Microsoft OneDrive is the cloud storage and file sharing service that keeps all your files in one, access-it-anywhere, location. OneDrive is part of the Microsoft 365 applications, along with SharePoint, Office Online, and OneNote.
With OneDrive, students, faculty, and staff have the ability to create, edit, and share files with other members of the University.
*Please note that an individual's OneDrive account and its contents are deleted once the user's NetID is no longer active. Learn more about NetID expiration.
Features and Benefits
- Depending on the type of user, OneDrive has different storage limits. The following table summarizes the storage limits for different types of users in OneDrive.
-
| Type of user |
Total storage per user |
Single-file upload limit |
| Faculty and Staff |
5 TB |
250 GB |
| Students |
1 TB |
250 GB |
| Affiliate, Departmental, and Guest NetIDs |
1 GB |
Limited by quota |
- Note: These storage limits are subject to change. Updates will be posted here.
- Files can be shared by other members of the University
- Built-in security features including file encryption and Data Loss Prevention
- Access files from any Windows, Mac, Android, and IOS device
- Access to previous versions of documents
- Offline Access to files via the OneDrive client
- Search & Discover files
- Quicky and securely request and obtain files from anyone using the Anonymous Upload Portal
- Note: Presently, Northwestern does not permit anonymous sharing links from personal OneDrive accounts. As a general practice, only Level 1 data (per Northwestern’s Data Classification Policy) is allowed to be shared through anonymous links, and currently there are not appropriate controls in place to ensure that Level 2 and above data is not shared from OneDrive. Northwestern does permit anonymous links from SharePoint sites, where it is easier for site owners to audit permissions and separate public data from internal, private, or restricted data. Northwestern IT and the Information Security Office will continue to evaluate our Microsoft product portfolio, and actively are looking for methods or tools that may allow us to enable anonymous sharing from OneDrive in the future. If you have additional questions or concerns, please contact the Information Security Office.
- To help determine the data storage service that best suits your needs, please refer to the “Document Sharing and Data Storage Finder”.
Available to
Cost
This service is automatically available to students, faculty, and staff.
How to Request Service
To access OneDrive, click the "OneDrive Login" button to the right.
Log in with your NetID and password. Then click on the OneDrive App at the top of the page.
The first time you access OneDrive, it may take up to 15 minutes for your site to be created.
You can also download and install apps using the instructions below:
*Please note that an individual's OneDrive account and its contents are deleted once the user's NetID is no longer active. Learn more about NetID expiration.
Support Resources