How to access OneDrive settings (2024)

OneDrive desktop app

1. To access your OneDrive settings, click or tap the OneDrive icon in the taskbar or notification area.

   Tips:

   • If you don't see the OneDrive icon, OneDrive might not be running. On a PC, go toStart, type OneDrivein the search box, and then clickOneDrivein the search results.You might need to click the Show hidden icons arrow next to the notification area to see the OneDriveicons.On a Mac, useSpotlightto search forOneDriveand open it.

   • If you have bothOneDriveand OneDrive for work or schoolset up on your computer, the settings are accessed in the same way, but are unique to each account.

   • If you still don't see a OneDrive icon, checkWhich OneDrive app do I have?

2. SelectthenSettingsfrom the menu.

The starting screen shows the amount of storage usage and includes alink to Manage storage.

Sync and back up

• Back up important PC folders to OneDrive.Your PC's Desktop, Documents and Pictures folders may not beautomatically part of yourOneDrive. Select Manage back up to start the selection process.

• OneDrivepersonal users can also include Photos and videos and Screenshots folders to your OneDrive collection.

• Preferences allows you to choose how OneDrive behaves at start up, when your device is in battery saver mode, or when you're connected to a metered network (hotspot).

• Advanced settings includes:

  • File collaborationwhich controls the sync direction of your files and enables you to work on files with other people at the same time. To ensure AutoSave works best, keep this turned on.

  • The Upload and Download rates can be adjusted if you want to apply a "speed limit". Business customers may have a limit imposed by your IT Admin.

  • Files on Demand allows youto save space on your computer. Learn more about how to get the most out of Files on Demand for Windows 10 andMac 10.14or newer.

    See Also

    Find files shared with you in Drive - ComputerSee files you shared in OneDriveShare files and folders in iCloud Drive on iPhoneSee files others have shared with you

Account

• You can Unlink orAdd another accountbut note that you can only haveone personal account active on each computer.

• Select Choose folders to be choosewhich of your OneDrive folders syncto your computer. For example, this allows you to have your entire holiday photos online, but only show and sync the last year's collection to your computer. Learn more about Choose folders.

• Change yourPersonal Vault auto-lock time.

Notifications

• You can turn on or turn off Notifications for some events.

About

• OneDrive info includes your device ID and version number. No personal information is shown here.Quoting your uniqueOneDrive Device ID when contacting support helps support agents help you more efficiently. Clicking the version number will show you the OneDrive release notes.

• OneDrive Insider programmeoffers you a chance to get pre-release versions of OneDrive.

Other options in Help & Settings

• To Pause OneDriveselectthenselect Pause syncing and select the time duration you want to pause syncing, or Resume syncing.For more information, refer to How to Pause and Resume sync in OneDrive.

• To Close OneDriveselectthenselect CloseOneDrive. You can still see your files and folders online at www.onedrive.com.

Note:To access deleted files in your online recycle bin, select the OneDrive icon in the taskbar or notification area, then select Recycle bin. For more information, refer toRestore deleted files or folders in OneDrive.

OneDrive sync app

1. Click the OneDrive cloud icon up in your Menu bar, click the three dots to open the menu, and selectPreferences.

   Tips:

   • If you don't see the OneDrive icon, OneDrive might not be running. On a Mac, useSpotlightto search forOneDriveand open it.

   • If you have bothOneDriveand OneDrive for work or schoolset up on your computer, the settings are accessed in the same way, but are unique to each account.

Preferences

• General settings control how the OneDrive app behaves, including what happens when you sign in.

• You can turn on or turn off Notifications for some events.

• TurnFiles on Demand on or off to save space on your computer. All files are visible, but you need to be online to open them. Learn more about how to get the most out of Files on Demand forMac 10.14or newer.

Account

• The account tab shows how much storage each account has been used, and offers a link to Manage your Cloud storage.

• You can Unlink orAdd another accountbut note that you can only haveone personal account active on each computer.

• Select Choose folders to be choosewhich of your OneDrive folders syncto your computer. For example, this allows you to have your entire holiday photos online, but only show and sync the last year's collection to your computer. Learn more about Choose folders.

• Change yourPersonal Vault auto-lock time.

Backup

• Manage backup lets you include ImportantPC Folders to your OneDrive collection. Your computer's Desktop, Documents and Pictures folders may not beautomatically part of yourOneDrive.

• OneDrivepersonal users can also include Photos and videos and Screenshots folders to your OneDrive collection.

Network

• The Upload and Download rates can be adjusted if you want to apply a "speed limit". Business customers may have a limit imposed by your IT Admin.

Office

• File collaborationcontrols the sync direction of your files and enables you to work on files with other people at the same time. To ensure AutoSave works best, keep this turned on.

About

• More infohas links to all the OneDrive support pages.

• About offers you a chance to get pre-release versions of OneDrive. Clicking the version number will show you the OneDrive release notes.

• Quoting your uniqueOneDrive Device ID when contacting support helps support agents help you more efficiently.

Other options in Help & Settings

• To Pause OneDriveselectthenselect Pause syncing and select the time duration you want to pause syncing, or Resume syncing.For more information, refer to How to Pause and Resume sync in OneDrive.

• To Close OneDriveselectthenselect CloseOneDrive. You can still see your files and folders online at www.onedrive.com.

Note:To access deleted files in your online recycle bin, select the OneDrive icon in the taskbar or notification area, then select Recycle bin. For more information, refer toRestore deleted files or folders in OneDrive.

OneDrive mobile apps

To open the OneDrivemobile app settings:

1. Select the Meicon (Android) or your Profile picture (iOS).

2. Tap Settings and choose from:

   • Accounts (you can only have one Personal account active).

   • Options includes turning camera roll on or off, notification settings, device security, and Personal Vault settings.

   • About has linksto more support articles.

OneDrivewebsite

Sign in to see your OneDrive web settings:

• Manage storageshows how much storage you've used, and what plans and bonuses you may have.

• Plans and upgrades shows a summary of your existing storage plan or subscription.

• Office File formats selects the default file format for Office documents you create.

• Personal Vault is where you manage how you sign in to your Personal Vault. Once signed in, you can add or remove ways to get security codes.

• Photos offers a toggle for automatically creating albums from photos you upload to the web. This is not the same as albums from your mobile camera roll.

• Tagging allowsOneDrive to automatically tag your photos by theme.

• Notifications allows you get an email when People make changes to files you're sharing or when OneDrive recaps your photos.

• Device backups shows a list ofdevices that are backing up settings to OneDrive.

• Restore your OneDrive. Perfect for recovering from accidentally deleted files or a malware attack, you can restore your OneDrive to a previous time. Select a date pre-set or use the slider to find a date with unusual activity in the chart. Then select the changes that you want to undo.

• Search allows you to show previous searches as suggested search terms.

OneDrive Store app

1. Click or tap More ...to access more options.

2. Select Settingsfrom the menu which appears. Options available are:

   • Get more storage.

   • Reset the app.

   • Dark mode on/off.