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OneDrive

What is OneDrive?

OneDrive is a cloud storage service from Microsoft that allows you to store all your important files securely in one place and then access them virtually anywhere. It does everything that a traditional hard drive can and more. As well as storing all of your files safely, it also offers convenient and safe ways to share files, cloud accessibility across all of your devices, and seamless integration with Microsoft online to facilitate editing of documents in Word or Excel.

Getting to know OneDrive

For several reasons, OneDrive is the recommended cloud storage service for University of Galway students and staff. In terms of space allocation, OneDrive offers 500GB of space to all students and staff. From a security perspective, OneDrive is GDPR compliant, with all data hosted in EU data centres located in Dublin. It offers some beneficial file sharing options and seamless integration with the Microsoft 365 suite to offer a superior experience to the end user.

How do I Access OneDrive?

OneDrive can be accessed from the Waffle tile/apps section of your Office 365 account.

In your web browser, sign in with your University credentials
Click the application launcher located on the top left of the screen (behind the waffle)
Scroll down and select OneDrive from the list of applications

Are all web Browsers Supported?

We recommend using the latest version of Edge, Chrome, Firefox, or Safari.

Is there a Desktop Version of OneDrive that can be downloaded?

Yes, there is. To access OneDrive via the Desktop Client:

Complete steps to access OneDrive via the web
Click your profile photo at the top right and select Download Desktop app
Once installed, launch OneDrive from your desktop apps menu. If prompted, sign in with your University Office 365 username and password.

Can I Download a OneDrive App for my Mobile Device?

Yes, you can. OneDrive is available on Android and Apple. To access OneDrive via your Mobile App:

Download Teams onto your phone from the Android Play store for Android phones, or through the App Store for iOS
If prompted, sign in with your University credentials

Are there any Limitations I should know about?

Maximum file size = 250 GB.
The following characters are prohibited in all file names: " * : < > ? / \|
Max recommended number of synced files = 300,000.
Note: To transfer large files or a lot of files, we recommend adding them to the OneDrive desktop app rather than using the OneDrive website Upload feature.
File paths in OneDrive and SharePoint have a maximum limit of 400 characters. Synced files must also comply with local OS limitations, with Windows paths limited to 256 usable characters.
For example, a file path might look like:

C:\Users\Username\OneDrive - National University of Ireland, Galway\Documents\Research\Project Data\Literature Review\2025 Publications\Analysis Results\Final Submission\Appendix_Supporting_Materials.docx

This entire path (including the organisation name "National University of Ireland, Galway") counts toward your total character limit of 400 characters for OneDrive paths. When synced to your computer, the Windows path limit of 256 usable characters (excluding drive letter) also applies.
For more detailed information, please visit the following webpage.