How to Save Outlook for Mac Attachments to OneDrive or SharePoint
Question details
Users need a way to save email attachments from Outlook for Mac directly to their Microsoft cloud storage accounts.
- Product
- Outlook for Mac
- Device & OS
- Mac
- Scenario
- Saving an incoming email attachment directly to cloud storage like OneDrive or SharePoint.
- Observed behavior
- Unlike Word, Excel, and PowerPoint for Mac, Outlook for Mac does not display OneDrive or SharePoint under the 'Online Locations' menu when saving an attachment.
Ensure that the OneDrive desktop application is installed on your Mac, signed in with your Microsoft account, and actively syncing to a local folder.
Use the Local OneDrive Synchronization Folder
Since Outlook for Mac does not natively display online locations, you can bypass this limitation by saving the attachment to your locally synced OneDrive folder and letting the app upload it automatically.
This workaround leverages the macOS Finder integration provided by the OneDrive desktop client. By saving files into the designated local folder, the OneDrive app takes over and syncs the new file to your cloud storage in the background.
Launch Outlook for Mac, navigate to the email containing the file you want to save, and click the drop-down arrow next to the attachment.
Click 'Save As' from the context menu to open the standard macOS save dialog.
In the Finder sidebar on the left side of the save dialog, locate and click on your 'OneDrive' or 'SharePoint' folder.
Click the 'Save' button. The attachment will be saved locally, and your OneDrive application will immediately begin syncing it to the cloud.
Experience Seamless Document Management with WPS Office for Mac
If you often encounter missing features or heavy resource usage with Microsoft Office apps on your Mac, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible alternative for viewing, editing, and saving your documents across both local and cloud storage.
- 1. Download the installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free macOS version of the software.
- 2. Install and launch: Run the installer, drag the WPS Office icon to your Applications folder, and launch the suite.
- 3. Open and save seamlessly: Open your downloaded email attachments directly in WPS Office to edit them, and use the built-in cloud save options to back them up instantly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why don't OneDrive and SharePoint show up in Outlook for Mac's save locations?
Unlike Word, Excel, or PowerPoint for Mac, Outlook for Mac currently lacks the native feature to directly list connected Microsoft cloud services under 'Online Locations' in the Save As dialog.
How do I set up the OneDrive sync folder on my Mac?
You can download the OneDrive app from the Mac App Store or Microsoft's website. Once installed, sign in with your Microsoft credentials and follow the on-screen setup guide to choose a location for your local sync folder.
Can I save attachments to iCloud or Google Drive using this method?
Yes, the exact same workaround applies to any cloud storage service. Simply select your local iCloud Drive or Google Drive sync folder from the Finder sidebar when saving the attachment from Outlook.
Will Microsoft ever add direct online saving to Outlook for Mac?
Microsoft regularly updates Outlook for Mac based on user requests. Submitting a feature request via the 'Help' > 'Submit Feedback' menu in Outlook is the best way to encourage the product team to implement direct online saving.
