How to Use OneDrive and Fix OneDrive Issues on Mac

⚡ Quick Answer: How to Use OneDrive and Fix OneDrive Issues on Mac?

To use OneDrive on Mac, download the app from the Mac App Store or onedrive.live.com, sign in with your Microsoft account, and drag files into the OneDrive folder to sync them to the cloud automatically. If OneDrive won't sync, click the OneDrive cloud icon in the menu bar > Preferences, check the Office tab, verify your internet connection, keep files under 15GB, and shorten file paths over 255 characters. For a deep reset, run the ResetOneDriveApp.command script inside the app's package contents.

With the influx of cloud-based storage services like MEGA, Google Drive, iCloud, and pCloud over the years, choosing the right one can be daunting. Many claim to be the best, but a common issue like "OneDrive is damaged on Mac" can turn users away.

File safety and affordability remain priorities, which is why we focus on Mac OneDrive. Whether you're dealing with "OneDrive not opening on Mac" or wondering "how to refresh OneDrive on Mac," this guide will walk you through everything you need to know.

Before closing this page, you'll understand Microsoft's proprietary storage service better. OneDrive now works seamlessly on your Mac, making it an excellent choice for secure, reliable cloud storage.

What Is OneDrive?

OneDrive is a storage service developed by Microsoft for storing or hosting files in the cloud (online). This means as long as you have a computer with an internet connection, be it Windows or Mac, you can easily access your files from wherever you are. Terribly convenient, isn't it?

How does it work, you ask? The process is simple: You only need a Microsoft account, an internet connection and a little bit of patience; or rather, a lot of it, if your files are on the larger side.

Here's what happens: The Microsoft account will enable you to access One Drive; then an internet connection will serve as a bridge to those files; then patience as the process is carried out because the upload of files, regardless of internet speed and strength, takes longer than downloading them.

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How to Use OneDrive on Mac?

It's always such a pleasant surprise when applications developed by Microsoft end up with Apple. The rivalry between the two companies makes it seem unlikely they would shake hands and develop apps that complement both their individual operating systems. But OneDrive is proof that the needs of both their customers outweighs anything else.

With that out of the way, is using Mac OneDrive easy and convenient? Yes. Using it is really little different from using any folder on your Mac. The only real difference is the data you store in your local OneDrive folder is also stored on OneDrive servers.

The default folders in OneDrive are Pictures, Documents, and Public, but you can add and name as many as you want. Copying files into OneDrive couldn't have been easier too: Just copy or drag and dump everything into the folder and it will seamlessly be uploaded to the cloud.

Accessing the floating files in the cloud is even easier because you can do so from any computer or device via the OneDrive web interface; some devices even have versions of the OneDrive app, negating the need to access the web interface.

Solution 1: How to Download and Install OneDrive on Mac

1. If you don't have a Microsoft Live ID, the first step is to create it. Follow this link to do that: https://signup.live.com/

2. Once you're done with that, go to this website https://onedrive.live.com/

3. Logged in to the website above with your newly-created Microsoft Live ID by clicking on "Sign In". It's located at the top-right part of the window.

4. Despite the type of web browser you are using, the next window to open up you will show you the default configuration for the OneDrive folder. At the bottom-left of the sidebar, you will see "Get the OneDrive apps". Click on it.

5. It will open up a new window. Click on "Download."

6. Once it's done, open up your Mac's downloads folder.

7. You will see "OneDrive.pkg" in the folder. Double-click it.

8. A set of instructions will guide you towards the OneDrive installation. Follow them appropriately.

That's one way to download and install OneDrive, but you can also download it via your Mac App Store.

1. Open up your Mac App Store.

2. Type "OneDrive" in the search field at the upper right section of the window.

3. Once you find it, click on "Install" below the OneDrive icon.

4. Once that's done, you only need to go to your Mac's "Applications" folder and click on the OneDrive icon (two blue clouds) to open it up. There are other ways you can launch the app but this method is quite convenient.

Solution 2: How to Set Up OneDrive on Mac

Setting OneDrive up can be done two ways, and they are dependent on whether you have an account signed in to OneDrive or not.

Method 1: (No Accounts Signed into OneDrive)

1. Press these keys, "cmd" + "Space", to start a Spotlight query.

2. Type "OneDrive" in it and the "OneDrive Setup" will begin

3. Type in your school or work account and choose "Sign In."

Method 2: (Personal Account Already Signed into OneDrive)

1. On your Mac's Menu bar, you should be able to see the "OneDrive" icon. Click on it.

2. Click the 3 dots you see to launch the menu.

3. Choose "Preferences."

4. Click on "Account."

5. Choose "Add Account." That will start up OneDrive.

6. Type in your school or work account.

7. Click on "Sign In."

Solution 3: How to Reset OneDrive on Mac

Method 1: Kill OneDrive Processes

1. Open your Utilities folder and launch Activity Monitor.
2. Sort the list alphabetically by clicking Process Name, then find the OneDrive items (usually OneDrive and OneDrive Finder Integration). If you run both Personal and Business versions, kill the extra OneDrive processes too.
3. Highlight the items, click the X icon, then choose Quit — or Force Quit if it fails to close.

Method 2: Access and Delete the OneDrive Keys

1. Open Utilities and launch the Keychain Access utility.
2. Type OneDrive in its search panel and select only the items related to OneDrive.
3. Press the Delete key, then close Keychain Access.

Method 3: Run the Covert Reset OneDrive Script

1. Go to OneDrive in your Applications folder, control-click it, and choose Show Package Contents.
2. Open the Contents folder, then the Resources folder.
3. Double-click ResetOneDriveApp.command and authenticate as administrator if prompted. Terminal will open, run through the options, and close when done.

Once you complete these 3 methods and launch OneDrive, it will run as if it's a fresh install — just sign in again and set OneDrive up.

Solution 3: How to Add a Folder to OneDrive on Mac

1. Navigate to your Mac's taskbar notification area and choose "OneDrive" from it.

2. Click "More."

3. Click "Preferences."

4. Choose "Accounts."

5. Select "Choose Folders."

6. A "Sync files from your OneDrive" dialogue box will open up. Untick all the folders you don't want to be added to your Mac. The folders you don't untick have automatically been added to OneDrive.

7. Click on "OK."

Solution 4: How to Change OneDrive Location on Mac

1. Start "OneDrive" from your Applications folder.

2. On the OneDrive window, click on "Choose OneDrive Folder Location."

3. You can now choose a particular folder on your Mac to be the default directory for storing and syncing folders and files to OneDrive.

To do that, just click on the chosen folder. Doing that will change the default directory set by OneDrive to the one you chose.

4. Click on "Choose this location." The app will create a new folder in the default folder you selected and name it "OneDrive."

5. A "This is your OneDrive Folder" page will open up. Click on "Change Location."

6. File Explorer will open up with a list of folders on your Mac. Choose the one you want and it will be the new location for your OneDrive, effectively changing your OneDrive main folder.

Solution 5: How to Sync Folder on Mac OneDrive

1. Launch "OneDrive."

2. On the welcome window of the app, you will see "Choose OneDrive Folder Location" to the bottom right. Click on it.

3. You can now select any folder on your Mac and designate it as the primary folder for storing and syncing other files and folders to OneDrive. Once you decide on a folder in the file explorer window, simply click on it.

4. Click "Choose this location." A new folder titled "OneDrive" will then be created in the main folder you chose.

5. A window called "This is your OneDrive Folder" will open up. Click "Next."

6. This will show you a list of subfolders that can also be synced between OneDrive and your Mac.

7. Tick any, all or none of them.

8. Click "Next" again to confirm.

Solution 6: How to Download and Share Files from OneDrive

Download Files

1. Go to this website: https://onedrive.live.com

2. Sign in to your account. All your folders will be on the first page you see.

3. Move your mouse cursor over to the particular folder or file you wish to download. A checkbox will appear at the top-right corner of the file or folder.

4. Tick on the checkbox of the file or folder and it will turn blue, meaning it has been selected.

5. To download the selected files, click on the "Download" button located on the menu bar at the top. Alternatively, you can right-click the file and click on "Download" in the menu you see.

6. You might be asked to save the download in zip format. Select a location to save it to and the files will then be downloaded. The time it takes for them to be downloaded depends on size and internet speed, of course.

Share Files

1. Open up your browser and go this site: https://onedrive.live.com

2. Sign in to your OneDrive. Your folders should be visible on the first page you see.

3. Tick the checkbox of any file or folder you want to share and click on "Share" at the top-left section of the screen.

4. A "Send Link" box will open where you will be asked for the name or email address of the person to receive the file or files. Do that and proceed to the next step.

5. Click on "Anyone with the link can edit" and a "Share" box will appear. This is where you set an expiration date and a password if you so wish.

6. Click "Apply."

7. The "Send Link" box will appear again. Click "Send" and the files will be shared.

Solution 7: How to Remove OneDrive on Mac

1. You have to close the OneDrive app first. Go to your Mac's toolbar.

2. Click the "OneDrive" icon.

3. Click "Settings."

4. Chose "Quit OneDrive."

5. Next, you have to delete the executable file of the OneDrive. Go to your "Applications" folder.

6. Locate "OneDrive" and right-click on it.

7. Choose "Move to Trash."

8. Alternatively, you can just drag the OneDrive icon-if it's on your desktop-to your Trash.

Solution 8: How to Update OneDrive on Mac

1. Launch "Mac App Store."

2. Click on "Update" in the toolbar. If there's an update for your OneDrive, you'll see it here.

3. Alternatively, you can launch the OneDrive app itself and see if there is an "Update" button you can click.

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OneDrive Won't Sync? Fix OneDrive Sync Issues

Fix 1: Rectify the "Upload Blocked" Error

1. Click the OneDrive cloud icon in the menu bar, click the three dots, and choose Preferences.

2. Choose the Office tab and untick "Use Office 2016 to sync Office files that I open". This stops the Office Upload cache from blocking sync.

Fix 2: Check Your Internet Connection

OneDrive needs a stable internet connection to sync files. Any drop in connectivity can cause sync errors.

Fix 3: Reduce File Size

Compress or reduce OneDrive files to under 15GB. Larger files can trigger errors when syncing files and folders.

Fix 4: Confirm the OneDrive Process Is Running

Open Activity Monitor, select the CPU tab, and check the Process column to make sure OneDrive is still running.

Fix 5: Shorten the File Path

File paths longer than 255 characters often cause errors — shorten the names of files, folders, and sub-folders in OneDrive.

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How to Recover Downloaded OneDrive Files

Once you put your files in OneDrive, their safety is guaranteed because they are stored in the cloud; inaccessible to anyone else but you. And you have copies of the files on your Mac too, so even if you lose either of them, it's safe to assume you still have the files either on your Mac or OneDrive servers, isn't it?

Wait, you don't have copies of the files? And you deleted both the ones on your Mac and in your OneDrive? That's not a very smart thing to do, is it?

No worries. You can save yourself the trouble of installing and uninstalling different recovery apps because all you need is one: Wondershare Recoverit Mac Data Recovery.

Recoverit won't break a sweat in recovering your deleted OneDrive files. The cavalry is here, so chill. Look below and do as instructed. Everything should turn out fine in the end.

How to Recover Deleted OneDrive Files on Mac with Recoverit

If you deleted your OneDrive files from both your Mac and the cloud, Wondershare Recoverit Mac Data Recovery can retrieve them from your local drive with ease.

1. Choose a location: Open Recoverit from your Applications folder, select the hard disk under Devices that contains the deleted OneDrive files, and click Start.

2. Scan the location: Use the File Type and File Path filters to speed up the scan. You can stop or pause it anytime — this won't affect your files. Once complete, Recoverit shows the deleted OneDrive files in a preview window.

3. Preview & recover: Tick the checkboxes next to the OneDrive files you want (or tick all), click the Recover button, and wait a few minutes. Save all recovered files to a secondary drive on your Mac.

Closing Words

Using OneDrive is easy if you follow the appropriate steps. Is there any marked difference in how efficient OneDrive is between the Windows and Mac versions? No, none whatsoever at all. OneDrive for Mac comes with all the benefits of its Windows counterpart.

You have free 5GB of storage space, which can be upgraded if the need arises. The tool is also compatible with your Mac's native cloud storage service, iCloud. Likewise, you can use it with other storage platforms, so it's as versatile as it is simple to use.

And if in the event you delete your OneDrive files, you can recover them by clicking on that little blue "Recoverit" icon on your Mac's desktop. The software gets everything back without missing a beat, so what are you waiting for?

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