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.

[@dongunderson9352]

Leo. THANK YOU!!! 4 months ago after watching this video I set up and used onedrive. Last week my house caught on fire. Destroyed my computer and my back up portable hard drive. Would have lost a lifetimes work of pictures, documents, data, videos, correspondence, - all would have been GONE had I not uploaded everything to one drive. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

[@askleonotenboom]

Wow. I'm very sorry you had to live that experience, but of course happy you were backed up!

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@pettushickman944]

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

[@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.

[@lindastoroz6048]

Also adding my thanks. That question came up for me immediately and you saved me searching or trying to figure it out by trial and error.

[@ms7165]

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

[@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.

[@RobertMuh-g9e]

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

[@starsgazer1000]

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

[@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.

[@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!

[@user-et7gm8uy8r]

Thank you! Best clearest explanation I have viewed

[@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

[@carolynwilson8881]

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

[@kapts4055]

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

[@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.

[@marshadekker4195]

I have been so confused by finding files in so many places on my computer - thank you so much - I just now finally understand more about this program. This was so down to earth and so easy to understand for me! Your videos are so appreciated!

[@MichaelM-xq2iq]

Thank you for this clear and simple explanation of One Drive, and it only took 12 minutes to do.

[@glennmarcucio]

Great video I now have a much better understanding of how one drive works. So if I understand correctly, the way files get stored in the one drive (cloud) is from being in the one drive folder on your computer to begin with. If I place a file into documents or photos on my computer it wont go to the cloud but if I put it or copy it to the one drive file on my computer it goes to the cloud in addition to being on my computer photo or document file.

[@AmazingPhilippines1]

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

[@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.

[@tomcauley1]

Finally! After years I see the light. As always Leo, thanks so much for explaining this so clearly. Now I will turn my Onedrive back on since I finally understand how it works

[@nick_merchant]

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

[@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!

[@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!

[@kathynassa9974]

You can go into One Drive and chose what your PC hardrive saves to One Drive or doesn’t save. Its in One Drive Settings.

[@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

[@effiejefferson5379]

Clear, concise, instructions. Thank you

[@50charactersonly61]

Perfect explanation for the OneDrive beginners!

[@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!

[@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.

[@ginahickle7154]

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

[@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!

[@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.

[@garyten13]

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

[@JorgeTorresDeLeonMtyMx]

Ask Leo! Hey man, you just earned a new subscriber for your channel. Keep up the great work! Greetings from Monterrey, Mexico. 🌄

[@hobartcfed]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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!

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@kersi-sandiego6036]

The best. Cogent and succinct.

[@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.

[@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) ?

[@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

[@tonylepine3470]

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

[@GaryLewis-p3x]

Great video. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[@alfonsolopezmayagoitia5728]

Excellent presentation, thanks so much Leo.

[@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!!

[@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 👍

[@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.

[@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.

[@williamormond27]

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

[@rez752]

Thank you so much! Your explanation is extremely clear.

[@sfetcucristian2949]

Very clear and easy to understand. Thank you.

[@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.

[@foultips]

Super basic, but always needed to be reminded. Thanks!

[@johnson7228]

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

[@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.

[@rogerhh3753]

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

[@jackflash8756]

Many thanks , now I understand . But I've also heard that my files on my C: Drive are automatically backed up into Onedrive , but I can't see them . I go into OneDrive and they aren't there so what gives? I also heard that files in my documents folder on the C:Drive is the only folder that isn't automatically synced with OneDrive.

[@jimpeter3453]

Nicely produced! Regards from Baltim ore.

[@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.

[@dschafar1987]

Quirks and features...nice one

[@colleenh7989]

Very helpful video, thank you!

[@1958zed]

Thank you! This is the explanation ive been looking for.

[@tonyzane4945]

Finally a good description..thanks..If you're still monitoring this site, how do i send a large file via yahoo email without the recipient seeing what else is on my cloud? Only what's in the file.

[@joannaberry-fbf1045]

Thank you! I finally understand OneDrive!

[@anthonyespinosa-cruz572]

Very thorough explanation! Thank you for your help!

[@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

[@My2CentsODear1s]

Very clear explanation, thank you!

[@lesliemoore8188]

You"'re a breath of fresh air it was so easily understood.

[@gailhusvar2699]

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

[@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?

[@CJ-yq5ro]

Your content is really interesting, keep it up!

[@jimj6271]

So, should I do everything in the OneDrive folder? Is there a setting that automatically copies everything to OneDrive? Why would people not want to use OneDrive?

[@didierbeaudequin]

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

[@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.)

[@alitabaker99]

Expertly-explained video, my friend. I had to subscribe!

[@drxav1]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@randymartin9876]

outstanding explanation

[@martyg9918]

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

[@rachedecheikh8276]

thank you Leo , it's really very useful .

[@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.

[@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.

[@dhpbear2]

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

[@imaatmajaya9645]

Thank you Mr Leo so much, you are the best Guru xxx

[@bashment7222]

Great video. Does this work the same way on a Macbook? I can't find a OneDrive folder anywhere in my system

[@askleonotenboom]

Yes. You should find it in your home directory. ~/OneDrive. It should also appear in Finder. All that after you install the OneDrive app.

[@richardcarlin1332]

How does it work if you have multiple computers and make changes on one computer, but not on another. I'd like to have it work just on the server and not try to synchronize between both computers, especially if one computer isn't windows based, but you use Microsoft 365. A problem I encountered was I had a computer turned off for a while and made all changes on another computer. When I eventually turned on the older computer, it overwrote the one drive document with the older version. I tried turning off synchronize and hope that fixes the problem in the future.

[@askleonotenboom]

OneDrive's JOB is synchronization across computers. If you don't want that then you probably want to use something else.

[@mrkratnam]

Super explained 👏👏

[@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.