What your users can expect

Managing files that don’t successfully migrate to cloud storage

The success of the migration of existing files depends on a number of factors, including available cloud storage and network connectivity. There is no guarantee that the migration process will be fully completed and all local files deleted.
Following migration, if some files remain on devices and the local files system is not write-restricted on the system level, you can use the Admin console to delete remaining local files—Set Local storage configuration to Delete existing local files.

After signing in, when users open Files , they’ll see a warning letting them know the exact date and time their local files will be automatically deleted from their device. They will also be advised to ensure that all critical business or personal files are stored externally. Users are granted at least a 24 hour cadence prior to the deletion of their files.

Local storage no longer listed in Files app

Applies only if migration is set to Google Drive or Microsoft OneDrive—That is, you set Local storage configuration to Migrate existing local files to Google Drive or Migrate existing local files to OneDrive.

When users open Files , on the left, all local storage is removed. Users see only Recent and the configured Cloud storage, OneDrive or Google Drive or both.

Downloading files

When users download a file on their Chrome OS device, it is first cached locally, and then uploaded to Microsoft OneDrive or Google Drive. The user doesn’t see or have access to the locally cached file. Users can’t pause the download, but they can cancel it.

When the file has been uploaded successfully to Microsoft OneDrive or Google Drive, the download is marked as complete. Users can click Show in folder to see the file in the Downloads folder of Microsoft OneDrive or Google Drive.

Uploading files to web services

Users can continue to upload Microsoft OneDrive and Google Drive files to other web services in the same way that they upload local files with the Open Files dialog.

Working with zip files

When opening a zip file, there are no changes from current consumer behavior. Zipping and unzipping do not work from Microsoft OneDrive.

Deleting files

For Microsoft OneDrive and Google Drive, users can continue to delete files in the same way. Depending on the Microsoft OneDrive or Google Drive configuration, files might first be moved to the Trash of the corresponding cloud storage. The Trash of the cloud storage is not shown in the Files app, but can be viewed in the web app of the cloud storage.

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