Introduction

Creating a Microsoft account is the first step in getting started with OneDrive. Once you have an account, you can access your own personal OneDrive storage space. A Microsoft account also includes Office Online, as well as other online features like Calendar and Messenger.

In this lesson, you'll learn how to set up your own Microsoft account and how to access and navigate the OneDrive interface. We'll also talk about how to download and install the OneDrive app to your computer, which makes it easy to sync files across multiple devices.

Watch the video below to become more familiar with OneDrive.

Creating a Microsoft account

Before you can use Office Online and OneDrive, you'll need a Microsoft account . If you already have a @hotmail.com, @live.com , or @outlook.com email account (or any other account that lets you use a Microsoft service), you already have a Microsoft account. To access OneDrive, just sign in with your existing account.

To create a Microsoft account

1. Go to the OneDrive sign-in page . Select Create one!
   
2. A form will appear prompting you to fill information, including your email address and password,. Fill out the form, then click Create account .
3. Your Microsoft account is now created, and your OneDrive will appear.
   

Just like with any online service, it's important to choose a strong password —in other words, one that is difficult for someone else to guess. For more information, review our Creating Strong Passwords lesson.

Getting to know OneDrive

Now that you've created a Microsoft account, you'll need to spend some time becoming familiar with the way OneDrive works. You can access OneDrive at any time by going to www.onedrive.com in your web browser. From here, you can access your files, create new documents in Office Online, and much more.

Click the buttons in the interactive below to learn more about the OneDrive interface.

edit hotspots

Apps Menu

Click here to view a menu of various apps that you can open and use.

Notifications

Click the Notifications button to open a notifications pane on the right side of the screen. This is where you'll receive notifications about your files, folders, and edits.

Settings

Click here to access your OneDrive settings . You'll be able to view options, upgrade your storage, and change the language.

Help

Click here to open the help pane, where you can search for and view questions and topics.

Profile

Click here to modify your account settings, edit your profile, and more.

Info Pane

Click here to open the info pane . You'll be able to view specific details, comments, and shared users for specific documents.

Folders

Folders appear as large tiles at the top of your OneDrive. Simply click a folder to open it.

Files

Your files appear below your folders. Simply click a file to open it. If it's a Microsoft Office file, you'll be able to edit it using Office Online.

Search Bar

You can use the search bar to search for files stored on your OneDrive.

Skype

Click the Skype button to open a Skype pane on the right side of the screen. You can talk to anyone on your Skype contacts list from here.

View Options

By default, your folders and files are displayed in tiles view. However, you can switch to list or photo view if you prefer. You can also choose how to sort your files and folders here.

Quick Views

From here, you can switch between different document views , including the option to show recently edited files and photos.

Installing the Microsoft OneDrive app

If you prefer working in the desktop, you can download the OneDrive desktop app. This will add a OneDrive folder to your File Explorer . When you move files into this folder, they will automatically be uploaded to OneDrive, and you can access them anywhere you go. You'll even be able to access any files stored on your computer remotely , even if you haven't uploaded the files to OneDrive.

In this example, we'll install OneDrive for Windows . OneDrive is also available for Mac OS X , but keep in mind that the Mac installation process will be slightly different.

If you have Windows 8.1 or later, you already have the OneDrive app on your computer so you won't need to download and install it.

To install the OneDrive app:

1. Navigate to the Download OneDrive page . Locate and select Download OneDrive for Windows .
   
2. Once the file is downloaded, open it and follow the instructions to install OneDrive.
3. OneDrive is now installed on your computer. A OneDrive folder will be added to your Windows Explorer. We'll talk more about using this folder in our lesson on how to Upload, Sync, and Manage Files .
   

OneDrive for mobile devices

If you need to access your files on the go , OneDrive offers mobile apps for iOS , Android , and Windows Phone . While the mobile app will allow you to view and upload files, you will not be able to edit or create new documents .