SharePoint and OneDrive in Microsoft 365 are designed to work together so you can reach your document libraries from the same file manager you already use on your computer. In practice, that means you can connect a SharePoint library to File Explorer by syncing it with the OneDrive app, adding it as a shortcut, or mapping it as a network drive, depending on how your organization has things set up.
This guide walks through the general approaches for linking SharePoint to Windows Explorer, what to check before you start, and what to try if a library doesn’t show up the way you expect.
Quick steps
- Open the SharePoint site and go to the document library you want.
- Look for an option on the library’s command bar to sync the library or add it as a shortcut in OneDrive.
- If the OneDrive app opens, sign in with your work or school account and let it finish setting up.
- Open File Explorer and check the OneDrive section of the left-hand navigation pane. Once the connection is set up, your SharePoint library should appear there, usually grouped under your organization’s name.
Before you start
A few things to check first so the setup goes smoothly:
- You need at least view or edit access to the SharePoint library. If you can’t open it in a browser, connecting it to File Explorer won’t fix that.
- You’ll need the OneDrive app installed and signed in with your work or school account. If it isn’t already on your device, you can get it from Microsoft.
- “File Explorer” is the Windows file manager. On a Mac, the closest equivalent is Finder, which works through the OneDrive app for Mac instead.
- Some organizations apply data protection settings through Microsoft Purview that can affect whether certain SharePoint content can be downloaded or synced to a device. If a library behaves differently than you expect, this is worth checking with your admin.
- Very long site names combined with deeply nested folders can sometimes cause issues when connecting a library to your computer. If you manage a Microsoft Teams-connected SharePoint site, shortening the team name can sometimes help, as covered in our guide on renaming a team to shorten OneDrive path lengths.
Sync a SharePoint library to File Explorer (Windows, using OneDrive)
Syncing is generally the most common way to keep a library available on your device, with changes made locally syncing back to SharePoint and vice versa.
- Sign in to your SharePoint site in a web browser.
- Open the document library you want to add to File Explorer.
- Look for an option to sync the library to your computer and select it.
- If you’re prompted to open the link with the OneDrive app, allow this.
- Sign in with your work or school account if asked, then let the OneDrive app finish setting up the connection.
- Open File Explorer from the taskbar or Start menu.
- In the left-hand navigation pane, look under the OneDrive section for a folder associated with your organization. Your synced SharePoint library should appear there alongside any personal OneDrive folders.
Once connected, files in that folder behave like other files on your PC. Changes you make generally sync back up to SharePoint, and changes made online come back down to your computer, though exact sync behavior can depend on your organization’s OneDrive configuration.
Add a SharePoint library as a shortcut (without syncing everything)
If you want access to a library in File Explorer without necessarily downloading every file to your device, adding it as a shortcut can be a lighter alternative to a full sync.
- Go to your SharePoint site and open the library you want.
- Look for an option to add the library, or a specific folder in it, as a shortcut in your OneDrive.
- Confirm the action. The shortcut should then appear in OneDrive, both online and in File Explorer once OneDrive has refreshed.
- Open File Explorer and check inside your OneDrive folder for the shortcut. It points back to the SharePoint content, so opening a file through it still connects to the version stored online.
This approach can be useful when you mainly need quick access to a library rather than a fully offline copy of everything in it, though how much local storage this uses can vary depending on your OneDrive settings.
Map a SharePoint library as a network drive
Windows includes a general feature for mapping a network location to a drive letter, and some organizations use this to connect a SharePoint library instead of, or alongside, OneDrive sync. This can suit certain line-of-business tools or scripts that expect a drive letter rather than a synced folder.
- Open the SharePoint library in your browser and copy its web address.
- In File Explorer, use the option for mapping a network drive.
- Choose an available drive letter and enter the SharePoint library address in the location field. The exact format you need may depend on how your organization’s SharePoint environment is set up, so check with your IT team if you’re not sure.
- Sign in with your work or school account if prompted, then complete the setup.
Mapped network drives connect to SharePoint over your network connection rather than keeping a local copy, so behavior can vary depending on your connection and how your organization has configured access. If your organization manages this centrally, it’s worth checking with your IT admin before setting one up yourself, since some environments restrict or pre-configure this. Admins managing many sites or libraries at once may also find it easier to work through the SharePoint Online Management Shell rather than setting up individual mapped drives.
On Mac: Finder instead of File Explorer
Mac computers don’t have File Explorer, but the OneDrive app for Mac is designed to give you similar access through Finder. Install and sign in to the OneDrive app, then use the same sync or shortcut option on your SharePoint library described above. Once connected, the library should appear as a folder inside Finder, under your OneDrive locations.
If it doesn’t work
There’s no option to sync or add a shortcut
This can mean you don’t have enough permissions on the library, or that your admin has restricted this option for the site. Confirm you can at least view and download files from the library in the browser, and check with your SharePoint or IT admin about whether syncing is allowed for your site.
OneDrive won’t finish connecting or shows an error
Long file paths, caused by long site, library, or folder names combined with deep nesting, are a common source of sync issues on Windows. If you manage a Microsoft Teams-connected SharePoint site, renaming the team to use a shorter name can sometimes help, as described in our guide on renaming a team to shorten OneDrive path lengths.
The library doesn’t show up in File Explorer
Give OneDrive a little time to finish setting up the connection, especially on a slower connection. If it still doesn’t appear, check that the OneDrive app is running and that you’re signed in with your work or school account rather than a personal Microsoft account.
Files connect but won’t open or edit properly
This is often a permissions issue rather than a connection problem. If you can edit a file directly in SharePoint online but not through File Explorer, try signing out and back into OneDrive, or check with your admin whether any data protection policies might be restricting local access to that content.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need OneDrive installed to add SharePoint to File Explorer?
Yes, both the sync and shortcut methods rely on the OneDrive app being installed and signed in with your work or school account. If it isn’t already on your device, you’ll need to install it before you can connect a SharePoint library.
What’s the difference between syncing and mapping a network drive?
Syncing with OneDrive is generally designed to keep a local copy of files that updates in both directions, including while you’re offline. Mapping a network drive connects to the SharePoint library over your network connection instead, so it typically needs an active connection to access files, and its exact behavior can depend on how your organization has configured it.
Can I add a whole SharePoint site to File Explorer, or just one library?
Sync and shortcut options are generally applied at the document library level rather than the whole site. If a site has multiple libraries, you would normally set up the connection separately for each library you need.
Will connecting SharePoint to File Explorer use up my local storage?
A full sync can download files to your device, so larger libraries may use noticeable disk space. A shortcut is often a lighter option, though exactly how much storage either method uses can depend on your OneDrive settings and how your organization has configured things.
Why do I see my organization’s name instead of “SharePoint” in File Explorer?
OneDrive typically groups connected SharePoint locations under your organization’s name rather than the word “SharePoint,” alongside your other OneDrive for work or school folders.
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