Should I save files to OneDrive or SharePoint? (2024)

If you’re working on a file by yourself, save it to OneDrive. Your OneDrive files are private unless you share them with others, which is particularly useful if you haven’t created a team yet.

If you’re already working as a team — in Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, or Outlook—you should save your files where your team works, because OneDrive for work or school connects you to all your shared libraries, too.

When you need a new shared location to store team files, create a shared library right from OneDrive, add members, and start working together. These libraries are accessible within Teams, SharePoint, and Outlook. And it’s easy to copy or move files where you and others need them.

What's the difference between OneDrive and SharePoint

OneDrive is the files experience for Microsoft 365 and SharePoint Server*, giving you access to all your work or school files, including the files that people share with you directly or through the teams you're working on. OneDrive provides a consistent, intuitive files experience across all your devices, including web, mobile, and the desktop of your Windows PC or Mac.

Behind the scenes, SharePoint in Microsoft 365 provides the content services for all files in Microsoft 365, including files you work with in Teams, Yammer, and Outlook. SharePoint is always there, helping manage and protect your files, and powering content collaboration across Microsoft 365. And beyond files, SharePoint enables portals, news, pages, lists, and a platform for business apps.

With both OneDrive and SharePoint in Microsoft 365, your files are stored in the cloud. You can sync either OneDrive or SharePoint files to your computer. See Sync OneDrive files or sync SharePoint files for more info.

* SharePoint Server 2016 and later.

Moving documents from OneDrive to SharePoint

Sometimes documents that you start by yourself grow in importance and become relevant to a project. When that happens, it may make sense to copy or move files from OneDrive to SharePoint.

Troubleshoot moving documents from OneDrive for work or school

There are a few issues to keep in mind when moving documents from OneDrive and a shared library:

  • The steps for copying or moving files can vary between versions of OneDrive and SharePoint. For more info, see Move or copy files in SharePoint.

  • Hyperlinks to the original document stop working, because you’ve deleted the document in OneDrive. You may want to share the document you moved to the team site to give people on the site an updated, working link.

  • If people followed the original document, links in their newsfeed to that document will stop working. To restore this association, people will need to follow the document in its new location.

  • You might want to replace the original document in OneDrive with one that simply gives a link to the new file, and announces the new location.

Should I save files to OneDrive or SharePoint? (2024)

FAQs

Should I save files to OneDrive or SharePoint? ›

If you're working on a file by yourself, save it to OneDrive. Your OneDrive files are private unless you share them with others, which is particularly useful if you haven't created a team yet.

Why would you choose to use OneDrive instead of SharePoint? ›

OneDrive gives leveraged security to business or personal documents when it's a matter of confidentiality but also constrains its users from sharing. While SharePoint is the solution that acts as more than a store, it allows its users to share files, calendars, and contacts, and work collaboratively.

What are the disadvantages of storing files in OneDrive? ›

The disadvantages of OneDrive are limited sharing options, limited file management, and limited desktop synchronisation settings.

What are the benefits of saving everything to OneDrive? ›

OneDrive is designed to provide users immediate access to their data no matter where they are, on any device. For instance, a user might start editing an MS Office document on their desktop at work, view it on their mobile device as they commute home, and seamlessly resume working on it from their MacBook that evening.

What is the advantage of SharePoint over OneDrive? ›

OneDrive suits individual file management needs, while SharePoint empowers teams and businesses to take their collaboration, productivity, and knowledge sharing to a higher level. By recognising the strengths of each tool, you can make informed choices to support the success of your business.

Is OneDrive good for storing files? ›

OneDrive lets you store all your work files in one secure place in the cloud. You can get to your files from any device, wherever you are, and you can share and collaborate with others on any file. On OneDrive, your files are backed up and protected. And you control if and when other folks can see them.

Is there a difference between SharePoint and OneDrive? ›

The OneDrive app is available for download on your desktop or you can log in via a web browser. Microsoft SharePoint is a collaboration tool for businesses that need multiple individuals and teams to work on Microsoft Office files, other documents, and products at the same time.

Why does Microsoft want you to use OneDrive? ›

OneDrive is the Microsoft cloud service that connects you to all your files. It lets you store and protect your files, share them with others, and get to them from anywhere on all your devices.

Do SharePoint and OneDrive use the same storage? ›

SharePoint Online allows 1 TB plus 10 GB for each licensed user. OneDrive allows 1 TB (default) for each licensed user.

How safe is OneDrive from hackers? ›

Encryption: OneDrive uses 256-bit AES encryption to protect your data in transit and at rest. This is a robust encryption method that is widely used to secure data.

Can Microsoft read my OneDrive files? ›

The OneDrive library provided for you is typically protected from public viewing by default. Only you can access personal documents and media files that you store in it unless you explicitly share a folder of documents or a single document with other people in your organization for reviewing or co-editing.

Should I not use OneDrive? ›

Whether to use OneDrive or not is up to you. If you don't mind Microsoft looking at your files and having enough storage space on your computer, then go ahead and use it. But if you're concerned about privacy or don't want to risk losing your files, then it's best to avoid it. Do I Need to Backup OneDrive?

Where should I save files on my computer? ›

Storing Digital Files

Most computers will automatically save your data to the hard drive, usually known as the C drive. This is the most common place to store files. However, if your computer crashes, your data could be lost, so it's important to always back up important files.

How do OneDrive and SharePoint work together? ›

While OneDrive files are saved to the cloud, in OneDrive in a SharePoint Server on-premises environment, user files are stored in the SharePoint Content database in the SQL Server that you are using for SharePoint Server.

How do I move files from OneDrive to SharePoint? ›

Move files and folders between OneDrive and SharePoint
  1. Select the files or folders that you want to move, and then select Move to. ...
  2. Select the location you want to move to. ...
  3. Select the location where you want the items to go, then select Move here to start moving the items.

What is the difference between SharePoint Sync and add to OneDrive? ›

However, adding OneDrive shortcuts allows content to be accessed on all devices, whereas sync is related to a specific device. Additionally, OneDrive shortcuts offer improved performance versus using the sync button. We recommend using OneDrive shortcuts as the more versatile option.

When to use OneDrive Teams or SharePoint? ›

When to Use SharePoint, Teams, and OneDrive. Ultimately, the primary differentiators between the three applications lie in their primary use. SharePoint is best for online document management, Teams for communication, and OneDrive for individual storage.

Why use SharePoint instead of shared drive? ›

Versioning – Ever have a document disappear from a shared drive? With SharePoint's versioning control, it's virtually impossible to lose a document. Users have the ability to restore to a previous version. SharePoint provides a Recycle bin for restoring files.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Prof. An Powlowski

Last Updated:

Views: 5924

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (44 voted)

Reviews: 83% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Prof. An Powlowski

Birthday: 1992-09-29

Address: Apt. 994 8891 Orval Hill, Brittnyburgh, AZ 41023-0398

Phone: +26417467956738

Job: District Marketing Strategist

Hobby: Embroidery, Bodybuilding, Motor sports, Amateur radio, Wood carving, Whittling, Air sports

Introduction: My name is Prof. An Powlowski, I am a charming, helpful, attractive, good, graceful, thoughtful, vast person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.