Commercial services achieve "on-demand" functionality by integrating deeply with the operating system’s file system (like the Windows Cloud Files API). This allows the OS to show a "ghost" file that triggers a download when accessed. Syncthing’s developers have historically noted that implementing this across every supported platform (Windows, macOS, Linux, etc.) is highly complex and outside the current scope of the core project. Current Methods to Mimic On-Demand Sync
As of May 2026, . Because Syncthing is built as a continuous synchronization engine rather than a cloud-drive manager, it typically mirrors all files in a folder to all connected devices. Why Doesn't Syncthing Have Native Download on Demand? syncthing download on demand
The Reality of Syncthing Download on Demand: Current State and Solutions Current Methods to Mimic On-Demand Sync As of May 2026,
While there is no "one-click" toggle for this in the main settings, users employ several workarounds to save disk space: The Reality of Syncthing Download on Demand: Current
Syncthing is a powerful, open-source peer-to-peer (P2P) file synchronization tool that focuses on privacy and decentralization. However, many users coming from commercial services like OneDrive or Dropbox expect a "download on demand" feature—where you can see all your files as placeholders but only download them when you actually click to open them.