Users can download all of their data out of OneDrive and store it on their computer.
If you are leaving the university, use this guide to keep a copy of some or all of your data.
Your OneDrive data is deleted forever once you transition to an “inactive” status at the University, e.g. you are no longer a student or cease employment.
Connect your computer to OneDrive
In order to download your files, you must use the OneDrive App.
Scenario 1) I wish to download the data to my computer
Scenario 2) I wish to download the data to an external storage drive
In both scenarios, you need the OneDrive app installed on your computer. In Scenario 2, if you already have OneDrive installed, you will need to unlink the app and reinstall it with certain settings. Please expand the instructions below to properly prepare your OneDrive app to use an external storage drive.
Firstly, you must unlink the OneDrive App if it’s currently installed on your computer. Doing so removes your personal OneDrive information from your computer. This is different than signing out of the app.
Open the OneDrive menu.
In Windows, click on the cloud icon in the taskbar.
In macOS, click on the cloud icon in the top menu bar
Click on the settings wheel and then click on Settings.
In the Account tab, click on Unlink this PC.
The unlinking process may take upwards of 15minutes as the app removes traces of your account from your computer. This is necessary because you wish to move the OneDrive directory.When the unlinking process is finished, a window will appear asking your to sign in. Sign in.
In the Your OneDrive folder step, you must click on Change location.
In the popup window, choose your external storage drive at the location. Click Select Folder when you’re at the appropriate location.
If you receive a “A OneDrive folder already exists on this PC” message, be sure to use your new location.
When asked if you wish to “Back up folders on this PC”, you may skip this step since you are looking to export your data from OneDrive.
Continue through the installation normally.
Follow the steps below in this guide.
Once you have finished this guide, you may simply eject and unplug your drive.
Test the drive on another computer before your OneDrive account is deleted by automated processes at the university.
Reach out to techsupport@uconn.edu if you have trouble with these external drive steps.
Create local copies of your files
If you are employed at the university and wish to export your data, consult with your supervisor to determine which data is appropriate for you to take with you.
Now that your OneDrive is connected to your computer,
Open up File Explorer, or “Finder” in macOS, and navigate to your OneDrive folder.
There should be a shortcut to your OneDrive in the left hand menu.
On your keyboard, press Ctrl + A (or Command + A on macOS) to select all of your OneDrive items.
Alternatively, you can select the first item in the list, hold the Shift key, and then select the last item to select all of the items.If you have any shortcuts to SharePoint sites, deselect them at this time.
While holding Ctrl on your keyboard, click on Shortcuts to deselect them.
Alternatively, if available, you can uncheck the boxes next to these items to deselect them.
These items are marked with a chain link icon to remind you that they are simply links to another location.
Right click on any of the highlighted files and choose Always keep on this device.
OneDrive will now start to download all selected files and folders onto your computer.
If your computer goes to sleep or is shutdown, this download task will resume once your computer is running again.Click on the OneDrive cloud icon to view the progress of your download.
In Windows, find the blue OneDrive icon near your system clock.
In macOS, the cloud icon will be in your top menu toolbar.
Once the files have finished downloading, sign out of OneDrive.
Again, click on the cloud icon and then click on the Settings gear. Click on Quit OneDrive.
This will disconnect your computer from the cloud. Now, changes made to your account (such as new files created, or account deletion) will not affect your computer.