Logging into/Setting up OneDrive

Modified on Wed, 8 Jan at 11:04 AM

For cloud stuff like SharePoint and OneDrive to work, you need to be signed into OneDrive. You can do that by doing the following:

In the bottom-right of your screen, in the task tray, there is a cloud. If you're signed out, it will be grey. If you're signed in, it will be blue.

Sometimes the cloud can be hidden in the icon group in the up tick arrow, so you may need to click that to see the cloud.

You may also open OneDrive with the Start menu and typing in "OneDrive":

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Here is a guide from Microsoft on logging in and setting up OneDrive. The article is also copy pasted below.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/sync-files-with-onedrive-in-windows-615391c4-2bd3-4aae-a42a-858262e42a49

Install and set up

If you're using Windows 10 or 11, your computer already has the OneDrive app installed - skip to step 2.
If you don't have Windows 10, 11, or Office 2016, install the Windows version of the new OneDrive sync app.
Start OneDrive Setup.
- If you have no accounts signed in to OneDrive
- If you already have an account signed in to OneDrive

If you have no accounts signed in to OneDrive

If you don’t have an account signed in to OneDrive, use these instructions to start OneDrive.

Select the Start button, search for “OneDrive”, and then open it:
- In Windows 10 or 11, select OneDrive.
When OneDrive Setup starts, enter your personal account, or your work or school account, and select Sign in.

Key points in OneDrive Setup

There are two screens in OneDrive Setup that are helpful to watch for:

On the This is your OneDrive folder screen, select Next to accept the default folder location for your OneDrive files. If you want to change the folder location, select Change location - this is the best time to make this change.
On the All your files, ready and on-demand screen, you'll see how files are marked to show them as online-only, locally available, or always available. Files On-Demand helps you access all your files in OneDrive without having to download all of them and use storage space on your Windows device. Select Next.

Note: If you were already syncing OneDrive for work or school to your computer (using the previous sync app) and you've just installed the sync app, you won't see the This is your OneDrive folder or the Sync files from your OneDrive screen during OneDrive Setup. The sync app automatically takes over syncing in the same folder location you were using before. To choose which folders you're syncing, right-click the blue cloud icon in the taskbar notification area, and select Settings > Account > Choose folders.

See and manage your OneDrive files

You're all set. Your OneDrive files will appear in File Explorer in the OneDrive folder. If you use more than one account, your personal files appear under OneDrive – Personal and your work or school files appear under OneDrive - CompanyName.

Screenshot of OneDrive for Business files in File Explorer

You now have a new white or blue cloud icon (or both) in your notification area and your files are synced to your computer. Your blue cloud icon will appear as OneDrive – CompanyName when you hover over the icon.

OneDrive for Business sync client

Note: Contoso is an example name - yours will show the name of your organization.

Any time you want to change the folders you sync on your computer, right-click that cloud icon in the taskbar notification area, and select Settings > Account > Choose folders. Find other information about your account and change other OneDrive settings from here.

OneDrive add account dialog