Sync files with OneDrive on Mac OS X

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When you install the OneDrive sync app for Mac, a copy of your OneDrive is downloaded to your Mac and put in the OneDrive folder. This folder is kept in sync with OneDrive. If you add, change, or delete a file or folder on the OneDrive website, the file or folder is added, changed, or deleted in your OneDrive folder and vice versa.

To upload files to OneDrive automatically, just copy or move the files to your OneDrive folder using the Finder, or save them in your OneDrive folder from an app. Files you upload this way can be up to 15GB. If you installed the OneDrive app on other computers, the files will automatically be added to the OneDrive folders on them, too.

You can also use the Finder to rename and delete files, create new folders, and move files around in your OneDrive folder. The changes will automatically be made in OneDrive and your other computers that have the sync app installed.

The sync app lets you sync files from your OneDrive for Business and even from SharePoint sites.

Install and set up

If you have signed in to the OneDrive sync app with a Microsoft account (for example, someone@outlook.com), you should already have the sync app and you can skip to step 2 below.

Install OneDrive for Mac.

Important: If you are currently using the OneDrive Mac Store app, you must first uninstall it before installing the latest build of the sync app.
Start OneDrive Setup

Method 1: If you have no accounts signed in to OneDrive

If you're not signed in to OneDrive with any account, start OneDrive to connect a work or school account.

Start OneDrive by pressing cmd+Space to launch a Spotlight query and type OneDrive. This starts OneDrive Setup.
Enter your work or school account and then select Sign in to set up your account.

Method 2: If you already have a personal account signed in to OneDrive

If you already have a personal account signed in to OneDrive, you’ll want to add a work or school account in OneDrive Preferences.

Click the OneDrive cloud icon up in your Menu bar, click the three dots to open the menu, and select Preferences.
Click the Account tab, and then select Add an Account to start OneDrive Setup.
Enter your work or school account and click Sign in.

Key parts of OneDrive Setup

There are a few points of OneDrive Setup that are helpful to watch for:

When setting up your OneDrive, it has a default location set. However, you can change this during setup. On the This is your OneDrive folder screen, click Change Location.

Select a location where you would like to save your OneDrive files and click Choose this location.

When you see the This is your OneDrive folder screen, you’ll now see a path to the folder you selected. Click Next to continue.
On the Sync Files from Your OneDrive screen, you can choose the folders you want to sync to your computer, and click Next. This conserves space on your computer, and reduces bandwidth needed for the sync processes.
You’re done! Click Open my OneDrive folder to see your files sync to your folder.

You can find OneDrive up in your Menu bar. You’ll have a cloud icon for every account you’ve connected to OneDrive. So you’ll have one cloud if you’re only syncing a work or school account, one cloud if you’re syncing only a personal account, or two clouds if you’re syncing both.

Screenshot of OneDrive in the menu bar on a Mac after finishing Welcome to Onedrive

You’ll also see a folder in Finder called OneDrive – YourTenantName.

Screenshot of Finder integration on Mac with sync overlays for synced files

Note: Contoso is an example name. You will see the name of your organization.

Turn on Finder integration

If you’re on OSX 10.10 or higher, get sync status directly from Finder by enabling Finder overlays in Settings.

First, click the Apple logo in the top left corner of your Mac Desktop and select System Preferences, then select Extensions in the top-level menu (shown in the 3rd row from the top).

Screenshot of system preferences on a Mac

Toggle on the OneDrive Finder Integration to enable Finder overlays.

Screenshot of Extensions in system preferences on a Mac

You’re all set. Open up your OneDrive folder in Finder to see overlays on your files and folders.

Screenshot of Finder integration on Mac with sync overlays for synced files

If you're an admin and want to enable sync icon overlays on multiple computers, you can use this Terminal command:

/usr/bin/pluginkit -e use -i com.microsoft.OneDrive-mac.FinderSync

Sync SharePoint sites

To sync libraries and folders

Click the Office 365 app launcher , and then click SharePoint.
Click the site that you want to sync.
Click Documents or navigate to the subfolder that you want to sync.
Click Sync.
If your browser requests permission to use "Microsoft OneDrive," confirm that this is okay.
Choose the folders that you want to sync, and then click Start sync.

SharePoint team sites sync under a folder with your tenant name. This folder is automatically added to the left navigation pane in Finder.

Manage your syncing sites

You can manage your syncing sites in the sync app settings.

Click the OneDrive icon in the menu bar.
Click Preferences, and then click the Account tab.
To change the folders that you're syncing, click Choose Folders for that location, and then choose the folders that you want to sync. To stop syncing a site, click Stop Sync next to the site. (Copies of the files remain on your computer. You can delete them if you want.)