- How to get OneDrive into File Explorer
- OneDrive still missing? Check these
- The navigation pane
- OneDrive isn't running
- The catch most guides miss: running as administrator
- Don't rename your OneDrive folders
- Restarting OneDrive
- Pin OneDrive to Quick access
- Using OneDrive from File Explorer
- On a work computer
- My verdict
- Frequently asked questions
To add OneDrive to File Explorer, open OneDrive from the Start menu and sign in with your Microsoft account. Once it's syncing, OneDrive appears in File Explorer's left-hand pane automatically. If it doesn't, turn on the navigation pane under View, Show, Navigation pane, and check OneDrive is running.
There's no Add to File Explorer button for OneDrive, because you don't need one. OneDrive is built into Windows, and once you're signed in and syncing, it shows up in File Explorer's left-hand pane by itself. If it's missing, something is stopping it, and it's usually one of four things.
How to get OneDrive into File Explorer
- Click Start, type OneDrive and open the OneDrive app.
- Sign in with your Microsoft account, or your work or school account.
- Choose where to keep your OneDrive folder, or accept the suggested location.
- Pick which folders to sync, if asked.
- Open File Explorer. OneDrive appears in the left-hand pane, with your name or organisation.
For a work account, you'll see a separate entry with your organisation's name, and any SharePoint libraries you've synced show up as their own folders too.
OneDrive still missing? Check these
| Check | How to fix it |
|---|---|
| Is the navigation pane switched off? | In File Explorer, click View, then Show, then Navigation pane |
| Is OneDrive running? | Look for the cloud icon by the clock; if it's missing, open OneDrive from Start |
| Are you signed in? | Click the cloud icon and sign in if prompted |
| Is it running as administrator? | Check the Elevated column in Task Manager |
The navigation pane
If the whole left-hand pane is missing, not just OneDrive, it's been switched off. In File Explorer, click View on the command bar, then Show, then tick Navigation pane. Your OneDrive, This PC and Quick access entries all come back.
OneDrive isn't running
If there's no cloud icon near the clock, check the hidden icons with the small up arrow. Still nothing? OneDrive isn't running. Click Start, type OneDrive and open it. To stop it happening again, open OneDrive Settings and make sure it's set to start when you sign in to Windows.
The catch most guides miss: running as administrator
Microsoft notes that OneDrive doesn't support running with elevated privileges. If OneDrive or File Explorer has been started as an administrator, the two don't connect, and OneDrive can vanish from the pane. Open Task Manager, go to the Details tab, and add the Elevated column. If OneDrive.exe or Explorer.exe says Yes, restart your computer and open OneDrive normally, not with Run as administrator.
Don't rename your OneDrive folders
If you back up Documents, Desktop or Pictures to OneDrive, renaming those folders in File Explorer can break the link between them and OneDrive. Microsoft has a specific warning about renaming the Documents folder. Leave the folder names alone and organise inside them instead.
Restarting OneDrive
If OneDrive is running but still won't appear, close it and start it again. Click the cloud icon, open the cog menu and choose to quit OneDrive, then open it from the Start menu. A restart of the whole computer does the same job if you'd rather not hunt for menus. After restarting, give it a minute to finish signing in and checking your files before you look in File Explorer again, because the entry can take a moment to come back.
Pin OneDrive to Quick access
If you open OneDrive files all day, right-click the OneDrive entry in the left-hand pane and choose Pin to Quick access. It'll sit at the top of the pane, and you can pin individual OneDrive folders the same way, such as a client folder you use every day.
Using OneDrive from File Explorer
- Save files into the OneDrive folder and they're backed up and available on your other devices.
- Right-click a file to share it with a link without opening a browser.
- Right-click and choose Free up space to make a file online-only and save room on your computer.
- Look at the status icons: a cloud means online-only, a green tick means stored on this computer.
On a work computer
If OneDrive won't sign in or appear on a computer your employer manages, the settings may be locked by your IT team, which Microsoft lists as one of the reasons OneDrive icons can be missing. Ask them before changing anything, because they may need to add your account or allow syncing first. It's also worth checking you're signing in with your work email rather than a personal Microsoft account, as the two show up as different OneDrive entries in File Explorer.
If you're tidying up how files sync across your devices, my guide on turning off Google Photos backup helps if you've got two services backing up the same pictures.
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My verdict
You don't add OneDrive to File Explorer by hand: sign in to the OneDrive app and it appears in the left-hand pane. If it's missing, turn the navigation pane back on, make sure OneDrive is running and signed in, and check neither OneDrive nor File Explorer is running as administrator. Pin it to Quick access if you use it a lot. For keeping your computer running well, see my tips for a faster, tidier computer.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use OneDrive in File Explorer without syncing everything?
Yes. Files On-Demand shows all your files in File Explorer but only downloads them when you open them.
Why isn't OneDrive showing in File Explorer?
OneDrive may not be running or signed in, the navigation pane may be off, or one of them is running as administrator.
How do I show the navigation pane in File Explorer?
Click View, then Show, then Navigation pane.
How do I pin OneDrive to Quick access?
Right-click OneDrive in the left-hand pane and choose Pin to Quick access.
Do I need to install OneDrive on Windows?
No. It's built into Windows. Open it from Start and sign in.
Why are there two OneDrive entries in File Explorer?
You're signed in with a personal account and a work or school account.
Can renaming folders break OneDrive?
Yes. Renaming backed-up folders like Documents can break navigation to OneDrive.
