How to Automatically Save Email Attachments to OneDrive for Business
Question details
The user wants to automate the process of saving files received as email attachments directly into a specified OneDrive for Business folder.
- Product
- Microsoft Outlook and OneDrive for Business
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Handling a high volume of email attachments that need to be backed up, shared, or organized in cloud storage without manually downloading and moving each file.
- Observed behavior
- By default, Outlook requires users to manually download and save incoming email attachments to their local device or OneDrive. Users seek an automated workflow to eliminate this manual step.
Ensure you have active Microsoft 365 credentials with access to both Outlook and Power Automate, and verify that your OneDrive for Business account is properly initialized.
Use Microsoft Power Automate Template
Set up a flow in Microsoft Power Automate using a pre-built template to automatically extract and save incoming Outlook attachments to your OneDrive for Business.
Since Outlook and OneDrive for Business do not provide direct native automation for this specific task within their standard settings menus, Microsoft Power Automate (formerly Microsoft Flow) is the official and most efficient way to link these two services.
Open your web browser, navigate to flow.microsoft.com, and sign in using your Microsoft 365 work or school account credentials.
Click on 'Templates' in the left-hand navigation pane. In the search bar, type 'Save Office 365 email attachments to OneDrive for Business' and select the official Microsoft template that appears.
At the bottom of the template screen, verify that your connections to 'Office 365 Outlook' and 'OneDrive for Business' have green checkmarks. If prompted, click 'Sign in' to authenticate them.
Click 'Create Flow'. To specify an exact folder instead of the root directory, click 'Edit' at the top, expand the 'Create file' step, click the folder icon next to 'Folder Path', and select your desired OneDrive folder.
Click 'Save' in the top right corner. To ensure it works, send a test email with an attachment to your own inbox and check your specified OneDrive folder to confirm the file was saved.
Manage and Edit Your Downloaded Attachments with WPS Office
After your attachments are automatically saved to your cloud drive, you need a reliable suite to open and edit them. WPS Office is a lightweight, fully compatible free alternative to Microsoft Office that easily handles your Word, Excel, and PowerPoint attachments.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website to download and install the free WPS Office suite on your device.
- 2. Connect Your Cloud Drive: Open WPS Office, go to the 'Open' menu, and sign into your preferred cloud storage service to access your saved attachments directly.
- 3. Edit with Full Compatibility: Open any downloaded document, edit it utilizing advanced formatting tools, and save your progress effortlessly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I choose to save attachments only from specific senders?
Yes. When editing the Power Automate flow, you can click on the 'On new email' trigger step, expand the 'Advanced options', and enter specific email addresses in the 'From' field to filter the automation.
Will this flow automatically save attachments from older emails already in my inbox?
No, the Power Automate template triggers exclusively for new emails arriving in your inbox after the flow is activated. Older emails will not be processed.
How do I turn off the automatic attachment saving?
Go to flow.microsoft.com, click on 'My flows' in the left menu, select the attachment flow you created, and click 'Turn off' or 'Delete' from the command bar at the top.
Does this work for personal Outlook.com and personal OneDrive accounts?
The specific template mentioned is designed for Microsoft 365 Business accounts. However, Power Automate offers a similar template called 'Save Outlook.com email attachments to your OneDrive' specifically tailored for personal Microsoft accounts.
