OneDrive is your cloud storage service included with your M365 A5 account. It allows you to securely store, sync, and share your files across devices. When you install the OneDrive desktop app on your PC or Mac, your files automatically stay backed up in the cloud and synchronized across all your devices—making it easier to work on campus, at home, or on the go.
With OneDrive you can:
- Back up your Desktop, Documents, and Pictures folders
- Access your files from any device
- Collaborate in real time in Office apps
- Share files and folders with peers, instructors, and external partners
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OneDrive is already included with Windows. To sign in:
- Click Start > search for OneDrive and open it.
- Enter your university email address (e.g., username@youruniversity.ca).
- When prompted, sign in using your university password and MFA.
- Choose your OneDrive folder location (default is recommended).
If OneDrive isn't installed:
- Download it from Microsoft: https://www.microsoft.com/en-ca/microsoft-365/onedrive/download
- Open the App Store and search for Microsoft OneDrive.
- Install the app.
- After installation, open OneDrive from Applications.
- Sign in with your university email and password.
- Choose the folder location and complete setup.
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OneDrive can automatically back up your important computer folders (e.g., desktop, documents, pictures or custom locations).
- Click the OneDrive cloud icon in the taskbar/menu bar.
- Select Settings > Sync and Backup (or Backup tab on Windows).
- Choose Manage Back up (Windows) or Manage Folder Backup (Mac).
- Toggle on the folders you want to sync:
- Desktop
- Documents
- Pictures
- Click Save or Start Backup.
Your existing files will upload to OneDrive and appear online and on all devices.
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- Not enough disk space
- File/folder names contain unsupported characters
- Paused sync or device offline
- Conflicts between local and cloud versions
- Very large file collections uploading at once
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Try This
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Explanation
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Check OneDrive status
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Restart OneDrive
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Quit the app and reopen it.
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Ensure you're signed in with your university account
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Personal vs. school accounts can conflict.
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Free up space
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Use OneDrive > Free up space to keep cloud copies but remove local ones.
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Rename files
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Remove unsupported characters (e.g., *, ?, :, <, >, |).
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Resolve duplicate/conflicting files
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Look for filenames like “FileName (Conflicted copy).
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- Right‑click the file or folder.
- Select Share.
- Choose permissions:
- Can edit or Can view
- People in [Your University] or Specific people (for externals)
- Enter email addresses and send the link.
- Go to https://onedrive.live.com and sign in.
- Select the file/folder.
- Click Share.
- Set link permissions and send.
- You can share with people outside the university.
- External collaborators may be asked to verify their email via a code.
- See this guide for more information.
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