Set Up OneDrive on a Computer

Owned by June Miller (Deactivated)
Last updated: Jul 19, 2023 by Dan Jakubiak
3 min read

OneDrive is cloud-based storage available through Microsoft365. Users can save every file type (.doc .jpeg .pdf etc.) and access them anywhere on any device connected to the internet. Word Documents, Excel Spreadsheets, and PowerPoints can be shared and edited simultaneously using Office Online.

When students graduate or when faculty/staff separate from the organization, they will lose access to their OneDrive files.

Students should be sure to download any data they wish to keep before leaving UConn.

Installing OneDrive on your computer

The OneDrive App is used for both OneDrive and SharePoint files.

If you are using a university computer or have bought a new Windows computer, OneDrive is already installed.

There is no official OneDrive application for Linux computers.

OneDrive is already installed on my computer

If OneDrive is already installed on your computer, simply sign into the App to begin synchronizing your files.

  1. Open OneDrive

    1. Windows: click the OneDrive icon (cloud) in the bottom right of the Windows taskbar.
      Note the cloud icon may be gray or blue. If then icon is blue, you are likely already signed into OneDrive.

      1. If you do not see the OneDrive icon, click on the Windows Search bar and search for “OneDrive”.

    2. macOS: click on the OneDrive icon (cloud) in the top menu bar.

  2. Follow the on-screen instructions and use your UConn email address and NetID password to log in.

How does my computer look after I complete the “sync”

Below is an animated picture showing the sync experience. As you can see, once your computer is synchronized, OneDrive files are accessed like any other file on your computer.

Common Questions

How many computers can I have synchronized with my OneDrive?

OneDrive is a part of the Microsoft365 suite, and you can have the suite linked to 5 computers.

How can I make my OneDrive as easy to use as my UConn P Drive was?

When you “sync” your computer with OneDrive following the above guides, browsing and opening files will be functionally equivalent to the now retired P Drive.

How can I exclude a specific folder from syncing from OneDrive to my computer?

My desktop icons are showing on all of my computers. What’s going on?