How to install and setup OneDrive app on a Mac?

If the latest version of Office 365 is already installed on your Mac, the OneDrive app should be installed on it as well. To verify this, search for OneDrive in Finder. The latest version uses an icon of a single cloud with three shades of blue. An older version uses an icon of two supperimposed clouds with a darker shade of blue. If you have an older version, you should remove it and replace it with the latest version.

Installing OneDrive App 

To download OneDrive app from the App Store:

  1. Go to the App Store on your Mac, and search for OneDrive. The app store will locate this app for you.
  2. On the OneDrive icon, click Get then Install App
  3. You will be prompted for your Apple ID and password. Enter these credentials to continue.
  4. One Drive will download. Once downloaded, click Open from the Apple Store to start the setup process.

To download OneDrive app from Microsoft Office 365 Portal:

  1. Launch a web browser and sign go to portal.office.com site
  2. Sign in with your UWin Account
  3. Click on OneDrive icon
  4. In the lower left corner of the window, locate and click the link that says Get the OneDrive apps
  5. Click on Download button
  6. When prompted for permission to download the file, click Allow
  7. Once downloaded, launch the file and follow prompts on the screen to continue with setup.

OneDrive Setup

If OneDrive app is already installed, launch it from Finder then:

  1. Sign in with your UwinID@uwindsor.ca and your UWin Account password.
  2. Choose a OneDrive folder location. By default, it will create a folder under your user account. Unless you have a reason to change this, accept the default location and click Choose this location
  3. On the "All your Files, Ready, and On-Demand" screen, click Next to continue.
  4. Enable OneDrive Finder Sync Extension that will allow you to see Files On-Demand options in the right-click context menu. Click on Open Extension Preferences and select OneDrive Finder extension.
  5. On "Your OneDrive is Ready for You" screen, be sure to check the box next to Open at login so my files sync automatically. This will ensure that your local files will always be in syc with their cloud copies.
  6. Click on Open my OneDrive - University of Windsor folder to complete the process. Drag local files into this folder to upload them to your OneDrive in the Microsoft Cloud.

Files on Demand

The Files on Demand feature allows you to access your entire OneDrive contents in Finder without filling up disk space on your Mac, but this requires a network conneciton. If you need anything offline, reigh-click it in the Finder and select Always keep on this device.

Updating OneDrive Settings

Once the OneDrive setup is complete, you will see a OneDrive icon in your Finder bar. If you do not have the OneDrive icon, the files are stored in a folder called "OneDrive - University of Windsor" in your home folder. If you do not see your home folder, when Finder is open, open the Finder menu and select Preferences, and choose the Sidebar tab. Place a checkmark next to the home icon.

If you need to see the progress of your files being synced, click on the OneDrive icon in your Finder bar.

To access OneDrive settings, click on More (three dots) and select Preferences.

Once you have OneDrive installed, it is recommended that you turn on the OneDrive Finder Integration, so you can have visual indicators as to the status of your files.  Please see https://uwindsor.teamdynamix.com/TDClient/KB/ArticleDet?ID=28161 for instructions on how to enable this integration. 

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OneDrive is a file hosting and sharing service in Microsoft Cloud that is included in Office 365 suite of applications available to University of Windsor faculty, staff, and students. The current storage limit for OneDrive users is 1 TB.