One-way sync from cloud to local means ensuring data flows only from the cloud storage location to your local device, preventing any local changes from being uploaded back to the cloud. "Forcing" this typically involves configuring specific sync software settings or using dedicated sync modes that prioritize download-only behavior, overriding any default two-way synchronization where changes flow both directions. This approach ensures the cloud version remains the authoritative source.

Common scenarios include creating offline reference copies of cloud documents that should not be altered locally, such as policy manuals stored centrally. Another example is restoring a local folder's entire contents from the cloud backup version after accidental deletion. Many file sync tools like Dropbox Selective Sync, Google Drive for Desktop "Mirror files," or enterprise backup systems allow administrators to enforce this cloud-to-local-only direction, often called "mirroring" or "download-only" mode.

Forcing one-way sync offers clear benefits: it prevents accidental overwriting of critical cloud files by local edits and simplifies maintaining a single "source of truth." However, key limitations exist: any important local changes made after enforcing this sync are typically lost during subsequent syncs as local files revert to the cloud version. Crucially, this method isn't real-time backup for local work – significant local edits risk disappearing. Administrators must carefully control this to avoid unintended data loss for users.