Deleting a file inside a OneDrive folder can remove it from both the computer and OneDrive. Microsoft treats freeing local storage while keeping the cloud copy as a different operation. Practical takeaway: identify whether you want to remove a local download or delete the file before acting; the presence of a cloud copy does not make deletion harmless. Recovery also has retention limits. This is an AI-assisted reading of official guidance, not a tested backup or restore result.
Microsoft describes several tools with different purposes. Practical takeaway: check whether your chosen method protects personal files, system recovery, or both; a recovery drive alone is not a substitute for a personal-file backup. AI-assisted original summary checked against Microsoft’s documentation.