What is OneDrive


OneDrive gives you one place to store, share, and sync your work files, all while being backed up safely to the Government Cloud.  


Go to www.office.com and sign in with your Cook County email credentials and select OneDrive from the Office 365 app launcher (waffle), from here you can:

  • Access your files from the browser.
  • Share files/folders inside Cook County and with other Office 365 users.
  • Work together in real-time on Office documents.
  • Quickly find the files that matter to you.
  • Keep your files protected and backed up.


Note: the first time you access your OneDrive, it will automatically create your OneDrive site, this may take a minute, please be patient during this one-time creation process.


OneDrive Basics


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Use the OneDrive navigation pane, file list, and toolbar to view and work with your files.


Navigation pane

  • Select the Files, Recent, and Shared links to see how that changes what you see in the file list.
  • If you belong to Groups or follow sites, select a Group or site to see files related to that group or site.


Toolbar

  • Use the toolbar to Search for files, create New files and folders, Upload files, and Sync them.
  • Select Sort to change how you'd like to view your files.
  • Select View to change the view.
  • Select Information to check recent activity on your files.
  • Select a file and choose what you'd like to do with it: Open, Share, Copy link, Download, Delete, Move to or Copy To.


Sync OneDrive Files and Folders with your Computer


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With OneDrive, you can sync files between your computer and the cloud, so you can get to them even while offline.  When you connect again, your files and folders will sync back up.


Note: If you're on Windows 10, your computer already has the OneDrive desktop app on it.


Sync OneDrive to your computer

  1. Select Start, type OneDrive, and then select the OneDrive desktop app (be sure not to select "OneDrive for Business app" as this is the older OneDrive client).
  2. Sign in to OneDrive with your Cook County email address and finish setting up.

Your OneDrive files will start syncing to your computer.


Work with your files in your file system.


Once you're synced, you'll see your files in File Explorer.


You can copy or move files from your computer to OneDrive right from your file system.


You can also click the OneDrive cloud icon in the Windows notification area to check the status on your files.  Click the Settings gear to manage other sync settings.


Upload Files and Folders to OneDrive


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Note: The preferred method for uploading files/folders is to use File Explorer, selecting the files you want to upload, and dragging them to OneDrive-Cook County, MN.  This will use the OneDrive sync client to upload the files.  You can also create new folders here, just like you do anywhere else using file explorer in Windows.


You can alternately upload by accessing OneDrive via the browser.

  1. Select Upload (Note: In Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge, select Upload > Files).
  2. Select the file or files you want to upload.
  3. Select Open.

Upload folders in Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome

  1. Select Upload > Folder.
  2. Select the folder.
  3. Select Upload.

Upload folders in other browsers

  1. Select New > Folder to create a folder.
  2. From the folder you want to upload, select the files.
  3. Drag and drop the files into the new folder you created in OneDrive.


Create Files and Folders in OneDrive


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With your files saved to OneDrive, you can create files and folders to manage your work.


Create a file in OneDrive

  1. Select New and choose the type of file you want.
  2. To rename the file, click the file name in the title bar, for example Document, and then type a name.

All changes are automatically saved in the Office online apps, so when you go back to OneDrive, your new file is already saved.


Create a file in an Office desktop app

  1. Open a desktop app, like a Word, Excel, or PowerPoint.
  2. Select File > Save As.
  3. Select your OneDrive work or school account.
  4. Type a name for the file and select Save.

Create folders

  1. Select New > Folder.
  2. Type a name for the folder and select Create.
  3. Select the files you want and drag them into the folder.


Restore Deleted Files in OneDrive


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When you delete a file or folder, it goes into the Recycle bin, where you have a chance to restore it.


Delete files

  1. Select the file or files you want to delete.
  2. Select Delete.  The files move to the Recycle bin.

Restore files

  1. Select the Recycle bin
    1. If you want all of your files back, select Restore all items.
    2. Or, select only the files you want and click Restore.

The file is returned to its original location.


Note: Your Cook County OneDrive deleted files will remain in the recycle bin for 93 days.


Sharing Files or Folders from OneDrive


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When you use Office 365 for business and save your files to OneDrive or SharePoint, sharing your files is the same wherever or however you work.


Share a file or folder

  1. With a file open or a file or folder selected, select Share.
  2. If you are working on your desktop and the file hasn't been saved to OneDrive or SharePoint, select a location you want to upload your file.
  3. Select the down arrow to choose permissions for the link you will be sharing, options include:
    1. Anyone (if you organization allows it)
    2. People in your organization
    3. Specific people
  4. Select Apply to save the permissions.
  5. Enter the name or email address of people you want to share with.
  6. Type a message.
  7. Select Send.

Or, you can select Copy Link and send the link in an email or add it to a file.


OneDrive Files On-Demand


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With OneDrive Files On-Demand, you can get to all your files in OneDrive or SharePoint Online, without having to download them and use storage space on your device.


Note: You'll know that Files On-Demand is turned on if you see the status icons next to your files in File Explorer, as shown in the video.


Turn on Files On-Demand in OneDrive

  1. Select the blue OneDrive cloud icon in the Windows notification area, bottom right of screen near your clock. (Note: if you're on Windows 10, your computer already has the OneDrive desktop app on it, but you might need to turn on Files On-Demand in OneDrive settings).
  2. Select Settings.
  3. Select Settings > Save space and download files as you use them.


Work with files in Files On-Demand


When Files On-Demand is on, you'll see new status icons next to each of your SharePoint files.  You can now copy or move files from your computer to SharePoint Online right from your file system.


Online-Only Files:

Save space on your device by making files online-only.

These files are only available when you're connected to the internet, but don't take up space on your computer.




Locally Available Files:

When you open an online-only file, it temporarily downloads to your device and becomes locally available.

You can open a locally available file at anytime even without internet access.  If you want to keep the file permanently, even while disconnected, see next section on making files "always available."




Always Available Files:

To make a file always available, even when you're offline; right click it and select Always keep on this device.

To change a file back to the online-only file; right click it and select Free up space.