Files | Beginner

Files | Beginner

Explore the Files list

Easily locate personal, shared, or downloaded files in Teams.

OneDrive in Teams

OneDrive in Teams stores all your files in one location. Select OneDrive   on the left side of Teams for access to the files you need. 

OneDrive puts files into different groups so you can find them faster:

  • Home House icon lists all the files you’ve recently viewed or edited.

  • My files OneDrive My files icon lists all the files and folders from your personal OneDrive.

  • Shared Show Participant icon shows all the files and folders shared with you and created by you.

  • Favorites Star shows files you've marked as your favorite files.

  • Recycle bin Teams delete message buttonshows files that you've deleted.

In Browse files by, you can view files based on:

  • People  People or Show Participants button they were shared between.

  • Meetings  Teams Calendar tab icon they were shared in.

  • Media  Image button type.

In Quick access, browse files located in specific Teams channels.

Edit a file


To open and edit a file in Teams, select a file from any of these locations:

  • The files list when you select OneDrive  OneDrive icon on the left side of Teams

  • The Files or Shared tab at the top of a chat or channel

  • The message where the file was attached

By default, the file opens inside Teams with the standard Office tools available at the top of the screen.

Download a file

From a channel

  • Open the channel and go to the Files tab.

  • Select More actions (···) next to the file.

  • Choose Download.

From OneDrive

  • Open the OneDrive OneDrive icon tab in Teams.

  • Select More actions (···) next to the file and choose Download.

  • Or open the file, go to File > Create a copy > Download a copy (availability depends on owner permissions).

Change download location (Teams desktop only)

  • Go to Settings and more (···) → Settings → Files and links.

  • Under Downloads, select Change to choose a new folder.

  • Turn on Always ask where to save downloaded files to choose the location each time.

View your files

  • Select Files on the left side of Teams to see:

    • Recent files

    • Files stored in Teams

    • OneDrive files

    • Download history

Share a file

When you upload a file to Teams, you can share it at any time with other people and groups. 

  1. Select OneDrive  in Teams.

  2. Go to My files OneDrive My files icon.

  3. Hover over the file you want to share and select Share Share icon. 

  4. Do one of the following:

    -Select Copy link to get a link you can paste into a chat or email. ​​​​​​​
    -Select Sharing settings  to specify people and their permissions for the file.

    1. Or

      -Add a name, group, or email.
      -Select a permission such as Can edit, Can review, or Can view, or Can’t download.
      -Add a message, if you want.

  5. Select Apply to save changes.

  6. Select Send Send icon.

Share a file in a channel or chat

  1. Select a channel post or chat message.

  2. In the compose box, select Actions and apps Cross icon at top of the screen > Attach fileChoose file button

  3. Select a file and add an optional message.

  4. Select Send Send icon. 

    Note: If you want to share a file from your computer's file directory, you can drag it into the message. 

Get a link to a file


If you want to share a single file to multiple locations in Teams without uploading a copy every time, get a link to the file and share that instead.

Share a file from OneDrive

  1. Select the OneDrive   app on the left side of Teams and go to My files  OneDrive My files icon.

  2. Hover over the file you want to share and select More actionsOD more horizontal icon> ShareOD share icon.

  3. Add people and an optional message.

  4. Select SendSend icon