To sign in to OneDrive on Windows 10, click the grey cloud icon in the notification area at the bottom right of the taskbar, or open Start and type OneDrive. Enter the email address for your Microsoft account, or your work or school account, select Sign in, enter your password, and follow the setup screens. Your files then appear in the OneDrive folder in File Explorer.
Applies to: Windows 10 Home and Pro with the OneDrive app. Last reviewed October 8, 2026. Windows 10 reached the end of standard support on October 14, 2025. For Windows 11, see how to sign in to OneDrive on Windows 11.
Step 1: Open OneDrive
- From the taskbar: look for a cloud icon near the clock. A grey cloud means OneDrive is running but not signed in. Click it and select Sign in. If you don’t see it, click the ^ arrow to show hidden icons.
- From Start: select Start, type OneDrive, and open the OneDrive app.
If OneDrive isn’t installed, download it from Microsoft’s OneDrive download page, run the installer, and it opens the sign-in screen when it finishes. You can also see how to reinstall OneDrive on Windows 10.
Step 2: Sign in with your account
- Type the email address for your Microsoft account (Outlook.com, Hotmail, Live) or your work or school account, and select Sign in.
- If you’re asked which type of account it is, choose Personal or Work or school.
- Enter your password, or approve the sign-in in the Microsoft Authenticator app if you use it.
Don’t have an account yet? Select Create account on the sign-in screen. A free account comes with 5 GB of OneDrive storage.
Step 3: Finish setup
- On This is your OneDrive folder, select Next to keep the default location (C:\Users\yourname\OneDrive), or Change location to pick another drive.
- OneDrive may offer to back up your Desktop, Documents and Pictures folders. Choose the folders you want, or skip this step. You can change it later in OneDrive settings.
- Click through the welcome screens and select Open my OneDrive folder.
The cloud icon turns white or blue once you’re signed in. Files sync in the background; see how to use and sync OneDrive on Windows 10 for what the status icons mean.
Already signed in to Windows with a Microsoft account?
If you sign in to Windows 10 with a Microsoft account, OneDrive usually signs in with the same account automatically. You only need these steps if it hasn’t, or if you want a different account.
Add a second account
OneDrive on Windows 10 can hold one personal account and one or more work or school accounts at the same time. Click the cloud icon, select the gear icon > Settings > Account > Add an account, and sign in. Each account gets its own folder. The steps match adding another OneDrive account on Windows 11.
Sign out or switch accounts
- Click the cloud icon, then the gear icon > Settings.
- On the Account tab, select Unlink this PC, then Unlink account.
- The sign-in screen opens. Sign in with the other account, or close it.
Unlinking stops syncing but doesn’t delete your files from OneDrive or from the PC. To stop OneDrive running at all, see how to turn off OneDrive in Windows 10.
Troubleshooting
The sign-in window is blank or won’t open
Restart the PC and try again. If that doesn’t help, reset OneDrive: press Windows + R, paste %localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset and press Enter, then open OneDrive from Start. Resetting doesn’t delete files. See how to clear the OneDrive cache in Windows 10 for more.
“There was a problem connecting to OneDrive” (error 0x8004de40)
Check that you’re online and that the date and time are correct. Turn off any VPN or proxy and try again.
Wrong password or account not found
Sign in at onedrive.live.com in a browser to confirm the email and password. If you use a work account, your organization may require you to sign in on the web first.
“You’re already syncing this account”
The account is already connected in another OneDrive folder. Unlink it in Settings > Account, then sign in again.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a Microsoft account to use OneDrive?
Yes, either a personal Microsoft account or a work or school account. Any email address can be turned into a Microsoft account.
Can I use OneDrive without signing in to Windows with a Microsoft account?
Yes. A local Windows account can sign in to the OneDrive app separately.
Can I open OneDrive without the app?
Yes. Sign in at onedrive.live.com in any browser to see, upload and share files.
Related: how to install Google Drive on Windows 10.
Related: how to install Google Drive on Windows 11.
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.