How to Use OneDrive to Access Your Files on Any Device

Summary

• Sign up for a Microsoft account and install the OneDrive app to sync files from your PC to the cloud.
• Access your OneDrive files from another PC by signing in to OneDrive in a web browser or using the OneDrive desktop app.
• Use the OneDrive app on Android or iOS devices to easily access and download files on the go.

Microsoft's OneDrive is one of the best cloud storage solutions, making it easy to store and access your documents, photos, videos, and more from anywhere.

Storing files on OneDrive rather than just on your local hard drive gives you the flexibility to access those files from any internet-connected device—phone, tablet, laptop, or desktop—and this is how it works.

How to Access OneDrive Files on Another PC

To start accessing your OneDrive files on another PC, you'll need to first sign up for a Microsoft account. In some cases, you'll need to install the OneDrive app, but the OneDrive web app is also an option.

• You can sign up for a Microsoft account at accounts.microsoft.com.
• You can get the OneDrive app from the Microsoft Store, the OneDrive website, or, for macOS users, the App Store.

However, there's a good chance you already have a Microsoft account and the OneDrive app installed on your PC, especially if you are using Windows 10 or Windows 11. If that is the case, skip the sign-in and installation steps and jump to linking your Microsoft account with OneDrive before syncing your files to the cloud.

After syncing files to OneDrive on one computer, you can access those files from any other computer. Here are a few ways to access your OneDrive files on another PC:

Sign In to OneDrive Using a Web Browser

The fastest way to access OneDrive files on another PC is to sign in to OneDrive using a web browser. You can do this on your Windows, Mac, or Linux computer.

1. Open any web browser on the other PC (e.g. Chrome, Firefox, Edge)
2. Go to onedrive.live.com
3. Sign in with your Microsoft account credentials. This is the same account you use for OneDrive.
4. You will now see your OneDrive files and folders in the web interface.
5. To access a file, click on it to open it in the browser if it's a document, image, etc. Or right-click and choose Download to download it to the PC.

Access OneDrive Files Using the OneDrive App on Windows

A more efficient way to access your OneDrive files on another PC is to use the OneDrive desktop app. The OneDrive app for Windows provides a native experience for browsing and managing your OneDrive files. However, Microsoft dropped support for the official Microsoft Store OneDrive app (pushing people toward the web app). So, while you can still use the OneDrive app, the experience isn't as seamless as it once was, and you may find the web app is the better option.

To set up access to your OneDrive files locally on a second computer:

1. Install the OneDrive app from the Microsoft App Store.
2. Open the OneDrive app and follow the on-screen prompts to install.
3. When prompted, sign in to the OneDrive app using the same Microsoft account you use for OneDrive online. This links the app to your account.
4. Once signed in, OneDrive will automatically start syncing your files in the background.
5. You can access synced files through File Explorer. OneDrive will appear as a folder alongside other drives and folders on the second computer.
6. Any files you add, edit, or delete in this OneDrive folder will sync across devices.
7. Right-click the OneDrive icon in the system tray and choose Settings to configure sync options if needed.

Once signed in to your Microsoft account using the OneDrive app, all your files will be available.

Access OneDrive Files Using the OneDrive App on macOS

To set up and access your files using the OneDrive app on macOS, visit the OneDrive page on the App Store and click Download to install the app.

After installing:

1. Double-click the OneDrive icon in your Applications folder to open the app.
2. Enter your email address linked to your OneDrive account and click Sign In.
3. On the next setup screens, provide answers about your account when prompted. On the Your OneDrive Folder screen, you can keep the default location or click Change Location to choose a location to store files.
4. Click Next when done.

Click Next through the information screens about using OneDrive. On the final screen, click to open to access synced folders and files. If it's your first time using OneDrive, you'll see some default folders and files to get started.

If you use a Linux distribution like Ubuntu, you can access your OneDrive files through the onedrive.live.com web interface. Alternatively, you can follow this guide to install and use a OneDrive client application for Linux, which supports Ubuntu.

How to Access OneDrive Files on Android or iOS

OneDrive has official apps for Android and iOS that make it easy to access files on the go, and it's the same process for both versions.

How to Access OneDrive Files on Android Devices

1. Install the OneDrive app from the Google Play Store (Free).
2. Sign in with your Microsoft account email and password
3. Tap on files and folders to open them, or tap the three-dot menu and select Download to save them locally.

How to Access OneDrive Files on iOS/iPadOS

1. Install the OneDrive app from the App Store (Free).
2. Sign in with your Microsoft account credentials.
3. Browse to locate your folders and files. Tap to open documents or the More menu to reveal the download option.

The screenshots above show the process on Android. The steps on iOS are very similar, though menu placements may vary slightly. While iOS screenshots are not included, users should be able to follow along on an iPhone by referencing the Android screenshots.

OneDrive makes accessing important files and documents incredibly convenient, regardless of your device. With easy syncing to your main computer, web access from any browser, and mobile apps for on-the-go productivity, you can rely on OneDrive for seamless file availability. No more emailing files to yourself or carrying USB drives!