How to Sync a OneDrive or SharePoint Document Library to Your Local Machine

Syncing OneDrive Files to Your Computer

 1.   Sign In to OneDrive:

      •   Windows:

             •   Click the OneDrive cloud icon in the system tray (near the clock).

             •   If you don’t see it, search for OneDrive in the Start menu and open it.

      •   Mac:

             •   Click the OneDrive cloud icon in the menu bar at the top of the screen.

             •   If it’s not there, open Finder, go to Applications, and launch OneDrive.

 2.   Set Up OneDrive (If Not Already Set Up):

      •   Enter your Microsoft account (personal, work, or school email) and click Sign in.

      •   Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the setup.

 3.   Choose Folders to Sync (Optional):

      •   Right-click the OneDrive icon.

      •   Select Help & Settings > Settings.

      •   Go to the Account tab and click “Choose folders”.

      •   Select the folders you want to sync to your computer and click OK.

 4.   Access Your Files Locally:

      •   Windows:

             •   Open File Explorer.

             •   Click on OneDrive in the left-hand pane.

      •   Mac:

             •   Open Finder.

             •   Select OneDrive from the sidebar.

Syncing a SharePoint Document Library to Your Computer

 1.   Open SharePoint in a Web Browser:

      •   Navigate to your organization’s SharePoint site using a web browser.

      •   Sign in with your work or school account if prompted.

 2.   Navigate to the Document Library:

      •   Go to the site that contains the document library you want to sync.

      •   Click on Documents or the specific library you wish to sync.

 3.   Initiate Sync:

      •   At the top of the document library page, click the “Sync” button (it may look like a cloud with arrows).

 4.   Allow OneDrive to Open:

      •   If your browser asks for permission to open Microsoft OneDrive, click Allow or Open.

 5.   Sign In to OneDrive (If Necessary):

      •   If prompted, sign in to OneDrive with your work or school account.

 6.   Start Syncing:

      •   OneDrive will begin syncing the SharePoint library to your computer.

      •   A folder with the name of the library or site will appear in your File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac) under your organization’s name.

 7.   Access Synced SharePoint Files Locally:

      •   Windows:

             •   Open File Explorer and look for the synced library under Quick access or This PC.

      •   Mac:

             •   Open Finder and find the library in the OneDrive folder.

Additional Tips

 •  Check Sync Status:

      •   The OneDrive icon indicates sync status:

             •   Blue cloud icon: OneDrive is running but files are not syncing.

             •   Green checkmark: Files are synced and up to date.

             •   Red X: There’s a sync problem.

 •  Pause and Resume Syncing:

      •   Click the OneDrive icon.

      •   Select Help & Settings > Pause syncing.

      •   Choose the duration or resume syncing when ready.

 •  Manage Sync Settings:

      •   Right-click the OneDrive icon and select Settings.

      •   Adjust settings in the Account, Settings, and Network tabs as needed.

 •  Ensure You Have Permissions:

      •   For SharePoint libraries, make sure you have the necessary permissions to access and sync the library.

 •  Keep Enough Disk Space:

      •   Ensure your computer has sufficient storage to sync files from OneDrive or SharePoint.

 •  Use Files On-Demand (Optional):

      •   To save space, enable Files On-Demand:

             •   In OneDrive settings, go to the Settings tab.

             •   Check “Save space and download files as you use them.”

Now you can easily access your OneDrive or SharePoint documents directly from your local machine!