SharePoint & Teams Collaboration
Syncing a SharePoint Library to Your Computer
This guide shows you how to sync a SharePoint document library to your computer so the team files appear directly in File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac) — no browser required.
Time needed
10 minutes
Platform
Microsoft 365
Guide steps
3 clear sections
Before you begin
OneDrive sync is installed on your computer and you are signed in with your work account. You have access to the SharePoint site you want to sync.
Follow along
Step-by-step guide
Sync a SharePoint library from the browser
- Instruction 1: Open your SharePoint site in a browser (portal.office.com > SharePoint).
- Instruction 2: Navigate to the document library you want to sync.
- Instruction 3: Click the Sync button in the toolbar near the top of the page (it looks like two circular arrows).
- Instruction 4: A prompt will appear asking you to open the link with OneDrive. Click Open Microsoft OneDrive (or Allow, depending on your browser).
- Instruction 5: OneDrive will begin syncing the library. A notification may appear on-screen when it is ready.
Action map
Sync a SharePoint library from the browser
- 01
Open your SharePoint site in a browser (portal.office.com > SharePoint).
- 02
Navigate to the document library you want to sync.
- 03
Click the Sync button in the toolbar near the top of the page (it looks like two…
Visual guide
Use this visual action map alongside the written instructions above.
Open SharePoint help & learning for Syncing a SharePoint Library to Your ComputerFind the synced library on your computer
- Instruction 1: On Windows: open File Explorer. In the left-hand navigation, look under your organisation name for the synced SharePoint library. It will appear alongside your personal OneDrive folder.
- Instruction 2: On Mac: open Finder. Look in the sidebar under your organisation name or OneDrive for the synced library.
- Instruction 3: You can now open, create, and save files in this folder just like a local folder — changes sync automatically to SharePoint.
Stop syncing a library
- Instruction 1: If you no longer need a library synced, click the OneDrive icon in the taskbar (Windows) or menu bar (Mac).
- Instruction 2: Click Settings (gear icon) > Account.
- Instruction 3: Under Synced sites, find the library and click Stop sync.
- Instruction 4: This removes the local copy from your computer but does not delete files from SharePoint.
Quick fixes
Troubleshooting
The Sync button is not available on the SharePoint library
Your IT administrator may have disabled library sync for that site. Contact the helpdesk to check whether syncing is allowed.
The synced folder appears in File Explorer but shows errors
This usually means a sign-in issue. Click the OneDrive icon in the taskbar and follow any sign-in prompts. If that does not help, stop sync and re-sync the library.
Still need a hand?
Our support team can help with Microsoft 365.
Tell us where you got stuck and what you see on screen.