What "Add a Folder Locally" Means and Why You'd Do It

Adding a folder locally from OneDrive means taking a folder that already exists on your computer and telling OneDrive to start syncing it to the cloud. You are not moving the folder or changing where it lives — you are just connecting it so that OneDrive watches it, backs it up, and keeps copies in sync across your devices.

People do this when they have work files, photos, or documents scattered in different places on their computer and want them all protected in one cloud location. Instead of manually copying files into your OneDrive folder, you can point OneDrive at the folders you already use and let it handle the syncing automatically.

The process differs slightly depending on whether you use Windows or Mac, and whether your OneDrive is set up through work (Microsoft 365 or SharePoint) or your personal Microsoft account. The steps below cover the most common scenario: personal OneDrive on Windows.

Key Takeaways

  • Open OneDrive settings, find the "Backup" or "Sync" tab, and select the folder you want to add from your computer.
  • OneDrive will begin syncing the folder's contents to the cloud without moving or deleting the original files on your computer.
  • Syncing can take hours or days depending on folder size and your internet speed — do not unplug or shut down during this time.
  • Once syncing is complete, changes you make to files in that folder on any device will update across all your synced devices.
  • You can stop syncing a folder at any time without losing the files — they remain on your computer and in the cloud.

How to Add a Folder on Windows

Right-click the OneDrive icon in your system tray (bottom right of your screen, near the clock). Select Settings from the menu that appears. If you do not see OneDrive in the system tray, open the Start menu, type "OneDrive", and click the OneDrive app to launch it first.

In the Settings window, click the Backup tab at the top. You will see three sections: "Important PC folders", "Documents", and "Pictures". Under "Important PC folders", you will see options to protect your Desktop, Documents, and Pictures folders. If the folder you want to add is one of these three, click the toggle next to it to turn it on. OneDrive will begin syncing when ready.

If the folder you want to add is not one of these three standard locations, you will need to use a different method. Close the Settings window and open File Explorer. Navigate to the folder you want to sync. Right-click the folder, select Move to or Copy to, and choose your OneDrive folder. This moves or copies the folder into OneDrive's main directory, where it will sync automatically. If you use "Move to", the original location on your computer will be emptied; if you use "Copy to", both locations will exist until you manually delete the original.

How to Add a Folder on Mac

Click the OneDrive icon in the menu bar at the top right of your screen. Select Settings from the dropdown menu. In the Settings window, click the Sync tab.

Click the Manage backup button. You will see options to protect your Desktop, Documents, and Downloads folders. Toggle on any of these that you want OneDrive to sync. If the folder is one of these three, you are done — syncing will begin automatically.

For folders outside these three locations, open Finder, navigate to the folder, and drag it directly into your OneDrive folder (usually located in your home directory under "OneDrive"). Alternatively, right-click the folder, select Copy, open your OneDrive folder, right-click inside it, and select Paste. The folder will then sync to the cloud.

What Happens During the First Sync

After you add a folder, OneDrive will begin uploading all the files inside it to the cloud. A small progress indicator will appear next to the OneDrive icon in your system tray (Windows) or menu bar (Mac). The time this takes depends on how many files are in the folder and how fast your internet connection is. A folder with a few hundred small files might sync in minutes; a folder with thousands of large video files could take hours or even days.

During syncing, you can continue using your computer normally. However, avoid disconnecting from the internet, putting your computer to sleep, or shutting it down until the sync is complete. If the sync is interrupted, OneDrive will resume where it left off the next time your computer is online, but restarting the process multiple times can slow it down.

Once syncing is complete, the folder will show a small green checkmark next to its name in File Explorer or Finder, indicating it is fully synced. From that point forward, any changes you make to files in that folder will automatically sync to the cloud and to any other devices where you are signed into OneDrive.

Stopping Sync or Removing a Folder

If you decide you no longer want OneDrive to sync a particular folder, you can stop without losing any files. On Windows, right-click the OneDrive icon, select Settings, go to the Backup tab, and toggle off the folder you want to remove. On Mac, click the OneDrive menu bar icon, select Settings, click the Sync tab, and toggle off the folder.

When you stop syncing a folder, OneDrive will no longer watch for changes in that folder on your computer. The files remain on your computer exactly where they are, and they remain in your OneDrive cloud storage — they straightforward stop being kept in sync. If you make changes to files on one device, those changes will not appear on other devices.

If you want to completely remove a folder from both your computer and OneDrive, you must delete it manually. Stopping sync does not delete anything; it only disconnects the automatic syncing relationship.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

If a folder is not syncing, first check that you are signed into OneDrive with the correct account. Click the OneDrive icon and look for your account name or email address. If you are signed in with a work account but trying to sync a personal folder, or vice versa, the sync may not work as expected. Sign out and sign back in with the correct account.

If syncing is very slow, check your internet connection by opening a web browser and visiting a website. If the web is slow, OneDrive will be slow too. If the web is fast but OneDrive is slow, try pausing and resuming the sync: right-click the OneDrive icon, select Pause syncing, wait 10 seconds, then right-click again and select Resume syncing.

If you see an error message, note the exact text and search for it in the OneDrive help documentation or on the Microsoft support website. Common errors include "This file name is not allowed" (OneDrive does not sync files with certain special characters in the name) and "You do not have permission to sync this folder" (the folder may be owned by another user account on your computer).

Frequently Asked Questions

Will adding a folder to OneDrive delete the original files on my computer?

No. Adding a folder to OneDrive creates a copy in the cloud and keeps the original on your computer. Both versions exist independently until you manually delete one. If you move a folder into your OneDrive directory instead of syncing it from another location, the folder will then live inside OneDrive and sync automatically.

Can I add a folder that is already inside my OneDrive folder?

No, and you should not try. OneDrive only syncs folders that are inside the main OneDrive directory on your computer. If you add a folder that is already there, OneDrive may become confused and stop syncing correctly. Keep your synced folders organized inside your main OneDrive folder.

What happens if I add a folder with thousands of files?

OneDrive will sync all of them, but it will take time. Large syncs can take several hours or longer depending on file size and internet speed. OneDrive prioritizes recently changed files, so files you modify will sync faster than files that have not changed since you added the folder. Do not interrupt the sync by shutting down your computer.

Can I sync the same folder to multiple cloud services at once?

You can, but it is not recommended. Syncing the same folder to OneDrive and Google Drive or Dropbox simultaneously can cause conflicts, duplicate files, and sync errors. If you need files in multiple places, sync to one service and manually copy files to the other, or use one service as your primary backup.

If I stop syncing a folder, will it disappear from my other devices?

No. Stopping sync on one device does not affect the files on other devices. The files remain in your OneDrive cloud storage and on any other devices where they have already synced. They straightforward stop being updated if you make changes on the device where you stopped syncing.