How to save disk space with Space-Saving Mode in Qsync Client 5.0.5 Windows, 5.0.4 macOS

Last modified date: 2022-10-31

Space-Saving Mode

This only applies to Qsync Client 5.0.5 Windows (5.0.4 Mac) or earlier and requires Windows 10 version 1909 or above for Windows users.

Space-Saving Mode allows you to view files without downloading them to your device. You can download files only when you need to open and edit them. Space-Saving Mode allows you to save disk space on your computer, synchronize files faster, and avoid a server overload.

After enabling Space-Saving Mode, you can change online-only or locally available files to files that are always available. For more information regarding file statuses after enabling Space-Saving Mode, refer to the following table:

Table 1. File Statuses
Status	Description
Online-only	You can see the files on your computer, but the files do not take up space. The file is not downloaded to your device until you open it. Newly created files on the NAS will appear locally as online-only files. Note: Online-only files are flagged with an icon. If your device is not connected to the Internet, you cannot open Online-only files.
Locally available	You can see and edit files on your computer. These files take up space. After opening an online-only file, the file becomes locally available. A locally available file may become online-only if Free up space is performed or Windows Storage Sense is activated. Free up space can be perfomed manually or automatically to convert locally available files to online-only. Windows users can go to Storage Sense to configure the settings. For more information, visit https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/storage-at-microsoft/windows-10-and-storage-sense/ba-p/428270. If you are a macOS user, see Configuring Free Up Space Settings for macOS. Note: Locally available files are flagged with an icon. If your device is not connected to the Internet, you can still open locally available files.
Always available	You can see and edit files on your computer. The files are downloaded to your computer and take up disk space. This option is not available when you first enable Space-Saving Mode. Note: Files that are always available are flagged with an icon. If your device is not connected to the Internet, you can still open these files.

Depending on your operating system, Space-Saving Mode has specific folder restrictions. Qsync Client allows Space-Saving Mode for the following folder types.

Table 2. Folder Type Requirements
Windows	macOS
Folders on NTFS drives. Any folder that is not a C:\ or D:\ drive root directory or the Windows home directory (\user\username). Any folder that is not a parent or child folder of OneDrive’s files-on-demand synchronization, iCloud Drive, Dropbox and Qsync’s Space-Saving Mode.	Any folder that is not a drive root directory like the Macintosh HD hard drive. For more information on the folders that cannot be paired, visit https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/folders-that-come-with-your-mac-mchlp1143/mac. Any folder that is not a parent or child folder of OneDrive’s files-on-demand synchronization, iCloud Drive, Dropbox and Qsync’s Space-Saving Mode.

Important:

Space-Saving Mode and Smart Delete File Management cannot be enabled at the same time. Enabling Space-Saving Mode automatically disables Smart Delete File Management.

Enabling Space-Saving Mode

Open Qsync Client.

Note:
Ensure you are on Qsync Client's main page. If you are accessing Qsync Client from the toolbar, click to go to the main page.
Click View and manage pair folders.

The Manage paired folders window opens.
Click Add.

Tip:
To enable Space-Saving Mode on existing paired folders, click .

The Select folders to sync window opens.
Under Space-Saving Mode, select Enable.
Select Online-only or Locally available.

For information on these statuses, go to Space-Saving Mode.
Click Apply.
Note:
After enabling Space-Saving Mode, you can right-click a file and select Space-Saving Mode to change the file status.
- To change an Online-only file to a file that is always available, select Always keep on this device.
- To change a Locally available file to Online-only or a file that is always available, select Free up space but keep on NAS or Always keep on this device.
- To change a file that is always available to Online-only or a Locally available file, select Free up space but keep on NAS or Locally available on this device.

Configuring Free Up Space Settings for macOS

When Space-Saving Mode is enabled for a paired folder, you can reduce the size of synced files by freeing up space. When freeing up space, locally available files will become online-only. Windows Storage Sense can also be used on Windows computers to automatically free up space. For more information, see https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/use-onedrive-and-storage-sense-in-windows-10-to-manage-disk-space-de5faa9a-6108-4be1-87a6-d90688d08a48.

Open Qsync Client.
Click Settings.

The Settings window opens.
Click Free up space.

Select Set a periodicity to free up space.

Select one of the following options:

Option	Description
Set Periodicity	Set a time period to turn Locally available files to Online-only.
Free disk space when it's less than	Set a storage threshold to turn Locally available files to Online-only.

Optional: Click Free up space now.

Qsync Client turns Locally available files to Online-only.

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