OneDrive File Issues

How to Access OneDrive Files Stored on a Different Computer Drive

Maira Mehtab Sep 20, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to access and edit files stored on one computer's D drive from another computer that only has a C drive using OneDrive.

Product: Microsoft OneDrive
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Syncing files across two computers that have different physical drive setups (e.g., C and D drives versus a single C drive).
Observed behavior: Seeking to understand if OneDrive can map physical drives between computers or how to properly configure synchronization for files stored outside the default C drive.

Before you start

Ensure both computers are connected to the internet and signed into the exact same Microsoft OneDrive account before attempting to sync or access files.

Solution 1Recommended

Change the OneDrive Folder Location to the D Drive

Move your OneDrive sync folder on the first computer to the D drive so those files automatically sync to the second computer.

OneDrive does not directly map physical drives (like a D drive) between computers. Instead, it synchronizes the contents of the designated OneDrive folder. By moving this folder to your D drive on the first computer, the files will appear in the OneDrive folder on the second computer, regardless of its available drive letters.

Unlink your PC

Click the OneDrive cloud icon in your system tray, select the Settings (gear) icon, navigate to the Account tab, and click 'Unlink this PC'.

Move the folder

Open File Explorer, locate your current OneDrive folder (usually in C:\Users\[YourName]), and move it to your preferred location on the D drive.

Relink and select new location

Sign back into OneDrive. When prompted with the OneDrive folder location screen, click 'Change location' and select the folder you just moved to the D drive.

Folder Synchronization: Files placed in this newly located OneDrive folder on the D drive will now seamlessly sync to the default OneDrive folder on the second computer.

Solution 2

Move Files into the Existing Synchronized OneDrive Folder

If you do not want to change the entire OneDrive folder location, simply copy or move the specific D drive files into the current OneDrive folder.

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1. Download WPS Office: Install WPS Office on both of your computers for a unified document editing experience.
2. Open your synced files: Launch WPS Office and navigate to your OneDrive folder to open the synced documents directly.
3. Edit and save automatically: Edit your files as usual. When you click save, changes will automatically sync back through OneDrive to the other computer.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does OneDrive map my physical D drive directly to another computer?

No, OneDrive does not map physical drives or mirror your hard drive letters between computers. It only synchronizes the specific files and folders placed inside the designated OneDrive sync folder.

Can I sync files that are left outside the default OneDrive folder?

By default, OneDrive only syncs files placed within its folder. To sync outside files, you must either move them into the OneDrive folder, change the OneDrive folder location to encompass that drive, or rely on a third-party file-sharing solution.

Will I lose my files if I unlink OneDrive to change my folder location?

No, unlinking your PC from OneDrive does not delete your local or cloud files. It simply stops the syncing process temporarily, allowing you to safely move the folder locally and then relink it to the new location.

Document & File Issues