How to Sign In to OneDrive on Windows 10 (and Fix Sign-In Problems)

To sign in to OneDrive on Windows 10, click Start, type OneDrive, and open the app. Enter the email address for your Microsoft account (or your work or school account), click Sign in, enter your password, and follow the prompts to choose your OneDrive folder. When you’re done, a white or blue cloud icon appears in the notification area at the bottom right of the taskbar, and a OneDrive folder appears in File Explorer.

If OneDrive is already running with a different account, or it won’t let you sign in, the steps below cover that too.

How to sign in to OneDrive on Windows 10

1. Click Start, type OneDrive, and choose the OneDrive app. If you see a cloud icon in the notification area instead, click it and choose Sign in.
2. Type the email address for your Microsoft account, such as an Outlook.com, Hotmail, or Live address, or your work or school email. Click Sign in.
3. Enter your password, or approve the sign-in on your phone if you use the Microsoft Authenticator app or two-step verification.
4. On Your OneDrive folder, click Next to use the default location (C:\Users\your name\OneDrive) or Change location to choose another drive.
5. If asked, choose whether to back up folders like Desktop, Documents, and Pictures. You can skip this and change it later.
6. Click through the tips and choose Open my OneDrive folder.

If you signed in to Windows with a Microsoft account, OneDrive may sign in automatically with the same account.

How to check that you’re signed in

• Look for the OneDrive cloud icon in the notification area. You may need to click the ^ arrow to see it. A white cloud means a personal account, and a blue cloud means a work or school account.
• Click the icon. You should see your recent files and a sync status such as Your files are synced.
• If the cloud is gray or has a line through it, OneDrive isn’t signed in. Click it and choose Sign in.

How to sign in with a different account

OneDrive can only use one personal account at a time, so you need to unlink the current one first.

1. Click the OneDrive cloud icon, then click the gear icon and choose Settings.
2. Go to the Account tab and click Unlink this PC, then confirm with Unlink account.
3. The setup window opens. Sign in with the other account.

Unlinking doesn’t delete your files. Files already downloaded stay in the old OneDrive folder on your PC, and everything is still safe online. You can add a work or school account alongside a personal one from the Account tab by clicking Add an account.

If you can’t sign in to OneDrive

• Check your password. Sign in at onedrive.live.com in a web browser. If that fails, reset your password from the Microsoft sign-in page.
• OneDrive isn’t installed. If searching Start doesn’t find it, download OneDrive from Microsoft’s website and install it.
• Restart OneDrive. Right-click the cloud icon, choose the gear icon > Quit OneDrive, then open it again from Start.
• Reset OneDrive. Press Windows key + R, paste %localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset, and press Enter. After a minute or two, open OneDrive from Start again. If you get an error that Windows can’t find it, try C:\Program Files\Microsoft OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset instead. Resetting doesn’t delete your files.
• Update Windows. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update. OneDrive needs a supported, up-to-date version of Windows.
• Work or school accounts. Your organization may limit which PCs can sync. Ask your IT department if you get an access error.

What to do after you sign in

• Drag files into the OneDrive folder in File Explorer to upload them.
• Right-click files and choose Always keep on this device or Free up space to control what’s stored locally.
• For more on keeping files up to date, see how to sync OneDrive on Windows 10. If OneDrive doesn’t appear in File Explorer, see how to add OneDrive to File Explorer.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a Microsoft account to use OneDrive?

Yes. You need a free Microsoft account or a work or school account. Free accounts include 5 GB of storage.

Can I use OneDrive without signing in to Windows with a Microsoft account?

Yes. You can sign in to OneDrive with a Microsoft account even if you use a local account for Windows.

How do I sign out of OneDrive?

Open OneDrive Settings, go to Account, and click Unlink this PC. That’s the same as signing out.

Is signing in to OneDrive the same on Windows 11?

Mostly. The setup screens are the same. On Windows 11, OneDrive usually comes preinstalled and may sign in automatically with the Microsoft account you use for Windows.