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How can I access SharePoint files in File Explorer, similar to OneDrive?

Files in SharePoint can be accessed in File Explorer using the SharePoint "Sync" feature.

To access your SharePoint files in File Explorer, take the following steps:

  1. Ensure that OneDrive is installed and logged in to your organizational account:

  2. Use your web browser to navigate to the SharePoint site that you wish to access through File Explorer.
    1. Go to https://www.office.com/
    2. After signing in, navigate to SharePoint:
    3. Once in SharePoint, search for the site that you wish to access:
  3. Once you are in the SharePoint site that you wish to access via File Explorer, navigate to "Documents":
  4. Once inside "Documents," you will see a "Sync" button appear on the menu. Click the "Sync" button to synchronize the entire Documents for that site to your File Explorer. If you do not wish to synchronize the entire Documents for the site, but only a certain folder, navigate into that folder before clicking on "Sync."
  5. Once sync'd, a menu item for your organization will appear in File Explorer. The SharePoint documents folder(s) that you sync will appear under this section of the menu,
  6. Your SharePoint files can now be accessed directly from File Explorer, similar to a mapped network drive. Please note that, by default, files are downloaded from SharePoint as they are accessed. You will need to have an active Internet connection to access and update the files within SharePoint.

    While synchronizing the files for offline use is possible, it is not recommended for files that are edited heavily by multiple users as conflicts may arise if the modifications are not quickly sent to the server for others to see.