- All the ways to access OneDrive
- Access OneDrive on the web
- Access OneDrive in File Explorer on Windows
- Access OneDrive on a Mac
- Access OneDrive on your phone
- Find files people shared with you
- Get shared folders on your computer
- Access files without internet
- Switching between personal and work accounts
- Can't access OneDrive?
- My verdict
- Frequently asked questions
To access OneDrive, go to OneDrive.com and sign in with your Microsoft account or your work or school account. On a Windows 11 PC, OneDrive is already installed, so your files appear in the OneDrive folder in File Explorer once you've signed in. On a phone, install the OneDrive app and sign in to see the same files.
OneDrive keeps your files online so you can get to them from almost anywhere, but only if you know where to look. Some people never realise the OneDrive folder in File Explorer is the same thing as OneDrive.com, and others can't find files a colleague shared with them. Here are all the ways in, and where your own and shared files live in each.
All the ways to access OneDrive
| Where | How | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Any web browser | Go to OneDrive.com and sign in | Any computer, without installing anything |
| Windows PC | The OneDrive folder in File Explorer | Everyday work on your own computer |
| Mac | The OneDrive app, then Finder | Working with files like normal folders |
| Phone or tablet | The OneDrive app | Viewing, sharing and uploading photos |
Microsoft says you can always access OneDrive from a web browser, or use an app on Windows, Mac, Android and iPhone.
Access OneDrive on the web
- Go to OneDrive.com.
- Sign in with your Microsoft account, or your work or school account.
- Your files appear under My files.
On a shared computer, use a private browsing window and sign out when you've finished.
Access OneDrive in File Explorer on Windows
Microsoft says that if you have Windows 11, OneDrive is already installed. Open OneDrive from the Start menu, sign in, and once it's set up your files appear in File Explorer in the OneDrive folder. Personal files show under OneDrive - Personal, and work or school files under OneDrive followed by your company's name. You work with them just like any other files, and changes sync automatically when you're online.
Access OneDrive on a Mac
Download and install the OneDrive app, sign in, and your OneDrive folder appears in Finder. From then on, it behaves like a normal folder that keeps itself in sync with OneDrive.com.
Access OneDrive on your phone
Install the OneDrive app from the App Store or Google Play and sign in with the same account. You'll see all your files, and you can upload photos, share links and open documents. It's the easiest way to grab a file when you're away from your desk.
Find files people shared with you
This is where many people get stuck. Files someone shares with you don't appear in My files. Microsoft says the Shared view shows files and folders others have shared with you.
- On the website: sign in and select Shared in the left pane. Files appear under the names of the people who shared them.
- In the mobile app: tap the Shared icon at the bottom.
Two things to know from Microsoft: shared items live on the other person's OneDrive, so be careful when changing them, and if the owner stops sharing, the item disappears from your Shared view.
Get shared folders on your computer
If you have edit permission on a shared folder, Microsoft says you can add a shortcut to it in My files, which also lets you see it on your computer. On OneDrive.com, go to Shared, right-click the folder and choose the option to add a shortcut to My files. It's brilliant for client folders you open every day.
Access files without internet
Once files have synced to your computer, Microsoft says you can open them even when you're offline. If you're using Files On-Demand, make sure the folders you need are set to always keep on this device before you travel, or they'll only be placeholders that need a connection to open.
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Switching between personal and work accounts
Many people have both a personal Microsoft account and a work account. Microsoft says you can have several work or school accounts on one computer but only one personal OneDrive account. On the website, check the account picture at the top right to see which one you're in, and sign out to switch. On your computer, each account gets its own OneDrive folder in File Explorer, so you always know which is which and never save a client file to your personal storage by mistake.
Can't access OneDrive?
| Problem | Try this |
|---|---|
| Signed in with the wrong account | Sign out and sign in with the account that holds your files |
| A shared file disappeared | The owner may have stopped sharing; ask them |
| Work account blocked | Contact your IT team, who manage access |
| Files won't open offline | Set the folder to always keep on this device |
If you use more than one cloud service, it helps to decide which one is the home for which files. My guide to transferring ownership in Google Drive shows how Google handles shared files differently, and this piece on file sharing risks explains why one home beats files scattered everywhere.
My verdict
Go to OneDrive.com and sign in, use the OneDrive folder in File Explorer on Windows 11, or install the app on your Mac or phone. Look in Shared, not My files, for things people send you, and add shortcuts to the shared folders you use most so they appear on your computer too.
Frequently asked questions
How do I access my OneDrive?
Go to OneDrive.com and sign in with your Microsoft account or work or school account, or open the OneDrive folder in File Explorer.
Is OneDrive already on my computer?
If you have Windows 11, Microsoft says OneDrive is already installed.
Where are files people shared with me in OneDrive?
In the Shared view, in the left pane on OneDrive.com or at the bottom of the mobile app.
Can I access OneDrive offline?
Yes, once files have synced to your computer. Keep important folders on the device if you use Files On-Demand.
Why did a shared file disappear from my OneDrive?
Microsoft says if the owner stops sharing, the item disappears from your Shared view.
