Send OneDrive Items in Outlook - Encrypted File Transfers

Owned by Dan Jakubiak
Last updated: Mar 10, 2023
3 min read

UConn faculty and staff can send items in their OneDrive to other members of the university quickly and securely by using Outlook.

This method of sharing generates a link to the item, it does not send the recipient(s) the file itself. Creating a link ensure the file remains encrypted; the recipient will need to sign into their Microsoft account in order to view/edit the item. When the user opens the file, you are both editing the same file while changes are saved to a single file on your OneDrive. If you are working on the file at the same time, you will see updates by each user as they are typed.

There is also a method of sending an unencrypted version of your OneDrive item. This method is akin to the well-known method of attaching a file to an email. Visit this guide to learn how to attach your OneDrive item to the email:

This file will be separated from your OneDrive; any updates made to the attached file will not be reflected in your file in OneDrive. This method uses no more security than a regular, secure Outlook email.

When composing an email in Outlook, you can include files stored in OneDrive without having to download them onto your computer.

  1. Open the Outlook application on your computer.

  2. Click New Email.

  3. Compose your email as you normally would.

  4. Select the Insert tab.

  5. Click Attach File in the Include box.

    1. If you do not see this button, click on the Insert tab in the top ribbon. Then choose Attach File.

  6. Click Browse Web Locations.

    click browse web locations

  7. Select OneDrive - University of Connecticut.

  8. Wait a second for a popup window to appear.

  9. In the popup window, find the file you wish to share and select it by clicking on the file once and then clicking on Open.

  10. Click Insert.

  11. Choose Share link to maintain encryption on the file. 

  12. If you want to manage the access level to the shared file, click the down arrow next to a shared file.

  13. Choose your desired level of access.

    1. Anyone - anyone

    2. Organization - only those who are a part of the University (have a NetID)

    3. Recipients - only those who receive this original email

  14. Send the email.