- How to download files from OneDrive.com
- How to download a whole folder
- The catch: there are size limits on zipped downloads
- When the Download button disappears
- Downloading on the OneDrive app on your computer
- Downloading on your phone
- Using a download to free up OneDrive space
- If a download won't start
- Downloading files someone shared with you
- My verdict
- Frequently asked questions
To download from OneDrive, go to OneDrive.com, tick the circle next to each file or folder you want, then click Download in the top bar, or right-click and choose Download. Several files or a folder arrive as one .zip file. Use Edge or Chrome for folders and multiple files.
You'd think downloading from OneDrive would be identical to any other website, and mostly that holds. But OneDrive has a few quirks: a Download button that only appears when something is selected, zipped downloads with size limits, and files on your computer that look downloaded but aren't. Here's how to get exactly what you need onto your device.
How to download files from OneDrive.com
- Go to OneDrive.com and sign in.
- Point at a file and tick the circle that appears. Tick more circles to select several files.
- To select a range, tick the first file, hold Shift and click the last one. To select everything in a folder, tick the circle in the header row or press Ctrl + A.
- Click Download in the top bar, or right-click and choose Download.
- If your browser asks, choose where to save it.
A single file downloads unchanged. Several files, or a folder, download as one .zip file you'll need to unzip.
How to download a whole folder
Go up a level so you can see the folder itself, tick its circle and click Download. Microsoft recommends Edge or Chrome for downloading folders and multiple files.
The catch: there are size limits on zipped downloads
Big downloads can fail without much explanation. Microsoft lists the limits: a 250GB file size limit, a maximum of 10,000 files in total, and no more than 10000 files in a folder download. If what you're downloading is mostly already-compressed files, such as .zip archives or .mp4 videos, the limit is much lower: 10GB per zip and 20GB overall.
If a large folder won't download, split it into smaller selections, or use the OneDrive sync app on your computer and mark the folder as Always keep on this device, which downloads it without zipping.
| Download type | What you get | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| One file | The file itself | Nothing special |
| Several files | One .zip file | Total file count and size limits |
| A folder | One .zip file | Folder file limit |
| Video or zip files | One .zip file | Lower limits for already-compressed files |
When the Download button disappears
Microsoft notes two oddities. The Download button only shows when you've selected something, so tick a file first. And it can vanish if you refresh the page while you're inside a folder. The fix is to go up one folder level and back in, or close the tab and open the folder again.
Downloading on the OneDrive app on your computer
If you use the OneDrive sync app, your files already appear in File Explorer or Finder. Online-only files, with a blue cloud icon, aren't on your computer yet. To download one, open it, or right-click and choose Always keep on this device. That's often easier than the website for big folders.
Downloading on your phone
In the OneDrive app, select a file and choose Keep offline to make it available without signal. Microsoft notes that the app doesn't let you make whole folders or OneNote notebooks available offline, so select the files inside a folder instead.
Using a download to free up OneDrive space
If your OneDrive is nearly full, download big files you don't need in the cloud to a folder outside OneDrive, then delete the OneDrive copy. Make sure the download is complete and opens without errors before you delete anything, and remember that deleted files sit in the recycle bin, still using space, until it's emptied.
If photos are the bulk of what you're downloading, my guide to deleting iPhone photos in bulk helps once they're safely on your computer.
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If a download won't start
- Check you've selected something, so the Download button shows.
- Switch to Edge or Chrome for folders and multiple files.
- Check you're within the size and file count limits.
- Make sure your computer has enough free space for the download.
- For a file shared with you, open it and save a copy if Download isn't offered.
Downloading files someone shared with you
Files other people share with you appear in the Shared section of OneDrive.com. You can usually open them and download a copy, depending on the permissions the owner set. If you can only view, the owner may have blocked downloading, and you'll need to ask them to change the link. For files you need to keep, download a copy or save it into your own OneDrive, because the owner can stop sharing or delete the original at any time.
My verdict
Downloading from OneDrive is tick, Download, unzip. The limits are what trip people up: thousands of files or tens of gigabytes of video won't come down in one zip, so split big jobs or let the sync app download folders for you. Use Edge or Chrome, and if the button disappears, step out of the folder and back in. For moving to a different storage service entirely, see my Dropbox alternatives guide.
Frequently asked questions
Can I download a file someone shared with me on OneDrive?
Usually, if the owner allows it. Open it from Shared and download or save a copy.
How do I download everything from OneDrive?
Select the files and folders on OneDrive.com and click Download. Large amounts may need splitting because of zip limits.
Why is the OneDrive Download button missing?
It only appears when items are selected, and can disappear after a refresh. Go up a folder level and back.
Why did my OneDrive download fail?
It may be over the limits: 250GB, 10,000 files, or 20GB overall for compressed files like videos and zips.
Which browser is best for OneDrive downloads?
Microsoft recommends Edge or Chrome for downloading folders and multiple files.
Can I download a folder in the OneDrive app on my phone?
No. The app doesn't make folders available offline, but you can keep individual files offline.
