Virtual files: see everything, only download what you open

With virtual files, you can see all your folders and files from your WebOké Nextcloud on your computer, but they take up almost no space. The app only fetches a file once you open it. Ideal for a laptop with a small disk or if your Nextcloud is much bigger than your computer.

How to recognise the status (Windows)

In File Explorer, each file shows an icon in the Status column:

On a Mac, you'll see similar icons in Finder; these are listed in the table in Installing Nextcloud Files on Mac (File Provider).

Keeping a file or folder on your computer permanently

Travelling or working without internet often? Pin the folders you need to your computer.

• Windows: right-click the folder in File Explorer and choose Always keep on this device. The app downloads everything in that folder, including anything added later.
• Mac: right-click the folder and choose the option to always keep it downloaded (Keep Downloaded).

Freeing up space

Opened a large folder and now your disk is filling up? Free up some space. The files stay in your Nextcloud; only the copy on your computer is removed.

• Windows: right-click the file or folder and choose Free up space. The icon turns back into a blue cloud.
• Mac: right-click and choose the option to remove the download, or switch off keeping it pinned. The Mac also frees up space automatically when storage runs low.

Please note: on Windows, the app does not free up space automatically. Every file you open even once stays on your computer until you choose Free up space yourself. Do this now and then for large folders, such as your photos. Laptop with limited disk space: setting up virtual files and freeing up space correctly explains the best way to set up a laptop with limited storage.

Please note: deleting a file in the folder also deletes it in your Nextcloud, even if it was a virtual file. If you only want to free up space, choose Free up space rather than Delete. Deleted something by accident? Restore it via Recovering a deleted file from Deleted files.

Turning virtual files on or off

Did you choose Synchronize everything or Choose what to sync during installation, but want virtual files after all? Click the cloud icon, open the app's settings, and click the three dots next to the folder under your account. Choose Enable virtual file support. Choosing Disable support for virtual files reverses this; the app will then download everything you've selected.

When is it better not to use virtual files?

• If you often work offline for long periods and don't know in advance which files you'll need.
• If a program searches through all your files at once (such as a backup program or a photo application that indexes your entire folder). This will still end up downloading everything.
• On Linux, where it's still in the testing phase.