Sync SharePoint Files with the OneDrive Client

Overview

You can sync SharePoint Online files to a folder on your computer where you can work directly in the Mac Finder, or Windows File Explorer to access the files even when you're offline. Whenever you're online, any changes that you or others make will sync automatically.

In this article:

• macOS Sync Setup
• Windows Sync Setup
• Change Sync Settings
  • macOS Sync Settings
  • Windows Sync Settings

What materials do I need?

• Apple Computer running a supported version of MacOS
• PC running a supported version of Windows OS

How do I use this technology?

Note: You will only need to do the following steps once per device to setup syncing on that device. After you setup syncing, the files sync automatically.

Important: Before proceeding with the following steps make sure you have configured the OneDrive client for your personal OneDrive for Business directory first. If you have not done this, or are not sure, please review the Get Started with OneDrive for Business article first.

MacOS Sync Setup

1. Login to Office 365 @ UA.
2. Access the desired SharePoint Online site.
3. Click Documents, or navigate to the sub-folder you want to sync.
   
   
    
4. Click the Sync button.
   
   
    
5. If your browser requests permission to use Microsoft OneDrive, confirm that this is okay by clicking Allow.
   
   
    
6. Choose the folders you want to sync, then click Start sync.
   
   
   
   The files will sync to a folder on your Mac computer named University of Alaska in your profile (e.g. Macintosh HD/Users/Username/University of Alaska).
   
   

To sync the files on another computer, go to that computer and follow these steps again.

Windows Sync Setup

1. Login to Office 365 @ UA.
2. Access the desired SharePoint Online site.
3. Click Documents, or navigate to the sub-folder you want to sync.
   
   
    
4. Click the Sync button.
   
   
    
5. If your browser requests permission to use Microsoft OneDrive, confirm that this is okay by clicking Yes.
   
   
    
6. Choose the folders you want to sync, then click Start sync.
   The files will sync to a folder on your Windows computer named University of Alaska in your profile (e.g. C:\Users\UaUsername\University of Alaska). This folder is automatically added to the left pane in the File Explorer.
   

To sync the files on another computer, go to that computer and follow these steps again.

Change Sync Settings

To change the folders that sync for a site, or to stop syncing all files on a site, follow the steps for the desired operating system.

macOS Sync Settings

1. Click the OneDrive icon in the menu bar.
2. Click Preferences.
3. Click the Account tab.
4. To change the folders that you're syncing, click Choose Folders for that location, and then choose the folders that you want to sync. To stop syncing a site, click Stop Sync next to the site. (Copies of the files remain on your device. You can delete them if you want.)

Windows Sync Settings

1. Select the OneDrive cloud icon in the Windows taskbar notification area.
2. In the activity center, select More > Settings.
   (You might need to click the Show hidden icons arrow next to the area to see the OneDrive icon. If the icon doesn't appear in the notification area, OneDrive might not be running.)
3. Click the Account tab to see a list of all your syncing sites.
4. To change the folders that you are syncing, click Choose folders for that library, and then choose the folders that you want to sync. To stop syncing a site, click Stop sync next to the site. (Copies of the files remain on your device. You can delete them if you want.)

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