Microsoft OneDrive – Cloud Storage and File Sharing

Intended Audience: Students, Faculty, and Staff

Summary

Microsoft OneDrive is the University’s cloud storage and file sharing service. It keeps all your files in one secure location, accessible from anywhere and on any device. While OneDrive is primarily for personal file storage and sharing, it also integrates with SharePoint for departmental collaboration.

Problem

Faculty, staff, and students need a secure and reliable way to store, access, and collaborate on files across multiple devices. Using only local storage, email attachments, or USB drives makes collaboration difficult and increases the risk of losing important files.

Solution

Microsoft OneDrive provides each user with 1 TB of storage, giving ample space for documents, projects, and multimedia. You can access your files from any device, whether you are on campus, at home, or traveling, by using the OneDrive web client, desktop app, or mobile app. OneDrive enables real-time collaboration, allowing multiple users to work together on the same document in Microsoft 365 apps such as Word, Excel, or PowerPoint. Files are automatically backed up to the cloud, and version history ensures that you can restore older copies whenever needed.

OneDrive also connects with SharePoint so that departmental libraries can appear directly in your OneDrive when synced. This integration makes it easier to manage both your personal files and your department’s shared content in one place.

Steps

Follow these steps to begin using OneDrive and make the most of its storage and collaboration features.

1. Access OneDrive

   • Go to Microsoft 365 and log in with your PVAMU credentials.

   • Select the OneDrive app to view your files.

2. Upload Files

   • Click Upload to add documents, images, or folders.

3. Share Files

   • Right-click on a file or folder and select Share.

   • Enter the recipient’s email address and adjust permissions as needed.

4. Sync Files

   • Install the OneDrive client if it is not already installed on your device.

   • Sync files to your computer for offline access.