How Does OneDrive Work?

OneDrive is Microsoft’s cloud‑based storage service that lets you save files online, access them from almost any device, and share them with others. 

Think of your OneDrive as a virtual hard drive in the cloud making your files available from wherever you have internet access and keeping your files safe if your device is lost or experiences hard drive failure or other issues.

Your OneDrive files are available:

• From the installed OneDrive app when you are signed into a UWSP computer, or from the OneDrive app that installs to your personal home computer when you install UWSP's licensed version of Office 365 desktop apps,
• When you sign into your UWSP Office 365 web portal and OneDrive Cloud, and,
• Through the Microsoft 365 Copilot App for mobile devices.

Only you can access your OneDrive files unless you share them.  

Your OneDrive Cloud Storage always contains the primary copy of your files. When you sign into a UWSP computer, your OneDrive Cloud files sync with the locally installed OneDrive App. As you work with the copy on your computer, your edits continuously sync with your OneDrive Cloud.  Then the next time you access the file no matter the device or location, your most recently updated version is available. You can also work on files synced to your device when not connected to the internet - OneDrive will sync your edits to the OneDrive Cloud the next time you reconnect.

Contact the IT Service Desk for additional help!