How OneDrive Works: the Very Basics

[@askleonotenboom]

Where to place your files and what OneDrive does with them.

[@foggylog19]

How do you work out a file without onedrive? Ie it seems almost all my folders automatically set up that way and it isn't what I wanted. So is there always a folder pathway with no onedrive?

[@askleonotenboom]

@@foggylog19 Any file that is *not* somewhere in or underneath /Users//OneDrive is not in OneDrive.

[@jnona3775]

I think you’ve finally cleared up my conception about the difference between my OneDrive on my laptop and my OneDrive on Microsoft’s cloud. Thank you :)

[@llothar68]

I wish i would knew what OneDrive does with my files. I know they, even against my explicit will, break encryption, scan the files for "illegal" content and might delete them without prior notice, and of course all on the mercy of a correct AI decision. There is my zero trust in cloud. Besides it is much more expensive then i'm willing to pay.

[@jimmay4427]

Hello Leo. Appreciated your explaining how OneDrive works, I had never slowed down long enough to sort it out for me. I have a problem with the concept. Since Windows 7, I have been using a two hard drive approach to my PC file storage. First, I create/use the C: drive contain the currently installed Windows version, plus all user installed Apps. I use a second D: drive for storing: 1) copies of my application install and media files, and 2) all my user data files. Often (with gigabyte storage), I will add a third E: partition for the media files, and F: for my photographs. Works for me, But? There's the issue of doing Windows updates, and migrating to new hardware. Guess I'm not comfortable with putting my data in C: drive. SSD drives make it so easy to not keep all your eggs in the same disk drive.

[@age_of_reason]

This is THE ONLY OneDrive video on YT that explains the essence of OneDrive clearly, concisely, and completely....and it only has 6k views. Meanwhile other videos 3x longer ramble on and on and have millions of views. No wonder most people don't know how to use OneDrive. Google really needs to work on its search algorithms to push the best information to the forefront because their algorithms are atrociously inadequate.

[@sgarcata]

I tried understanding it from the Microsoft web pages... total waste of time.

[@johnson7228]

Awesome fundamentals explanation and exactly what I was looking for. Tx!

[@jimpeter3453]

Nicely produced! Regards from Baltim ore.

[@zeenuf00]

why is all this crap so complicated?

[@geraldthorburn6484]

At last, someone has explained with exceptional clarity the fundamental concept of One Drive, which I feel sure has been cloudy (sic) to many hundreds of thousands of MS Windows users. Thank you, Leo.

[@markwrede8878]

One Drive works as the greatest heist in world history. Pay the tribute if you want to see your files of the last forty years.

[@socialmeaslesinpartnership1252]

I appreciate this. I'll have to look at it more than once though. My initial feeling is regret that it doesn't give me the location of my nearest river in which to dump my computer. I hate this "out-of-control" geek life being opt out rather than opt in. Microsoft don't seem to want to explain anything. I'm only looking at it now because my "C" drive is full. It's clear enough though.

[@carolynwilson8881]

I finally understand. Thank you so much for your clarity and organization in your explanation.

[@kaylawestern5899]

Thanks Leo! I think you misspoke at 8:32? You say 'I only deleted the one in Documents' when I think you meant to say 'I only deleted the one in OneDrive Documents'. The rest is quite clear but that sentence made me pause. A point I think should be stressed - Say you create a Document on your native Documents folder on your device, then you copy that Document into your OneDrive Documents folder (and therefore it is automatically uploaded to the OneDrive cloud). Then you make a revision to the original Document that is in your native Documents folder on your device, THOSE REVISIONS ARE NOT REFLECTED IN THE COPY OF THE DOCUMENT YOU PLACED ON ONEDRIVE!!! This may be a very obvious point to many, but it wasn't to me at first and I learned the hard way!! Same thing goes if you make revisions on the document that's in the OneDrive Documents folder - THEY ARE NOT REFLECTED IN THE COPY OF THE DOCUMENT IN YOUR NATIVE DOCUMENTS FOLDER ON YOUR DEVICE!!!. Sorry for the 'shouting' - but I did a LOT of 'shouting' when I was trying to figure this out!! :)

[@loveanimals8062]

Thank you; I was looking for someone to write this. I used to be a computer instructor, and that concept--two separate and independent files, one on OneDrive and the other local--was a difficult concept for many students to grasp. I heard way too many sad stories about how their file (note the singular) would not reflect recent modifications the next time they opened it. They would then modify that file, and on and on ad nauseum, back and forth, folder to folder. This point can't be stressed enough.

[@Nikhilus_yadavus]

Here's where it gets ridiculous - if you delete a backed up file from the onedrive cloud website to free up space, it deletes the file from the onedrive folder stored locally in your hard drive without warning.

[@askleonotenboom]

That's exactly what OneDrive is supposed to do. It's a file synchronization tool. Changes anywhere are replicated everywhere, including deletions.

[@jimleone449]

Finally! This gentleman speaks my language and clearly explains what so many others haven't been able to explain. Thank you!

[@JerryLoebach]

Finally someone that actually explained it to my satisfaction.

[@armelmim4484]

Thank you so much for this tutorial. this is the kind of video I was looking for about OneDrive. It is the very basics, simplest and comprehensive video about OneDrive.

[@ms7165]

After all these years using OneDrive, I now understand it! Thanks.

[@gayearnaudon2982]

I'm computer literate, and I have not botherered with One Drive until now as we will be travelling for months at a time, and I found this explanation very precise and clear - also for my husband who is not computer literate. Thank you.

[@Steve-iq5yw]

Thank you very much for this extremely clear explanation of the fundamentals. One of my points of confusion was that the OneDrive folder has a documents folder as well as my standard user documents folder on my PC. Since they both had the same name (i.e. "Documents") I didn't know that if there was some sort of magical relationship between these folders. I believe you have made it clear that these two folders are independent.

[@Sergei-ld1iv]

Thanks very much!!! You are a great teacher as you can put yourself into the student's shoes and highlight the connections which are key to understanding which other tutors miss

[@lionle0pa42]

Abt 1 month ago 韓国J discussed a method he is used to. It intrigues me as I can't find anywhere else a discussion about the fact that "Desktop" is also grabbed by onedrive. Now Desktop often has info that people may not want on onedrive. Leo, can you comment on the storage of Desktop, and where it can be stored away from onedrive? And perhaps comment on how Microsoft Office defines its storage place as the same folders as onedrive grabs. I discovered this when I did a full uninstall of onedrive software in Windows 10, only to find that Microsoft Office can still use onedrive regardless. This didn't happen before with MS Office, until I replaced my C: drive and did a full fresh install of MS Office!

[@RobertMuh-g9e]

Another great explanation! I am finally learning about One Drive and how to sort through the folder structures. Thank you!

[@韓国J]

n my organization, when we use managed backups for Desktop, Documents and Pictures, it removes those folders from 'C:\Users\User1\Desktop or Documents or Pictures' and places them into 'C:\Users\User1\OneDrive\Desktop or Documents or Pictures'. If you go back to 'C:\Users\User1\Desktop or Documents or Pictures', you'll either have a generic folder of the same name which is a separate entity from the OneDrive or it won't exist at all in the file structure.. We also have several icons on the Desktop as part of our standard image and if you back up Desktop, and go to a new computer and set up OneDrive and use managed backups, it will create copies of those icons unless you delete the ones from the managed OneDrive Desktop, Documents or Pictures folders. It's inconvenient and confusing!

[@edwardlainsbury7737]

The absolute best explanation I’ve heard! I’ve struggled with the concept for a couple of years and every IT person I’ve asked for help has been over my head. Thank you!

[@lucyflanagan3628]

How to turn off “On this day” notifications? Im on a Mac. I never asked for this widget and deeply resent Microsoft for dumping it on me and requiring I search and search in vain for its characteristically poorly written instructions how to get rid of it.

[@dd-ow6pe]

THanks but this just tells me .. Why i hate One Drive .. and the details why .. lol!

[@Grump_B]

So by that principle, I can Move my files from the Onedrive folder back to the This PC folder no problem? Only asking because during an update i accidently allowed my computer to sync Onedrive to my pc and it moved all my files from Desktop, Documents, and Pictures on to Onedrive.

[@askleonotenboom]

You can move them to any folder that is NOT within your OneDrive folder.

[@Grump_B]

@@askleonotenboom okay 👍. Thanks for responding!

[@nick_merchant]

Exactly the information I was looking for and needing to understand. Explained in a clear and easy to understand method. Thank you.

[@kersi-sandiego6036]

The best. Cogent and succinct.

[@geraldthorburn1123]

Sub'd. Leo, why does my Navigation pane NOT show 'OneDrive - Personal' and 'Asterisk Quick Access' i.e. a neatly condensed Navigation pane? (Running 22H2 Build 2261.1105) ?

[@effiejefferson5379]

Clear, concise, instructions. Thank you

[@dhpbear2]

8:24 - Wow, No WONDER people get confused by this feature! *Multiple copies* of the *same* file ("which one do I save?")

[@radzwionlaw]

Thank you for this! Can you do a video (or do you have one already) where you are signed into someone else’s one drive from your computer and you want to back up your files on your one drive. What are the ramifications of login out of one and signing into another? Would be willing to pay you for your time on a phone call or Skype call. Please let me know.

[@JimE6243]

That was helpful but I'm still unsure of One Drive. Where does "sync" come to play in this equation or am I barking up the wrong tree? Thanks. JimE

[@askleonotenboom]

Sync means when you update a file on your PC in your OneDrive folder it is automatically synchronized to the cloud. And vice versa, if a file changes in your cloud storage, it is automatically synchronized to your PC. The two copies of the file are kept in sync.

[@JimE6243]

@@askleonotenboom Thanks Leo. That what I was afraid of. If I delete either one they are both gone. JimE

[@georgesharpe6899]

And if you have multiple devices the file is gone on all of them!!

[@AmazingPhilippines1]

I have never used Onedrive but see the advantages now. Thanks.

[@kapts4055]

Best explanation I found so far. Thank you very much. Excelent

[@barrysorkin7732]

Thank you so much for this clear explanation! I wish Microsoft could explain this simple fact simply to us! I finally understand that when a file is placed or deleted into or from the PC's Onedrive folder, that causes the PC's Onedrive to automatically copy or delete that file from the Online Onedrive folder!. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

[@AmityWarrior]

Nice explanation Leo - yesterday I experimented with OneDrive. As you pointed out it can become confusing quickly if one missed the fundamentals. Your explanation is well paced for an old fella to follow - I'll replay the video a couple times and practice moving documents. I'm a subscriber now.

[@jlmcconchie]

A very good job, thanks. My own experience with OneDrive suggests that one person's "magic" (as Leo described it) is another person's reason to "Scream", as Edvard Munch of Oslo illustrated the concept.

[@pettushickman944]

Thanks Leo. Recently started using OneDrive, and couldn't get my "head" around how it works. This video was great!!!

[@matc3888]

How much storage space is there on the cloud ? Can you move the OneDrive folder to another partition instead of C: ?

[@niat1979]

Yes,I am using D drive.

[@starsgazer1000]

Excellent. Finally understand where files are. This video explains how OneDrive works better than other videos I watched.

[@GrammyJo1107]

Such a good teacher!! To the point; easy to understand. But I have a mess on my pc that I am trying to understand and organize. How I wish I had uninstalled One Drive when my pc was brand new! Seems like it wants to save everything in One Drive, including Desktop (which includes most everything). Now I am trying to get files back to Documents only on pc. I need a "private lesson"!!! :) Thanks for your videos, Leo!

[@iancrawford7997]

Your videos about Onedrive, and I have watched several, have been so so helpful to me. I was very confused about what was saved on my disk V what was saved in the cloud. Your pedantic -and I use this word most positively in this instance- accounts of how OneDrive actually works is exactly what I needed. I thank you most sincerely.

[@ginahickle7154]

You have a new subscriber....so well explained and so easy to understand. Thank you!

[@jackinkc767]

Comment: Your quote: “So, if I move the file to ‘one drive’, then ‘that is the only copy on my machine’.” That is, I have a copy on my machine. Respectfully, if you delete the copy “on your machine’” [on one drive] you will no longer have a copy anyplace! Very Confusing as one drive is not ‘on your machine’. Microsoft has been confusing since DOS 3.0.

[@julianparks8485]

I recently got a new computer with Windows 11 Pro. Under PC there are no folders for Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Music, Pictures, Videos, and Local Disk. Those folders showed up in Julian Personal in OneDrive. Only OS(C:) and Network show up under PC. So I created a folder under OS to have these folders. It was the only way I know of to have these folders without using OneDrive. I will discontinue usng OneDrive.

[@altairiv6326]

One Drive is NOT on your computer. A link to One Drive is on your computer. You are storing your files and personal information on Microsoft's computer. Allowing them (Microsoft's employees) FULL access to any files and information within those files.

[@garyten13]

Fantastic explanation, i never understood why i had duplicates in my file explorer. Very well explained, in simple terms. Thank you so much.

[@Ayushyavarbolukahi24]

Hi thanks for information. I have questions and will be really thankful if I get answers. I emebed excel file from one drive to wordpress website. These are interactive excel sheet having some calculations. But presently these sheet are not working means thses are not interactive. As well as I am unable to copy short code of onedrive in wordpress. As well as unable to see actual size during embedding excel sheet from onedrive..... could you please help

[@johnhernandez8223]

I just bought a new pc with Win 11. I found out [the hard way!] that even AFTER i deleted the app from my pc, there is still a One Drive folder on my c drive which contains ALL my desktop items. I know how to back up my documents and access them from other locations without Momma Microsoft forcing me to do it THIER way. Dam them!

[@seanpatrick2052]

Bravo Leo! Thankyou! I have scoured the internet high and low for a basic fundamental explanation of the core architecture of Onedrive....do you think I could find someone that could do that! I have undertaken several online courses but was not crystal clear on the fundamentals from the get go, therefore could not piece together the relationship between local files and cloud files....how they interact, where they go, where they don't... etc etc. Cheers mate!

[@crumblingsanity6455]

So, how would you go about uninstalling onedrive? I've looked up other videos where you can uninstall it from programs and features or go to the settings for it and unlink the device your using for it, but none of the options are available to me for some reason.

[@50charactersonly61]

Perfect explanation for the OneDrive beginners!

[@hassanmaje5849]

I would not like using the term copy of the file on PC, Onedrive. It implies that there are copies of the same document across PC, Onedrive web, devices etc meaning separate documents that are in sync. I like to consider it as one document or same document that appears on and accessible from PC, Onedrive web, mobile etc all up to date and in sync across devices That's the end user experience. I like to view it as same document appearing in different places, accessible in different form probably (e.g. Web Word vs Desktop Word) and with different UIs.

[@daveschwartz8038]

Placing a file in the C drive folder does not automatically copy to the user onedrive folder, thus making onedrive useless as a backup device.

[@rez752]

Thank you so much! Your explanation is extremely clear.

[@NewHamburgShenanigans]

I really tried to understand and use one drive but it's too complicated.

[@EveningSky52]

Thank you so much Leo. This video was so helpful to me, to understand OneDrive. You are a master teacher!

[@johngoodluckstechhub1102]

This is so comprehensive! Thanks

[@Brian.001]

Hi Leo - and thanks again for all the extremely useful support and guidance. I have a problem: Laptop A, which has a lot of JPG files synced with Onedrive, is being replaced with laptop B. Laptop B has used Onedrive a while ago, but doesn't have those JPG files on it. How can I log in to Onedrive on B without having all my JPG files deleted? You indicated recently that when Onedrive sees that the files are missing, it will delete its own copies to sync. Many thanks!

[@askleonotenboom]

Is laptop B using a different account? (You might want to take this to askleo.com/ask - conversing in comments is awkward.)

[@colleenh7989]

Very helpful video, thank you!

[@alfonsolopezmayagoitia5728]

Excellent presentation, thanks so much Leo.

[@hansmoller6408]

What about One Drive vault for sensitive data?

[@amatsko106]

EVERYTHING in my File Explorer shows they are located in: C:\Users\audre\OneDrive\Documents. Desktop, Home, both Documents folders, Pictures, 3D Objects--EVERYTHING!!!! Why and what should I do?

[@askleonotenboom]

Sounds like you have OneDrive's backup feature turned on: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rqXWf4eth8xqn68si=Wo5iqTZztL_EK1hO

[@gregwmanning]

Thanks for video, Does this mean if I have 1TB of files on OneDrive, I MUST also have the same 1TB of files on my pc?

[@askleonotenboom]

No. There are options in the OneDrive app to only sync some of your OneDrive folders, AND to not download the data for files until you actually need it.

[@TravisFX]

No!! The concern is the other way round! If u delete the file on Onedrive cloud..does it delete the file on rhe PC? Is it a true sync? U could think u are cleaning up onedrive and outlook space ..but u are deleting files back at pc..this is stooopid

[@askleonotenboom]

It is true bidirectional sync. Delete a file in one place (PC or online) and it's deleted in the other (online or PC).

[@machdaddy6451]

Does onedrive automatically backup what's in your documents folder?

[@askleonotenboom]

If you turn on OneDrive's "backup" feature, it MOVES your Documents folder to be within the OneDrive folder, which makes the answer yes. But of course it's more complicated than that, because OneDrive: askleo.com/the-problem-with-onedrive-backup/

[@billlee5679]

Dear Leo, I am your big 😘💕 fan but you missed out one very important security point. MS allows employers using One Drive Business share point and One Drive - IN to hack into home personal account installing hidden virtual cameras via our USB ports. Such hacking is often made possible due to administrative tools sold by MS to any organizations. Bear in mind, MS is business oriented, never taking care of end users despising us not contributing any revenue to MS. Always rmb MS isn't a charity organization. Worse still, my former employee made use of all these accessible privileges to peep and record all my lady visitors peeing in my home restroom, which case was brought to court and legal enforcement. One Drive is an extremely dangerous and terrible existence to user's experience. It brought irreparable and irreversible scars to sexually assaulted victims online! Avoid it anyway...😖

[@CJ-yq5ro]

Your content is really interesting, keep it up!

[@dschafar1987]

Quirks and features...nice one

[@besreal3419]

I really need to learn how to download my OneDrive files onto my new computer. I can't find a video by Leo, or anyone else, that explains how I'm ever going to retrieve my photos & documents back onto my new computer. If you know of one, please reply with a link.

[@askleonotenboom]

Simply run OneDrive on your computer signed into the Microsoft Account that has your OneDrive files. They'll be downloaded to the OneDrive folder on your computer. Now copy them anywhere else.

[@howardslade267]

When I update a file on the cloud, e.x. with My cell phone, it doesn't seem to be updating the file in my OneDrive Folder on my PC. Is there a setting that I'm missing?

[@askleonotenboom]

Make sure you're using the OneDrive app on your phone, and that the OneDrive app is running on your PC.

[@pawshears]

Great information. My question is how do you avoid duplications when you have a phone, a tablet and a laptop ?

[@askleonotenboom]

Not quite sure what you're asking.

[@My2CentsODear1s]

Very clear explanation, thank you!

[@gjoseph1628]

I had to try testing this myself to be sure I understand. Now I know. I made a simple example text file IN the C:\Users\Admin\OneDrive\Documents folder on computer and signed into an online OneDrive account. I looked in Documents folder online, and there it was. I made a change to the file in the online OneDrive, Documents folder and saved. I looked back on the computer C....\OneDrive\Documents, opened the example file to check; and the changes were shown there too.

[@tonylepine3470]

Thank you, thank you, thank you, I finally understand the relationship between OneDrive, OneDrive Personal and files on my computer.

[@OluPhillips-c1t]

Thank you thank you thank you! You have cleared up quite a few things with this video. I have gone through a number of videos about OneDrive which blithely gloss over, talk around and even completely miss out the fundamentals you have highlighted which are essential for understanding how the thing works.

[@karlynholloway336]

I have a question.. I have image files, and I did something I scrolled in the files and it shrunk the files and they are real small now. I have tried everything to get them back to the right size and nothing has worked .. someone told me to go to menu but there is nothing there. Please help

[@askleonotenboom]

I'm assuming you're using Windows File Explorer. There should be a ribbon across the top with a "View" option. click that and choose "Exra Large Icons". If that's not what you're using, or not what you see, reach out via askleo.com/ask and we'll see if we can't get to it.

[@johnpankowicz4823]

Another terrific video! Thanks. I noticed something strange using OneDrive. If I copy a file or folder to my local "OneDrive Personal", it immediately appears in my OneDrive online. BUT, only when I upload a FILE to my OneDrive online, does it ever appear in my local "OneDrive Personal". If I upload a FOLDER, it is never synced to my local "OneDrive Personal". Should it do this? Do you know why it does not?

[@peterwassmuth4014]

Thank You Leo, always good information. For you people out there want to store important files, videos, documents, etc etc. Never use cloud-based storage solutions Period! I know a DiskStation are not cheap, but it is secure! Would you trust your neighbor to take care of your system? while you are on vacation!? Don't think so.

[@rogerhh3753]

Absolutely excellent explanation. I surprised how often I have been back to it. But it really is great.

[@pursiju]

Please do the same with ms account, how does it work. Has it any connection with OneDrive?

[@askleonotenboom]

Your MS account IS your OneDrive account.

[@drxav1]

Thank you for explaining so well (and confusingly), I was already dealing with their coxing to buy more space.

[@pnjh9316]

Thanks Leo ... onedrive and how its files in the cloud related to files on my laptop was always a bit mysterious to me. Now I have a better appreciation. very clearly explained.

[@Thurston-q6q]

One drive is more invasive than a virus. It moved my datasource connections to the cloud without asking rendering my databases inoperable..If you then try to get your files to store locally after that you will need about 6 hours of registry modification to get your PC back. Once you fix that and reboot it will change everything back to the cloud again...then youll need to do the registry mods again plus the registry mods you missed that keep it from reinstalling itself.

[@HLChiMia]

Learned something today, thanks. Can OneDrive be used as a backup option?

[@cadelepski5161]

Yes. There's a back up option included in the settings.

[@HLChiMia]

@@cadelepski5161 Thanks will check it out.

[@mebelle7085]

My boss and I work on the same word doc on ONEDRIVE. The options of Move for example and others doesn’t show up on her document. Why is this?

[@peterjackson2625]

I am used to files and folders in the cloud, because that is the only way that Google Docs works and I appreciate it. I wasn't clear about Onedrive vs files in Microsoft folders, until this video. Thanks

[@palladini9718]

I do have windows 10 installed on my Computer, I deleted the One drive because it was uploading things I did not need up there. Thing like videos of my SD card out of camera, those files never left the SD card, but windows put them up there. My Dilay operating System is Linux Mint, I have Manjaro installed, and I installed that only because I like the Grub system it comes with. It is a grub file that remembers what operating system was last used.

[@randymartin9876]

outstanding explanation

[@shakerajnan]

love your useful video

[@didierbeaudequin]

Thanks for you explanation, I was having problem understanding the fundamentals. Understood now.

[@steveloudon7491]

Scenario: I have a picture that I don't need in my pictures folder. I tell one drive not to store it on my computer but make it available in the cloud. Next week I want that picture. If it's no longer on my computer how do I find it? Thanks. I enjoyed the tutorial.

[@williamormond27]

Great explanation of OneDrive, easy to understand. Thank You!

[@lucyflanagan3628]

Independent files are a nightmare if you dont rename them to render them distinct from the relational database version which updates with every edit of the original document with the original file name. If you dont rename a copy that suggests the independent copy (with the same name) is the same document. Maybe file version naming is automatic somewhere in the file info buffer.

[@Uku2whistle]

Thank you Leo, the clouds have parted and at last this explanation has gone a long way to help me manage my mish-mash of storage across my devices. Colour me subscribed 👍

[@williambasham-g3p]

I am a newbee with both Windows 11 and onedrive. I have looked a several videos on web on what is and how to use onedrive but none explain it as well as you did. Thanks for making it so explainable.

[@hobartcfed]

This video was so helpful. I never understood how it worked until Leo explained it.

[@joannaberry-fbf1045]

Thank you! I finally understand OneDrive!

[@gailhusvar2699]

great teaching, just starting to feel more comfortable using OneDrive now

[@eileenbelanger5502]

when i open my document on my pc in one drive it doesn't save my changes. also when i put on the auto save the 2nd time i open it, it saves it as another file

[@martyg9918]

hooray, I finally get the premise of one drive. Many thanks Leo