Offline folders are a feature of Microsoft Windows and Outlook that allow users to store files for offline access. They are available on portable and desktop computers and reduce the risk of losing files. To enable offline storage, users should follow specific instructions. To store a file in offline folders, select the network and file, then choose “make available offline.” To remove a file, uncheck the “make available offline” checkbox. Accessing files from offline folders is the same as accessing them online.
Offline folders are a feature of Microsoft® Windows® and Microsoft® Outlook®, but non-Microsoft® programs and operating systems may have similar functionality. An offline folder is a place to store files so that they are available even when the user is not connected to a network or the Internet. These folders were introduced in 2000. They are a valuable resource for Windows® users, especially those who do a lot of remote work, typically use mobile devices or make long commutes to and from the office.
These folders can be used on portable computers (e.g. laptops or notebooks) or desktop computers that are sometimes connected to a network. All versions of Microsoft® Windows® since 2000 have offered this feature to its users.
Offline folders are beneficial to users because they offer a solution to the problems associated with storing files securely while still allowing them to be accessed from different locations. By storing files over a network, rather than on your hard drive, your files are stored in more than one place and therefore reduce the risk of losing files forever should something go wrong.
To make your computer available for offline storage of these folders, some Windows® users may find the following instructions helpful. Different instructions may apply to different versions of Windows®. Click “Start” on the desktop and then click “My Computer.” Select “Tools” from the top menu. From the “Tools” menu, select “Folder Options”. Open the tab that says “offline files” and make sure the “enable offline files” checkbox is checked. Check the “sync all offline files before disconnecting” checkbox. Selecting this option will sync all your files so they are available offline. If you prefer to manually control what files are stored in offline folders, you need to use a sync manager.
To store a file in offline folders, open “My Computer” and select the network you want to work with. Then, select the file or even the entire folder you want to make accessible offline. Select “file” from the top menu and select “make available offline”.
Similarly, to remove a file from an offline folder, select “file” from the top menu and uncheck the checkbox that says “make available offline”.
To use files from offline folders, simply select the file as usual. If you’ve successfully made it available offline, you should be able to access your file whether or not you’re currently connected to the network the file came from.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
