Create a document from OneDrive for work or school
Applies ToSharePoint in Microsoft 365 Office for business Office 365 Small Business Microsoft 365 admin OneDrive (work or school) SharePoint in Microsoft 365 Small Business

You can create new Office documents directly from OneDrive for work or school. You'll need Office Web Apps Server to see the New menu. Otherwise, it's a Folder icon.

Not sure where to create your document? See Should I save files to OneDrive or SharePoint?

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  1. Select New, and then choose the type of document you want to create, such as Word, Excel, or PowerPoint.

    Screenshot of selecting the New menu to create a new document in OneDrive for Business

    The new document opens in the Microsoft 365 for the web program you selected. For example, selecting Word document opens Word for the web.

    Tip: There's no save button, because the document is saved for you automatically.

  2. To rename the document, click its name in the title bar, type the new name you want, and then press ENTER.

    Clicking the title bar to change the name of a document Word Online
  3. When you’re done and you want to go back to where the file is saved, click your name, next to the file name.

    (Or, click the Back button in your browser to go back to where your document is saved. If you click Back, click Refresh to see your new document in the file list.)

Tip: If you want access to all app features, you can switch to the full Office app. For example, in Word for the web, click Open in Word to continue working on the document in Word.

Open the full Office application instead of running Office Online

Create a document from an Office desktop app

You can also start in an Office desktop app, such as Word, Excel, or PowerPoint, and create and save a document straight to OneDrive for work or school.

  1. Start a document as usual in an Office desktop app (File > New, and pick a template).

  2. When you're ready to save the document, click File > Save As > OneDrive - YourCompanyName. For example, OneDrive - Contoso.

    Saving a file from Word to OneDrive for Business

  3. Give the file a name, and then click Save.

Tips: 

  • If you don't see OneDrive - YourCompanyName, click Add a Place > Office 365 SharePoint. Then sign in to Microsoft 365 with your work or school account.

  • Adding OneDrive for Business as a place to save to in Word

  • Once you add OneDrive for work or school as a place in one Office app, you can save files from all your Office apps.

If you’re signed in to Microsoft 365, and your subscription includes Office, you can install the latest version of the desktop apps. At the top of the page in Microsoft 365, go to Settings Office 365 Settings button > Office 365 Settings > Software.

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