# Offline Sync

ExpanDrive can perform an offline sync of any mounted drive, so you can keep working with files from your connections when your device isn't connected to the internet.

## How Offline Sync Works

ExpanDrive must be running on your computer for Offline Sync to work.

With the remote service connected, you can download files or folders from your connections to your local machine while you're online.

After you disconnect from the network, you can keep making changes to those downloaded items as long as ExpanDrive is still running. When you reconnect, your changes are automatically synchronized to your remote storage.

## Using Offline Sync on Windows

To enable Offline Sync for an item, right-click the file or folder in Windows Explorer (you can select multiple items) and choose **Offline sync > Local**.

![Context menu in Windows Explorer](/files/-M1WTHBMFDJ4QAcqaqje)

By default, all items mounted on ExpanDrive are Online Only, which requires an active connection to the remote service. Editing files and folders that are Online Only changes them directly within your remote connections in real time.

To prepare for working offline, change the Offline Sync mode for the items to **Local**. ExpanDrive downloads the selected Local content to your computer.

An internet connection is not required while you are working on Local content, but your ExpanDrive application must be running, and the connection must be in the **Connected** state.

Any changes you make to Local data while offline are synced when your computer reconnects to the internet.

## Using Offline Sync on macOS

ExpanDrive must be running on your system to use Offline Sync.

To prepare for working offline, use the **Download Now** option in Finder to store a local copy of the folder or file on your computer.

An internet connection is not required to make changes to downloaded items, but ExpanDrive must be running. You can change or remove any of the downloaded files using Finder.

When you reconnect to the internet, changes you made while offline are synced to the remote system automatically.


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