterday the apps would recognize the file was a OneDrive file when opened from the finder. Has anyone been able to get this functionality working on the new version of OneDrive?

I was very reliant on auto save and work with files primarily in the finder, and losing that functionality would be huge.

I just tested this. Opened a file on my OneDrive from the finder and autosave was on for both an Excel file and a Word file. I am updated to the latest OneDrive as well as the other Office apps.

I did notice that for older excel files (.xls) the autosave was not on, but for new versions (.xlsx) it was on.

 

[kingtj1971]

Hmm.... I'm just now hearing about this change. But my thoughts, in general are:

1. It makes sense Microsoft would rewrite OneDrive to use an Apple API to handle the file syncing, vs "re-inventing the wheel" with proprietary code trying to accomplish the same thing the OS already can do. This is something we've seen before with MS Office. Microsoft used to try to handle all of the font management with proprietary code and eventually made the apps at least 1/3rd. smaller in size (and faster) by dumping all of that and just letting the OS handle it with built-in functionality.

2. It sounds like the intention here is to change OneDrive's behavior so it eventually starts removing your locally stored content, leaving just the cloud copy, as it finds files you haven't accessed in a certain length of time? Instead of just providing a "blanket" check-box to disable this entire feature, they're changing to the concept that you "pin" the folders/files you know you want to preserve local copies of. (That's acceptable to me, if it all works correctly. Except I think it will make extra work or add confusion for people who started out pinning everything from the top level down, intending to tell OneDrive to preserve everything locally, but forget that new files/folders put into it after that won't default to getting pinned.)

3. If this is buggy (EG. Pinned files/folders getting deleted from the local drive by OneDrive)? That's a serious problem, and it may turn out to be Microsoft exposing bugs in the Apple API that need fixing -- just as likely as it being a problem in their own code?

Ultimately? I find myself just not using any of these "cloud drive" options very often. I think they're great for selectively uploading things you think you might need to access from multiple computers or devices, no matter where you're at. (If I go on a trip, for example? I'll probably upload anything I might need to reference during the trip like rental car or hotel reservation info.) They're also fine as a tool to make it easy to share a specific file or set of files with someone else. But if you're concerned about always having access to your content with or without working Internet? Just set up a local server of some sort, or even make use of external USB hard drives. Anything else adds a whole layer of complexity where someone, someplace else, is keeping your stuff for you and you need a good Internet connection to them (and rely on their service not having an outage) to access it.