How To Add Sharepoint Link To Windows Explorer

Sharepoint is a powerful collaboration tool that allows organizations to store, organize, and share their documents and files. If you're looking to integrate Sharepoint with Windows Explorer, you've come to the right place. In this guide, we'll walk you through the steps to easily add a Sharepoint link to your Windows Explorer, making it even more convenient for you to access and manage your files.

Adding a Sharepoint link to Windows Explorer can significantly enhance your productivity and streamline your workflow. With this integration, you can seamlessly navigate and work with your Sharepoint files just as if they were stored locally on your computer. Say goodbye to unnecessary clicks and searching for your files. By following a few simple steps, you'll be able to access your Sharepoint files directly from Windows Explorer, saving you time and effort.

Understanding SharePoint and Windows Explorer Integration

SharePoint is a web-based collaboration and document management platform developed by Microsoft. Its integration with Windows Explorer allows users to access SharePoint content and work seamlessly within their familiar Windows operating system environment. The integration provides a convenient way to navigate and manage SharePoint files, folders, libraries, and lists directly from Windows Explorer. In this article, we will explore how to add SharePoint links to Windows Explorer and take advantage of the seamless integration.

Step 1: Open SharePoint in Internet Explorer

The first step to adding SharePoint links to Windows Explorer is to open your SharePoint site in Internet Explorer. This step is crucial because the integration between SharePoint and Windows Explorer relies on the ActiveX controls supported by Internet Explorer.

Here are the detailed steps:

• Launch Internet Explorer on your computer.
• Enter the URL of your SharePoint site in the address bar.
• Press Enter or click the Go button to navigate to the SharePoint site.
• Ensure that you are signed in with the appropriate credentials to access the SharePoint site.

Once you have successfully opened the SharePoint site in Internet Explorer, you can proceed to the next steps.

Step 2: Add SharePoint Link to Windows Explorer

Adding the SharePoint link to Windows Explorer involves a few simple steps. By doing so, you can easily access your SharePoint content directly from the Windows Explorer interface.

Follow these steps to add the SharePoint link:

• In your SharePoint site, click on the "Documents" or "Site Contents" option, depending on your SharePoint version and configuration.
• On the ribbon, navigate to the "Library" or "Library Tools" tab.
• Click on the "Open with Explorer" button or the "Open in Explorer" option in the drop-down menu.
• A security prompt may appear. Click "Allow" to grant the necessary permissions for Windows Explorer to access the SharePoint site.
• Windows Explorer will open, displaying the SharePoint content.
• Locate the SharePoint link in the left sidebar of Windows Explorer under "Favorites" or "Quick Access."
• Right-click on the SharePoint link and select "Pin to Quick Access" or "Add Current Location to Favorites" to add it permanently to your Windows Explorer navigation pane.

Once you have completed these steps, the SharePoint link will be readily accessible in Windows Explorer.

Step 3: Access SharePoint Files and Folders in Windows Explorer

Now that the SharePoint link is added to Windows Explorer, you can easily access and manage your SharePoint files and folders directly from the familiar Windows interface.

Here's how to do it:

• Open Windows Explorer on your computer.
• Navigate to the SharePoint link in the left sidebar under "Favorites" or "Quick Access."
• Click on the SharePoint link to expand it and reveal the associated SharePoint libraries, folders, and files.
• You can now perform file and folder operations, such as copying, moving, deleting, and renaming, using the familiar Windows Explorer context menus and drag-and-drop actions.

The integration between SharePoint and Windows Explorer provides a seamless user experience and streamlines the management of SharePoint content.

Step 4: Sync SharePoint Libraries with OneDrive for Business

If you want to have offline access to your SharePoint content or collaborate on files with your team, you can sync SharePoint libraries with OneDrive for Business. This allows you to work on your SharePoint files even when you are not connected to the internet.

To sync SharePoint libraries with OneDrive for Business, follow these steps:

• Open SharePoint in Internet Explorer as described in Step 1.
• Navigate to the library you want to sync.
• Click on the "Sync" button or the "Sync to computer" option in the "Library" or "Library Tools" tab of the SharePoint ribbon.
• Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the syncing process.

Once the syncing process is complete, the SharePoint library will be available in the "OneDrive - [Your Organization]" folder on your computer. Any changes made to the synced files will automatically sync back to the SharePoint library when you are connected to the internet.

Exploring Additional SharePoint and Windows Explorer Integration Features

In addition to the basic integration steps outlined above, SharePoint and Windows Explorer offer several advanced features that can enhance your productivity and collaboration experience.

Co-Authoring Documents in Real-Time

SharePoint and Windows Explorer allow multiple users to collaborate on documents in real-time using co-authoring. This means that multiple users can simultaneously edit the same document, and changes are synchronized and visible to all collaborators instantly.

To enable co-authoring, the SharePoint document libraries must be configured accordingly, and the document needs to be opened in a compatible application, such as Microsoft Word, Excel, or PowerPoint.

Once co-authoring is enabled, users can see each other's changes, contribute their own edits, and collaborate seamlessly within the Windows Explorer interface.

Version History and Document Recovery

SharePoint maintains a comprehensive version history for documents, allowing users to track changes, restore previous versions, and recover deleted documents.

With Windows Explorer integration, accessing the version history and performing document recovery is as simple as right-clicking on a document and navigating to the appropriate options in the context menu.

Automated Metadata and Tagging

Metadata and tagging play a crucial role in organizing and categorizing SharePoint content. SharePoint and Windows Explorer integration enables users to add and edit metadata tags directly from the Windows Explorer interface.

Users can right-click on a document, select the "Properties" option, and navigate to the "Details" tab to add or modify metadata properties.

In Conclusion

Integrating SharePoint with Windows Explorer simplifies the navigation and management of SharePoint content within the familiar Windows operating system environment. By following the steps outlined in this article, users can easily add SharePoint links to Windows Explorer and take advantage of the seamless integration. Additionally, advanced features such as co-authoring, version history, document recovery, and metadata management further enhance collaboration and productivity. SharePoint and Windows Explorer integration offer an efficient and user-friendly solution for accessing and working with SharePoint content.

Adding Sharepoint Link to Windows Explorer

Sharepoint is a powerful collaboration tool used by many organizations to store and manage documents. One useful feature of Sharepoint is the ability to add a Sharepoint link to Windows Explorer, allowing for easy access to your Sharepoint files directly from your file explorer.

To add a Sharepoint link to Windows Explorer, follow these steps:

• Open your Sharepoint site in Internet Explorer or Microsoft Edge.
• Click on the "Library" tab.
• Click on the "Open with Explorer" button.
• A Windows Explorer window will open, displaying the Sharepoint site.
• Copy the URL from the address bar.
• Open Windows Explorer.
• Right-click on "Favorites" and select "Add current location to Favorites".
• Enter a name for the Sharepoint link and paste the URL copied earlier.
• Click "Add" to save the Sharepoint link to your Favorites.

Once the Sharepoint link is added, you can easily access your Sharepoint files by simply clicking on the link in Windows Explorer. This allows for seamless integration between Sharepoint and Windows Explorer, making it more convenient to work with your Sharepoint documents.

Frequently Asked Questions

In this section, we will answer some common questions related to adding a SharePoint link to Windows Explorer. If you are looking to seamlessly integrate SharePoint with your local file system, these answers will provide you with the necessary guidance.

1. How can I add a SharePoint link to Windows Explorer?

To add a SharePoint link to Windows Explorer, follow these steps:

Step 1: Open your web browser and navigate to the SharePoint site you want to link.

Step 2: Locate the "Documents" or "Library" section of the SharePoint site, where the files are stored.

Step 3: Click on the "Library" tab, and then select "Open with Explorer" from the dropdown menu.

Step 4: Windows Explorer will open, displaying the contents of the SharePoint site. You can now access and manage files as if they were stored locally on your computer.

2. Can I add multiple SharePoint links to Windows Explorer?

Yes, you can add multiple SharePoint links to Windows Explorer by following these steps:

Step 1: Open your web browser and navigate to the SharePoint site you want to link.

Step 2: Follow the instructions mentioned in the previous answer to add a SharePoint link to Windows Explorer.

Step 3: Repeat the process for each SharePoint site you want to add to Windows Explorer. Each site will appear as a separate folder in Windows Explorer.

3. Can I access SharePoint files offline after adding the link to Windows Explorer?

Yes, once you have added the SharePoint link to Windows Explorer, you can access the files offline. However, keep in mind that any changes you make to the files while offline will be synchronized with the SharePoint site when you go back online.

This feature allows you to work on your SharePoint files even when you are not connected to the internet, providing you with flexibility and convenience.

4. Is it possible to remove a SharePoint link from Windows Explorer?

Yes, you can remove a SharePoint link from Windows Explorer by following these steps:

Step 1: Open Windows Explorer and locate the SharePoint link you want to remove.

Step 2: Right-click on the SharePoint link and select "Delete" from the context menu.

Step 3: Confirm the deletion by clicking "Yes" in the dialog box that appears.

The SharePoint link will be removed from Windows Explorer, but the files will still exist on the SharePoint site.

5. Can I access SharePoint links from Windows Explorer on a Mac?

No, adding SharePoint links to Windows Explorer is specific to the Windows operating system. If you are using a Mac, there are alternative methods to access SharePoint files and folders, such as using the SharePoint app for Mac or accessing SharePoint through a web browser.

Ensure that you choose the method that is compatible with your operating system to seamlessly integrate SharePoint into your workflow.

Adding a SharePoint link to Windows Explorer can greatly improve your productivity and streamline your workflow. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can easily access and manage SharePoint files as if they were stored locally on your computer.

First, make sure you have the necessary permissions to access the SharePoint site. Then, open Windows Explorer and click on "Map network drive". Enter the SharePoint site URL and provide your login credentials. Once connected, you can access SharePoint files and folders just like any other file stored on your computer.