Add a shortcut to Teams Files in OneDrive

Microsoft Teams files can be accessed in several ways, but the easiest way to access files that you regularly use is to add a shortcut in OneDrive. Once the files for a Teams Channel are added as a shortcut in OneDrive you will be able to open those files through File Explorer if you are on Windows or through Finder if you are on MacOS.
OneDrive in Explorer on WindowsOneDrive in Finder on a Mac

Syncing OneDrive files and Teams files added to OneDrive requires the OneDrive client to be installed on your computer. If OneDrive is not setup or installed on your computer, please follow the instructions at https://kb.uconn.edu/space/IKB/10730800041/Set+Up+OneDrive+on+a+Computer.

Steps to add Teams files to OneDrive

  1. Open the Team that you wish to sync in the Microsoft Teams application, or in a web browser
  2. Click the channel on the Team that you want to add a shortcut to.  The default Teams channel is General, if you have additional channels you can add a shortcut to each channel separately.
  3. Click the Files tab for the Channel you’ve selected
  4. Click Add shortcut to OneDrive , or if that isn’t listed click the ellipses, then click Add shortcut to OneDrive Add Shortcut to Team Files in OneDrive
  5. Once the OneDrive client finishes processing changes, the Teams files you added a shortcut to will now be available from your OneDrive folder and you can access those files from Windows Explorer or Finder on a Mac.  You can edit these files in any program on your computer and any changes will be uploaded to the server automatically.

Access SharePoint shortcut via OneDrive

  • The SharePoint folder can now be accessed from your OneDrive folder on your computer and from the OneDrive website.
  • The linked shortcut to SharePoint will show up in OneDrive with a chain link icon to indicate that the folder is linked to another location
    Screenshot showing OneDrive link iconOneDrive Shortcut Icon - MacOS
  • If desired, you can rename the link in your OneDrive folder for clarity, to sort better alphabetically, etc.
    This change will only affect your shortcut, all other users will see either the original name or their custom name for the shortcut.

Always Keep a Copy on Your Device

Once you add a shortcut to OneDrive, your files can be opened from Explorer/Finder, but you won’t necessarily have a copy of the saved to your computer.  If you have an internet connection, OneDrive will automatically download a file when you open it, however if you are offline, you will not be able to open files that you don’t have a local copy of.

You can have OneDrive keep local copies of specific folders by right clicking on a OneDrive folder and then clicking Always Keep on This Device

OneDrive - Always Keep on this Device - WindowsOneDrive - Always Keep on this Device - MacOS