Make Network Files, Folders Available Offline In Windows 7 [How To]

In Windows 7, you can work with files and folders present on a network even when you are disconnected from the network. When you choose to make a file offline, Windows 7 creates a copy of that file on your computer. You can then open, modify and save the local copy of your file when you are offline, for example travelling with your laptop and not connected to your company’s network.

The next time you are connected, Windows 7 will automatically sync the offline files on your PC with the corresponding ones on the network. Isn’t that amazing? This feature definitely saves a lot of time and effort. Here is how you can make files offline and later sync them in Windows 7:

In order to make a file or folder available offline,

1. While connected to the network, locate the file or folder.

2. Right click and select ‘Always available offline’.( The file or folder which is made available offline will now have an overlay synchronization icon.)

How to Remove Offline Availability of a Network File/Folder?

1. Right click on the file or folder which you do not want to be available offline. Files which are available offline will have a check mark besides the ‘Always available offline’ option.

2. Click on ‘Always available offline’ and make sure that the check mark is cleared.

How to Work with Offline Files even while Connected to Network?

Offline files are just copies of those files that are present in the network folders. Sometimes you may have some unfinished work on your offline files which you want to complete before synchronizing them. Here is how you can work with offline files even when you have network access:

1. Open the network folder containing your offline file in Windows Explorer.

2. In Windows Explorer tool bar click on ‘Work Offline’.

3. Once you are done, click ‘Work Online’ and Windows 7 will sync all the changes you have made offline with the network files.

How to know whether you are working with Offline or Online version of a File?

It happens to most of us. In the middle of our work, we start wondering with which version of the file we are currently working. Here is a simple trick to know whether the file you are working with is offline or online.

1. Open the network folder which contains the file and click on the file.

2. In Windows Explorer tool bar if you see the ‘Work Offline’ option then the file is online. In case you find a ‘Work Online’ option then the file is offline.

Tip: How To Set Up Ad Hoc Wi-Fi Network In Windows 7 Starter Edition?