OneDrive is built into Windows 11 and Windows 10. To add it to File Explorer, click Start, search for OneDrive, open it and sign in with your Microsoft account. Follow the setup screens, and OneDrive appears in the left pane of File Explorer (Windows + E) as OneDrive – Personal (or OneDrive – Your Organization for work accounts). If it’s missing, it usually means OneDrive isn’t set up, is signed out, or has been hidden.
Add OneDrive to File Explorer (Windows 11 and 10)
- Click Start, type OneDrive and open the app. If it isn’t installed, get it from the Microsoft Store or Microsoft’s OneDrive download page.
- Enter your Microsoft account email and click Sign in.
- Confirm or change the OneDrive folder location (by default C:\Users\YourName\OneDrive).
- Choose whether to back up Desktop, Documents and Pictures. You can skip this and change it later.
- Finish setup and open File Explorer (Windows + E). OneDrive – Personal is now in the navigation pane.
In Windows 11 it appears near the top under Home and Gallery. In Windows 10 it appears below Quick Access.
Pin OneDrive to Quick Access or Home
- Open File Explorer.
- Right-click OneDrive (or any OneDrive folder) and choose Pin to Quick access.
You can also drag the OneDrive folder to the Start menu or the taskbar’s File Explorer jump list for faster access.
- Check that OneDrive is running: look for the cloud icon in the system tray. If it’s not there, open OneDrive from Start.
- Sign in again: click the tray icon > Settings (gear) > Account. If you see “Add an account,” sign in.
- Restart File Explorer: press Ctrl+Shift+Esc, find Windows Explorer and click Restart.
- Show all folders: in File Explorer, click View > Show > Navigation pane and make sure it’s on.
- Reset OneDrive: press Windows + R and run %localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset, then start OneDrive again. Resetting doesn’t delete your files. (Microsoft lists alternative paths if that one isn’t found.)
Advanced: Unhide It in the Registry
If someone hid OneDrive, the registry value System.IsPinnedToNameSpaceTree under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\CLSID\{018D5C66-4533-4307-9B53-224DE2ED1FE6} is set to 0. Setting it to 1 and restarting File Explorer shows the personal OneDrive entry again. Back up the registry first. Work and school accounts use a different CLSID.
Useful OneDrive Settings in File Explorer
- Files On-Demand: files show a cloud icon (online-only), a green outline check (available locally) or a solid green check (always keep on this device). Right-click a file or folder and choose Free up space or Always keep on this device.
- Choose folders: tray icon > Settings > Account > Choose folders controls which folders sync to this PC.
- Add a work account: Settings > Account > Add an account. It appears as a separate entry in the navigation pane.
Related: Add another OneDrive account in Windows 11.
Related: Install OneDrive on Windows 10.
If the folder is back but some subfolders are missing on a Windows 10 PC, checking OneDrive sync on Windows 10 explains how Choose folders hides them on purpose.
More OneDrive Questions
Is OneDrive free?
Microsoft accounts include 5 GB of free storage. Microsoft 365 subscriptions include more (1 TB per person on Personal and Family plans).
How do I remove OneDrive from File Explorer?
Unlink the PC (tray icon > Settings > Account > Unlink this PC) or uninstall OneDrive in Settings > Apps > Installed apps. Your files stay in the cloud. With OneDrive visible in File Explorer you can also take files off OneDrive and keep them only on this PC.
Can I map OneDrive as a network drive?
The sync app is the supported method. Mapping OneDrive with a WebDAV address isn’t officially supported and can be unreliable. A OneDrive folder is also a handy landing spot for PDF exports from an iPad, one of the routes covered in syncing Goodnotes between an iPad and Windows.
Kermit Matthews runs Live2Tech from just outside Philadelphia. He is an IT specialist with over 20 years of experience, from a university help desk to small-business IT, IT management and his own consulting practice, and has written tech guides full time since 2020. Steps are checked against the current software on a real device or the maker’s official documentation. More about Kermit.