How to Use On-Demand Sync
This article explains how to create and use an On-Demand Sync task in the Windows client.
1. Create an On-Demand Sync Task
2. File Status
Files in an On-Demand Sync task can have different statuses, which you can identify by their icons:
File Status on Windows
 | Save space on your device by making files online-only. These files are only available when you're connected to the Internet, but don't take up space on your computer. |
|---|---|
 | When you open an online-only file, it downloads to your device and becomes locally available. You can open a locally available file at anytime even without Internet access. |
 | To make a file always available, even when you're offline: Right-click it and select Always keep on this device. To change a file back to an online-only file: Right-click it and select Free up space. |
3. Use Files
Open a Placeholder File
When you need to use a placeholder file:
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Double-click the file: The system automatically downloads the file from the NAS to the local device and opens it directly.
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Right-click - Fygo Sync - Download: The system automatically downloads the file from the NAS to the local device.
Note:
- If the sync software exits, is paused, or the connection is interrupted, double-clicking a placeholder file cannot download the file.
Automatic File Status Management
- New file on the PC: It is automatically uploaded to the NAS and remains fully available locally.
- New file on the NAS: It is automatically synced to the PC, and only a placeholder is kept locally.
- Edit a placeholder file: It is downloaded locally first and then opened for editing.
- Edit a fully available file: Changes are synced directly to the NAS.
4. Right-Click Menu Actions
Right-click a file or folder in an On-Demand Sync task to see the following options:
Download File
- Applies to: Files or folders in placeholder status
- Purpose: Downloads the file from the NAS to the local device so it becomes fully available
Free Up Space
- Applies to: Files or folders that are fully available
- Purpose: Removes the local file data and keeps the placeholder. The file remains on the NAS
Always Keep on This Device
- Applies to: Files or folders in placeholder status or fully available status
- Purpose: Keeps the file pinned locally so it will not be cleaned up automatically by the system
Stop Keeping on This Device
- Applies to: Files or folders in pinned status
- Purpose: Cancels the pin, and the file may be cleaned up automatically by the system
Note:
- When the task is paused, right-click menus are unavailable for files in any status.
- Right-click actions on a folder apply to all files inside the folder.
5. Edit an On-Demand Sync Task
Windows
After creating an On-Demand Sync task, you can edit:
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Filter Rules: You can edit them normally, and syncing will follow the updated rules.
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Selective Sync: You can edit it normally.
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Sync Mode: It cannot be changed. Upload Only and Download Only are grayed out.
6. Delete an On-Demand Sync Task
Windows
When you delete an On-Demand Sync task:
- The PC sync path and the files inside it are kept as usual.
- Fully available files are kept as usual.
- Files that are only placeholders are deleted, while folders are kept.
- Files and folders no longer show status icons or right-click menus.
- The shortcut in the left pane of File Explorer is removed automatically.
7. Special Notes for Windows
If Windows Storage Sense is enabled, Windows may automatically convert fully available files that have not been opened for more than 30 days into placeholder files. You will need to download them again before they can be used.
If you do not want files to be cleaned up automatically, you can use one of the following methods:
- Turn off Storage Sense
- Use Always Keep on This Device on locally available files to switch them to pinned status
- Change the default cleanup period for the sync task to Never
