Introduction to OneDrive

Storing your individual files and folder

As part of your University O365 account, OneDrive is your personal file and folder storage space that can be accessed from most internet-connected devices and offers up to 100GB of storage capacity.

Your University OneDrive account provides you with a place to store, share, and sync work files with anyone and on any device.

Files saved to your University OneDrive account are private until you share them.

Important: It is not recommended for storing files and folders that other people require continuous access to. Microsoft Teams is the University’s preferred option for this. Please see the Microsoft Teams pages for more guidance.

Access your OneDrive

You can gain access to your OneDrive files via the internet, mobile app, and in File Explorer on your Windows PC or Finder on your Mac.

OneDrive Sync Client

The OneDrive Sync Client is installed on all managed University devices and on all computers. This is the blue cloud icon that can be located on the bottom right-hand side of the taskbar.

It allows you to save files directly to your OneDrive storage space, like saving your Documents. This is quicker and easier than uploading via the web version of OneDrive.

Allow time for files to sync to OneDrive.

The status of files syncing to OneDrive can be checked by clicking the OneDrive (cloud) icon. This will launch the activity window confirming sync or error status.

When using computers on campus (in person or remote access) always remember to check that your work has been saved/synced to your OneDrive account, (blue cloud icon in the taskbar) before signing out.‌

Cloud images of OneDrive sync error OneDrive icon showing it has synced from the taskbar

OneDrive on your personal device

To download and setup OneDrive on a personal device, use the instructions below, selecting the relevant device:

Quick guides

The below guides have been put together as quick reference to help with some of the most common OneDrive tasks.

Uploading & Creating Files

How to create files and folders

Create a file in OneDrive online

  • Select New and choose the type of file you are looking to create

Selecting a new file to create via OneDrive online

  • To rename the file, click the file name in the title bar, for example Document, and then type a name

Rename the file that has been created

  • All changes are automatically saved in the Office online apps, so when you go back to OneDrive, your new file is already saved

Create a file in an Office app

  • Open a desktop app, such as Word, Excel , or PowerPoint
  • Select File and then Save As

Open word document and select file image

  • Select your OneDrive work or school account

Save as showing the OneDrive options available

  • Type a name for the file and select Save

Create folders

  • Select New and then Folder

Selecting a new file to create via OneDrive online

  • Type a name for the folder and select Create

Image of folder name creation box

  • Select the files you want and drag them into the folder

How to upload files and folders

Upload Files or folders in a browser

  • Login to your OneDrive online and select Upload

OneDrive online upload options image

  • Select the file or folder you want to upload
  • Select Open

You can also upload files by opening File Explorer, selecting the files you want to upload, and dragging them to OneDrive for work or school.

Upload files and folders on the desktop

  • Open File Explorer or finder and select the files or folders you want
  • Dragging them into your OneDrive for work or school folder

Make sure you have set up your sync options. For more in formation on this, see

OneDrive on-demand Microsoft article - Synchronizing your data

Sharing Files and Folders

How to Share files from within an app

When you save your files to OneDrive, you can sharing your them from within the applications, using a file browser or using a web browser.

Share a file from with an app

  • Open the document you are looking to share and click on the Share button in the top right hand corner and select Share

Share a file from with a document

  • Start typing the name or email address of the person you are looking to share with if they are internal to the University or select the sharing settings and select the level of access to the file. Options include:
    • Anyone (if your organization allows it)
    • People in your organization
    • Specific people

OneDrive sharing access levels

  • Select the editing rights you would like people have to the document
    • Can edit - Full editing rights
    • Can review - Can suggest changes
    • Can view - Read only and can not edit

Folder sharing options with editing enabled

  • Select Apply to save the permissions
  • Enter the name or email address of people you want to share with
  • Type a message
  • Select Send

Alternatively, you can select Copy Link and send the link in an email or add it to a file.‌

Copied link image

Microsoft article - How to Share files and folders

How to Share folders from Windows explorer

When you save your files to OneDrive, you can sharing your folders using a file browser or via a web browser from OneDrive online

Share a folder

  • Open OneDrive from file explorer. Select the folder you are looking to share and right click on it and select Share

Sharing a folder from Windows file explorer

  • Start typing the name or email address of the person you are looking to share with if they are internal to the University or select the sharing settings and select the level of access to the file. Options include:
    • Anyone (if your organization allows it)
    • People in your organization
    • Specific people

OneDrive sharing access levels

  • Select the editing rights you would like people have to the folder
    • Can edit - Full editing rights
    • Can view - Read only and can not edit

OneDrive folder sharing permissions

  • Select Apply to save the permissions
  • Enter the name or email address of people you want to share with
  • Type a message
  • Select Send

Alternatively, you can select Copy Link and send the link in an email or add it to a file.‌

Copied link image

Microsoft article - How to Share files and folders

Deleting and Restoring

How to Restore files from OneDrive online

Restore files from OneDrive online

  • In the navigation pane, select Recycle bin

Link to the OneDrive online recycle bin

  • Select the files or folders you want to restore by pointing to each item and clicking the circle check box that appears, and then click Restore

Image of folders selected and the option to restore them

 
Microsoft article - Restoring and deleting files

How to Restore your OneDrive

If lots of your OneDrive files get deleted, overwritten, corrupted, or infected by malware, you can restore your entire OneDrive to a previous time.

  • Go to your OneDrive
  • At the top of the page, select Settings > Restore your OneDrive from the left navigation

Screenshot of the OneDrive Restore link

  • On the Restore page, select a date from the dropdown list or select Custom date and time

OneDrive date selection Windows

  • Use the activity chart and activity feed to review the recent activities that you want to undo

Image of the OneDrive activity windows to select what you would like to restore

 

MS Page - Restoring your OneDrive

Managing and Syncing your files and folders

Manage your OneDrive files

Your OneDrive files will appear in File Explorer in the OneDrive folder. If you have more than one account, your personal files appear under OneDrive – Personal and your work or school files appear under OneDrive - Loughborough University.

OneDrive shown in file explorer

You now have a new white or blue cloud icon (or both) in your notification area in the taskbar. Your blue cloud icon will appear as OneDrive – Loughborough University when you hover over it.

OneDrive icon showing it has synced from the taskbar

Folder sync options

Any time you want to change the folders you sync on your computer,

  • Right-click the cloud icon in the taskbar notification area
  • Select Settings
  • Select the Account tab
  • And Choose folders 

You can find more information about your account and change other OneDrive settings from here.

Image of folder sync options

Setup access to your files Microsoft - Sync with OneDrive

Access your files online

To access your OneDrive online, follow these steps:

  • Visit https://lunet-my.sharepoint.com to access the web version of OneDrive
  • Sign in with your Loughborough University credentials (username and password) and click Login
  • You will be taken directly to your Office 365 OneDrive storage space, where you can upload and access files, as well as edit them via Office Online
  • You can also download and setup the OneDrive client by following the instructions on the “Setup OneDrive on your device” page

Windows: OneDrive comes pre-installed with Windows 10 onwards. The OneDrive Sync Client allows you to save files directly to your OneDrive storage space, similar to saving to your Documents.

Mac: You can download the OneDrive Sync Client via the App Store (requires Mac OS X Catalina 10.15 or above). If you are currently using the OneDrive, you may need to first uninstall your current version and reinstall the latest build.

Setup OneDrive on your device Access your OneDrive online

FAQs and troubleshooting

For additional advice and troubleshooting guidance, please see the page below: