When you sign in to Microsoft 365, or your organization’s corporate SharePoint Server site, select SharePoint or Sites in the app launcher navigation or top bar. These are your entry points into SharePoint.
SharePoint in Microsoft 365
SharePoint Server 2016
What's in a SharePoint site
Organizations use SharePoint to create websites. In Microsoft 365, you can create a site from the SharePoint start page. You also get a SharePoint team site whenever you create a Microsoft 365 group in Outlook Online or Microsoft 365. If you're in SharePoint Server, you can create a team or a number of other types of sites. You can use the sites as a secure place to store, organize, share, and access information from any device. All you need is a web browser, such as Microsoft Edge, Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, or Mozilla Firefox. Get the SharePoint mobile app to stay connected from your mobile devices.
10 things you can do with SharePoint
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Upload files to your SharePoint document library, so you can access them from anywhere |
You can drag files from your computer into your document library. In SharePoint in Microsoft 365 and SharePoint Server 2016, select Upload on the command bar. If you use Microsoft Edge, you can upload either files or folders. For more info, see Upload files to a library. |
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Open a document in a document library |
Select to open the document you want to work on and it will open in Microsoft 365 for the web. If you have the application installed on your computer and want to use it, select Edit Document > Edit in <application name>. For info on document libraries, see What is a document library?
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Work with others on the same document, at the same time |
In a document library, select to open the document you want to work on. It will open in Microsoft 365 for the web. The number of people currently editing the document appears at the top right of the document.
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Share documents |
Select the document you want to share, select the ellipses (…) to open the menu, and then select Share. SharePoint Online  SharePoint Server 2016  |
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Share sites |
If you have site owner permissions, select |
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Create a team site |
If you're using Microsoft 365, you can create a site from the SharePoint start page, and it automatically creates a Microsoft 365 group. If you create a Microsoft 365 group in Outlook or People, you automatically get a team site in SharePoint in Microsoft 365. For more on creating team sites, see Create a team site in SharePoint Online. If you have site owner permissions with SharePoint Server 2016 select Sites, and then select + new site or + new.
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Add a list or library to your team site |
To add a list or library to SharePoint in Microsoft 365, select + New from within a site, and then pick List or Library from the list.  To add a list or library for SharePoint Server versions of SharePoint select Settings
For more info, see Create a list in SharePoint or Create a document library in SharePoint. |
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Keep previous versions of a document while you make changes to it |
In SharePoint in Microsoft 365, right-click a document in a library, and then select Show more options > Version History (you might have to scroll the menu),  For SharePoint Server versions, select the ellipses (...) next to the file, and then select the ellipses (...) again in the dialog to get to the menu, or select the document and select Version History on the Files tab.  SharePoint Server ribbon and Files tab For more info, see Enable and configure versioning for a list or library. |
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Search for something |
Type a search keyword into the Search box, and then select the Search icon SharePoint Online  SharePoint Server 2016  |
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Share information with your organization |
In Microsoft 365, SharePoint in Microsoft 365, select Create news post, type your message. Then select Post news. |
Copy and move files and folders between libraries
There are several ways to copy or move files, depending on the version of SharePoint you're using. In SharePoint in Microsoft 365, you can use the Copy to or Move to command to copy or move files between libraries. For more info, see Move or copy a folder, file, or link in a document library.
Move to and Copy to buttons in SharePoint in Microsoft 365
Getting your SharePoint library into an Explorer view can provide a fast way to do all file operations. You can do it essentially two ways, syncing the folders, or opening in Explorer. The difference is that synced folders persist and can be used anytime from any app, while Open in Explorer is a one-time operation.
When you sync a library, you're making a local copy on your desktop machine. If you sync two libraries, you can copy or move files and folders, create folders, and delete one or more file or folder. Your synced library is automatically synced with the SharePoint library. To sync libraries with SharePoint in Microsoft 365, see Sync files to your computer from a document library. For SharePoint Server 2016 , see Set up your computer to sync SharePoint Server on-premises files.
Another way to use Windows Explorer to manipulate files is to open a library in Explorer. Like synced folders, ths allows you to copy, move, and edit files and folders the way do on your desktop. Files are automatically updated in your SharePoint library. For more info, see Open a library in File Explorer.
Want to control access to your stuff?
SharePoint is all about permissions. Get a better understanding of how permissions work, and you’ll understand how to control access to stuff on sites. Watch Video: Understanding permissions in SharePoint.
Once you understand how permissions work, see how to do it in Edit and manage permissions for a SharePoint list or library.
Ready to move beyond the basics?
Take a look at our beginner and intermediate training to learn more about:
