Working with OneDrive on Mac

Storage service OneDrive can be used in different ways. Via the browser, via the app on mobile devices and via the computer program. Those who download and install the program can easily have files copied to the online storage. Install this program using the “Install OneDrive on Mac” article.

An account is required to use OneDrive. Don’t have this yet? Read in the article ‘Create a Microsoft account’ how to get an account. With a free account, you get 5 GB of storage. That’s usually not enough to back up the entire computer, but it’s enough for some important files.

OneDrive has its own folder in the Finder. Everything in this folder will also be saved online once you have an internet connection. The OneDrive folder works the same as any other folder in the Finder.

In the cloud service OneDrive, the user can store and view all kinds of files. Open a file like this:

• Click the OneDrive icon in the top right of the menu bar.
  
• click on Open a folder.
• The OneDrive folder opens in the Finder. Double click on the file you want to view.

The file opens in a corresponding program.

Folders are useful for organizing files. Create a new folder like this:

• Click the OneDrive icon in the top right of the menu bar.
• click on Open a folder.
• Click in the menu bar on Archive > New map.
• Type the name of the folder and press the Enter key.

The folder has been created. Double click on the folder to open it.

To save a file to OneDrive online, simply place the file (or a copy of it) in the OneDrive folder in the Finder. Copy a file or folder from the Finder as follows:

• Open the Finder.
• Click the file or folder you want to copy.
• Click in the menu bar on Change.
• click on Copy ‘XXX’. Where XXX stands for the name of the file or folder.
• Click the OneDrive icon in the top right of the menu bar.
• click on Open a folder.
• If necessary, first click on the folder where the file should be located. Click in the menu bar on Change > Paste part.

The file or folder is now also on OneDrive.

Move files to another folder in OneDrive like this:

• Click the OneDrive icon in the top right of the menu bar.
• click on Open a folder.
• Browse to the folder within OneDrive where you want to put the file.
• Click in the menu bar on Archive > New Finder Window.
• A new Finder window will open. Click on the file you want to move and hold down the mouse button.
• Drag the file to the Finder window with the OneDrive folder open.
• Place the file in the folder and release the mouse button.

The file is in the selected folder.

Delete files you don’t want to keep from OneDrive. This frees up space for other files.

• Click the OneDrive icon in the top right of the menu bar.
• click on Open a folder.
• Right click on the file to be deleted.
• Click in the menu on Move to Trash.

The file is in the computer’s Trash. The file will also remain in the ‘Trash’ folder on Onedrive.com for 30 days.

Do you still want to keep a deleted file? Then restore the file as follows:

• In the Dock, click the Trash icon.
• Click on the file.
• Click on the menu bar at the top Archive.
• click on put back.

The file is back in the OneDrive folder.

You can share files or folders in OneDrive with someone else. Handy if, for example, you collect photos for an album with others. Everyone can then add their own photos to a folder. However, this can only be done from the OneDrive website and not from the OneDrive folder on the computer. How this works is explained in the article ‘Working with OneDrive over the Internet’.