How to Sync to Your OneDrive

Syncing your OneDrive is the best and easiest way to make sure your files are safely backed up and that you do not loose important data. 

• Start by clicking on your taskbar in the lower right of your desktop screen. You will either see a blue or grey cloud in the area near the date and time, or you will have to click on the up arrow to bring up your taskbar tray.  Sign in with your district email address ([email protected]) and password. 

• A screen will pop-up that will ask you to choose the folders that you would like to sync. We recommend that you leave Desktop, Documents and Photos highlighted. This should cover a large amount of important day to day files that you would need if your computer was to break. This should cover many important daily files you would need if your computer has issues. You can always go back and add or subtract to this later.  

Files are now being synced to your OneDrive. In file explorer, OneDrive icon will be on the left side, just like any other folder. If opened, the icons next to the files show the various status of the files.  

• The symbols next to files show where that file is stored and if it is backed up by one drive.  
• Double check your files are synced by clicking on the little blue cloud in the lower right corner of your screen. If your files are synced you should see something like the image below confirming that your files are synced. 

• The symbols next to files show where that file is stored and if it is backed up by one drive. 
  • A blue cloud icon next to a OneDrive file or folder indicates that the file is only available online. Online-only files don’t take up space on your computer. You see a cloud icon for each online-only file in File Explorer, but the file doesn’t download to your device until you open it. You can’t open online-only files when your device isn’t connected to the Internet
  • A white circle with a green check indicated and locally available file. When you open an online-only file, it downloads to your device and becomes a locally available file. You can open a locally available file anytime, even without Internet access. If you need more space, you can change the file back to online only. Just right-click the file and select “Free up space.
  • A green circle with a white check mark means the file is always available. Only files that you mark as "Always keep on this device" have the green circle with the white check mark. These always available files download to your device and take up space, but they’re always there for you even when you’re offline.

​​​​​​​If the steps above worked, you do not need to continue here. 

Rarely, OneDrive will have issues connecting you from the icon on the task bar. If this is a problem, you can sync from Office365 online as well. Follow these steps if you are unable to get the above steps to work, or to double check everything is syncing correctly. 

Go to https://www.office.com/ and hit the orange sign in button. Put in your district email ([email protected]). This will re-direct you to our single sign-on procedures. 

If you have trouble or need assistance please submit a HappyFox ticket.