Using SkyDrive with Windows 8

One of the biggest changes in Windows 8 is that it is closely integrated with SkyDrive, Microsoft's online storage service. If you have files stored in your SkyDrive, you'll be able to access them easily with Windows 8. In this lesson, we'll show you how to manage your SkyDrive files, and also how to install the SkyDrive Desktop app.

Why Use SkyDrive?

If you've used previous versions of Windows, you're probably used to working with folders and files on your computer. But people are now more mobile than ever, and it's nice to have your files with you wherever you go. The cloud is generally the most convenient way to do this. If you store your files online, then all you need is an internet connection, and you'll be able to access your files — whether you're at work, at home, or at a friend's house.
SkyDrive gives you 7 gigabytes of online storage space for free, and you can purchase more space if you need it. You can decide whether you want to store all of your files online, or just the most important ones. When you log in to Windows with your Microsoft account, it automatically connects to your SkyDrive, allowing you to access your files from the built-in SkyDrive app or the Photos app.

The Photos app lets you access your SkyDrive photos 

To Upload Files to SkyDrive:

Some apps, such as Microsoft Office 2013, save files to SkyDrive by default. However, you may already have files on your computer that you would like to add to your SkyDrive.

1. Click the SkyDrive app in the Start screen.
   
   Opening the SkyDrive app
2. Right-click anywhere on the screen. A menu will appear at the bottom of the screen.
   
   Opening the SkyDrive menu
3. Click the Upload button.
   
   Clicking the Upload button
4. You will see a list of the folders and files in your Documents library.
   
   Folders and files in the Documents library
5. To view your other files, click the Files drop-down arrow and select a different location (for example, Desktop).
   
   Selecting a different location
6. When you've found the file you want to upload, select it and then click Add to SkyDrive. If you want, you can select multiple files.
   
   Adding a file to SkyDrive
7. The file(s) will be added to your SkyDrive.
   
   The uploaded file 
   
   

   To Access SkyDrive in a Web Browser:

   Now that you have files in your SkyDrive, you can access them from any computer that has an internet connection — even if the computer doesn't have Windows 8.
   

   1. Go to www.skydrive.com and sign in with your Microsoft account.
      
      Signing in to SkyDrive
   2. All of your folders and files will appear. Click on the desired folder or file to open it.
      
      Opening a Word document
   3. If you are viewing an Office document (such as a Word document or Excel spreadsheet), you can click Edit Document and then select Edit in Web App to edit it.
      
      Editing a Word document

   Some types of files cannot be edited in SkyDrive. Instead, you can download a file by right-clicking it and selecting Download. You can then open the downloaded file to edit it.

   Downloading a file

    

   Installing the SkyDrive Desktop App

   If you prefer working in the Desktop, you can download the SkyDrive Desktop app. This will add a SkyDrive folder to your File Explorer. When you move files into this folder, they will automatically be uploaded to SkyDrive, and you can access them anywhere you go. You'll even be able to access any files stored on your computer remotely, even if you haven't uploaded the files to SkyDrive.
   

   To Install the SkyDrive Desktop App:

   1. Navigate to the Download SkyDrive page. Locate and select Download SkyDrive for Windows.
      
      Downloading SkyDrive
   2. Once the file is downloaded, click Run to open the SkyDrive Installer.
      
      Opening the SkyDrive Installer
   3. The SkyDrive Installer will open. Click Get Started to continue.
      
      Clicking Get Started
   4. The SkyDrive Folder window will appear, which explains how the SkyDrive folder works with your computer. Click Next to continue.
      Clicking Next
   5. Click Done to complete the installation. If you want to be able to access files on this computer remotely, leave the checkbox checked.
      
      Clicking Done
   6. The SkyDrive Desktop app is now installed on your computer. A SkyDrive folder will be added to your File Explorer, and any files you add to this folder will be uploaded to your SkyDrive.
      
      The SkyDrive Folder