Increase Offline Files 2 GB Storage Limit

As a small company probably you still don’t have the resources and the tools to do constant backups of files from remote workers and traveling staff, so you need to rely on technologies like offline files on windows XP or vista to keep the files of remote users and traveling staff in synch with shared files on the local network. one of the default limitations offline files has is the limit of 2 GB of cache storage, that would be plenty for most users, but what about the pack rat that soon runs out of space? and complains about losing files when synching with the network? well, here is the solution for those fat pack rats.

probably you have noticed that when you increase the cache size using the slide button offline files provides, it resets right back to 1.90 GBs when you close the window:

to permanently increase the default cache storage on offline files go to Start then click on RUN and type gpedit.msc the group policy window should come up:

Maximize the Network folder, and click on Offline Files then double click on Default Cache Size. the default cache size property should come up:

Click on Enable and specify the percentage of the amount of the hard drive space you want use for offline files storage. for example, if you have a 80 GB hard drive, and want to use 8 GB of your entire hard drive, enter 1000 on the default cache size. after you finish click on OK.

one of the things you might notice after you do this is, that the slide button to increase the amount of disk space for temporary offline file storage is grey-out.

that’s normal, because the settings governing the cache size storage is on the group policy now.