What is OneDrive?

First let’s start with microsoft’s official definition :

“OneDrive is the Microsoft cloud service that connects you to all your files. It lets you store and protect your files, share them with others, and get to them from anywhere on all your devices. When you use OneDrive with an account provided by your company or school, it’s sometimes called OneDrive for work or school.“

OneDrive is Microsoft’s competitor to software like Dropbox. It allows you to store your files online and access them from anywhere. It is supplemented with software you can install (also called OneDrive) that allows you to synchronize an offline copy of files onto your computer for speed and convenience. The OneDrive software can also be used to sync files from Teams and SharePoint if desired.

It’s important to note that Onedrive as a word can refer to multiple things. While all related to the OneDrive ‘product’ in some way, but may refer to different aspects of the product.

OneDrive (General Use of the Word) – Means almost anything related to Microsoft’s personal online file storage or the installable file sync software.

Onedrive (Installed Software) – Microsoft’s file sync tool, this can be installed to allow you to keep offline copies of any files you store within OneDrive(Service), and also those store within Microsoft Teams And/or Microsoft Sharepoint

OneDrive(Online Web Storage) – This is the personal “Dropbox” like service you can get as part of your work Microsoft 365 account or a personal Microsoft 365 subscription. It provides online storage that you can access through the OneDrive website, or sync using the OneDrive Software.

Your OneDrive (Your Personal Storage) – This refers to your personal cloud storage that only you have access to (unless you choose to share files within). This can be accessed via OneDrive software or via the web.

OneDrive for Business or OneDrive for Work or School – This could refer to the personal files storage provided by your work account but often refers to shared business files syncing from Microsoft Teams / SharePoint.