Microsoft OneDrive is an innovative cloud storage service with many useful features for backup, collaboration and file access. It features strong security with an easy setup process for users.
OneDrive can easily be installed on your computer by following the on-screen instructions to create a Microsoft account and create a sync folder for your files. From File Explorer on your personal computer, you’ll have easy access to OneDrive files stored there.
Syncing files and folders
Microsoft OneDrive is an accessible cloud storage service available across any internet-enabled device, with numerous advantages for business use such as allowing employees to access files across devices or sharing documents among coworkers. OneDrive can be found pre-installed on Windows PCs via their All Apps list or Start menu; Mac users must manually search or visit Microsoft’s website in order to download this app manually and sign in using either their personal Microsoft account or work email address once installed.
Once signed in, OneDrive will start synching files and folders to its cloud data storage, which may take time depending on their size and bandwidth constraints. When completed, files or folders that were synced will appear either within OneDrive itself or File Explorer depending on their initial configuration; and OneDrive will notify users about changes so they have the latest version.
OneDrive allows you to select which folders should synchronize on your computer by changing its settings, while also offering tile view or list view as options for more comfortable file navigation. List view can also provide desktop computer users with access to traditional file system-like navigation of folders and files.
Files and folders that are being synced will have a cloud icon next to their names in OneDrive, with two blue arrows animating in a circle to indicate this status. At any time, users can modify this status by visiting OneDrive app and selecting Settings from its drop-down menu when clicking an individual file or folder name.
OneDrive can also be used to back up data on your computer, although it does not offer reliable backup of organizational files. Microsoft will encrypt your files for added protection; however, this doesn’t prevent decrypting them upon government requests, potentially leading to loss of privacy for some users.
Sharing files and folders
Sharing files or folders with OneDrive creates a link that will allow anyone who clicks it to access and modify its contents, giving you greater control of who can view or modify what contents. Revoking access at any time remains possible, while version control remains intact. Link sharing offers other advantages as recipients can begin working immediately without first needing to download them first – saving both time and bandwidth in the process.
To share a file or folder, navigate to its synced folder on OneDrive and right-click. This will bring up the OneDrive menu with options for sharing; if it has already been shared you’ll see a list of email addresses with profile pictures next to them under “People who have access.” To add more users click the plus sign or icon at the center of your menu.
Your recipient can make changes or only read-only access, and an expiration date can also be set. Your exact settings depend on whether or not this account is a home/personal or a business/school account – the latter’s available options may be limited by its administrative administrator.
The OneDrive menu also offers the ability to sync beyond files and folders stored within your OneDrive folder, potentially increasing sync payload and incurring network bandwidth penalties, but providing useful support for common folders like Desktop, Documents, and Downloads.
OneDrive offers another great advantage with Files On-Demand, enabling you to quickly and effortlessly access and utilize all of your OneDrive files and folders as though they were on your local computer. This can save space while providing an emergency backup in case your computer is stolen or lost – for this feature to work, however, a paid Microsoft account is required.
Files on-demand
Microsoft introduced “File on Demand” when switching from placeholder files to selective file and folder sync with OneDrive, providing users with more space on their devices by automatically downloading what is needed when needed – an especially helpful feature on laptops, ultrabooks and tablets which typically have limited storage capabilities and where it may be difficult to predict which data may be needed at what time.
To activate this feature on Windows 10 Fall Creators Update or later, click or tap the OneDrive cloud icon in your system tray to launch its app, click or tap Settings then Account tab, select account then File on Demand box; files or folders marked File on Demand won’t download automatically or take up any space until clicked or tapped for opening them.
This can save significant storage space on your device, especially laptops or other devices with limited memory space, and makes transferring files between PCs and mobile devices simpler.
Files that have been marked “File on-demand” will display a blue cloud icon in File Explorer and will only be accessible offline when connected to an internet source. By switching their status to “Always keep on this device,” however, these files will become accessible offline as well as any changes being automatically synced back up with their cloud counterparts and any other devices connected by cloud sync services.
ITS recommends all UConn faculty, staff, and students utilize this feature, provided you have a reliable internet connection. However, Files on-demand is not a backup solution in itself; OneDrive uses strong encryption but Microsoft may still decrypt your data. If this concerns you further consider using another backup solution. In addition, OneDrive cannot restore deleted files and folders directly from devices; OneDrive only picks out specific items.
Restoring files
No matter if it has been accidentally deleted from OneDrive or corrupted by malware or overwritten by another user, with its Restore files feature you can retrieve lost or overwritten files within 30 days, even if they were deleted or overwritten by other users. Administrators can also utilize this tool to rollback activity on entire organization accounts.
To recover a file, sign in to OneDrive and navigate to its main page. Select Options under Settings icon at the top, and Restore files on the subsequent page. When prompted for verification by Microsoft authentication method, choose either Yesterday, One Week Ago, Three Weeks Ago or Custom date and time – 25 different previous versions can be recovered in total and stored up to 93 Days in Recycle Bin for Office 365 accounts with organizations, though administrators can reduce this limit accordingly.
Once restored, files will appear both online and locally in Windows File Explorer’s OneDrive folder allowing you to easily download them as necessary and use them no matter if you’re online or offline. This means using identical files across both platforms!
Access any file or folder stored in OneDrive via any web browser by signing into your Microsoft account at the OneDrive website and selecting which file or folder you’d like to see; after doing so, they will ask where they want you to save it.
iBoysoft Data Recovery Free is an intuitive program that makes recovering any deleted file or folder easy from hard drives or removable devices, including OneDrive. All data recovered can be organized into regular folders to make finding what you’re searching for much simpler; filter results based on file extension or search for specific names within them as well.
