Best Alternatives to the Total Commander SkyDrive File System Plugin

How to Install and Use the Total Commander SkyDrive File System PluginTotal Commander is a powerful file manager for Windows that expands its functionality through plugins. One popular plugin lets you access Microsoft OneDrive (previously branded as SkyDrive) directly from Total Commander’s dual-pane interface, treating cloud storage like a local drive. This guide explains how to install, configure, and use the Total Commander SkyDrive (OneDrive) File System plugin, plus tips for troubleshooting and alternatives.

What the SkyDrive/OneDrive File System Plugin Does

The plugin integrates OneDrive into Total Commander so you can:

• Browse OneDrive folders inside Total Commander panes.
• Copy, move, delete, and rename files between local and cloud storage using standard Total Commander operations.
• Work with compressed archives and file operations using Total Commander’s tools. It does not sync files automatically like the official OneDrive client; it provides on-demand access via Total Commander.

Prerequisites

• Windows 7/8/10/11 (or newer) with Total Commander installed.
• Total Commander version that supports file system plugins (most modern versions do).
• A Microsoft account with OneDrive enabled.
• Internet connection.

Step 1 — Download the Plugin

1. Open Total Commander and go to Configuration → Options → Plugins → File system plugins (WFX).
2. Click “Download plugins” or visit the Total Commander plugins page in your browser.
3. Search for “SkyDrive” or “OneDrive” file system plugin (look for a WFX plugin supporting Microsoft OneDrive/Windows Live/Live Mesh/SkyDrive).
4. Download the plugin archive (usually a .zip).

Step 2 — Install the Plugin

1. Extract the downloaded ZIP to a temporary folder.
2. Locate the plugin file (it will have a .wfx extension or a folder containing the plugin).
3. In Total Commander’s Plugins → File system plugins (WFX) dialog, click “Configure” or “Add”.
4. Point to the .wfx file or the plugin folder and confirm installation.
5. After adding, the plugin should appear in the list of available WFX plugins.

Step 3 — Configure Authentication

1. Launch the plugin by opening a new network path in a Total Commander panel: press Ctrl+N or click the plugin name (depending on plugin).
2. Most OneDrive WFX plugins require you to authenticate with your Microsoft account. The plugin may open a browser window or provide a URL and a code.
3. Complete the OAuth/authentication flow in the browser: sign in to your Microsoft account and grant access.
4. If the plugin provides a code, paste it back into the plugin’s dialog in Total Commander.
5. Once authenticated, the plugin saves access tokens (the plugin’s behavior depends on its implementation).

Step 4 — Browsing and Basic File Operations

• Open a Total Commander panel and select the OneDrive entry created by the plugin.
• You’ll see your OneDrive folder tree. Use Enter to open folders and F5/F6 for copy/move operations.
• Drag and drop between panes to transfer files between local drives and OneDrive.
• Right-click for context menu operations supported by the plugin (rename, delete, properties).
• Use Total Commander’s built-in search (Alt+F7) while a OneDrive folder is active to search cloud files (plugin-dependent).

Step 5 — Working with Large Files and Transfers

• For large transfers, watch transfer progress in Total Commander’s copy dialog. Network speed and API limits will affect performance.
• If a transfer fails, retry; partial uploads may require cleanup in OneDrive web UI.
• Consider splitting very large transfers into smaller batches if you encounter timeouts.

Step 6 — Using Archives and Advanced Features

• Many plugins allow reading and extracting archives stored on OneDrive without downloading the whole file first. Use F3 to view, and F5 to copy files out of archives.
• Use Total Commander’s multi-rename, compare by content (Shift+F2), and synchronization tools with OneDrive folders; functionality depends on plugin support and API limitations.

Troubleshooting

• Authentication fails: ensure your browser is not blocking pop-ups, and that you followed the OAuth steps fully. Re-install or update the plugin if tokens are rejected.
• Plugin missing in plugin list: verify you installed the correct .wfx for your Total Commander architecture (32-bit vs 64-bit).
• Slow transfers: check network speed, antivirus interference, or OneDrive API rate limits. Try disabling on-access scanning temporarily.
• File operations error: confirm you have permissions for the file and that the file isn’t locked by another process. Use OneDrive web UI to verify file state.
• Sync vs on-demand access confusion: remember this plugin provides file access via Total Commander — it’s not a sync client. For continuous local copies use the official OneDrive sync client.

Security and Privacy Notes

• The plugin uses Microsoft OAuth to access your OneDrive. Tokens stored by the plugin should be safeguarded — keep your system secure.
• If using a shared or public PC, sign out from the plugin when finished or remove saved tokens.
• The plugin has access only to whatever permissions you grant during authentication (often full access to your OneDrive).

Alternatives

Tips and Best Practices

• Keep the plugin and Total Commander updated to avoid compatibility issues.
• Use strong Microsoft account security (2FA) — OAuth remains compatible.
• For frequent large transfers, prefer wired connections and perform transfers during low-traffic times to reduce API throttling.
• Backup important cloud files before performing bulk operations.

If you want, tell me which Total Commander and Windows versions you have and I’ll give step-by-step commands tailored to your setup.