OneDrive: Copying Personal Files/Folders before Leaving the University

Summary

This article provides instructions on how to create a personal OneDrive account and how to move personal files/folders from your USNH OneDrive account to a personal OneDrive account.

Note: For USNH owned/shared data, see OneDrive: Moving Institutional Files to SharePoint before leaving USNH

 

Context

When leaving USNH, your M365 applications will no longer be accessible and OneDrive account data will be deleted.  The date when that happens depends on the individual's status:

  • Typically, the files/folders for all departing students are retained for 30 days after the start of the next semester directly after the semester they graduated in.
    • For example, if a student graduates in May: Files/folders are accessible until early October.
    • If a student graduates in December your files/folders are accessible until mid-February.
    • Once that date passes, you will lose access to all M365 applications and OneDrive account data will be deleted.
       
  • Faculty access is removed anywhere between 30 and 270 days after the end of the last appointment, and depending upon institutional needs as guided by their respective collective bargaining agreements. Contact HR for details about a specific person(s).
     
  • Staff access is usually removed on the job termination date, and depending upon institutional needs as guided by their respective collective bargaining agreements. Contact HR for details about a specific person(s).

 

How-To

To avoid loss of data, create a personal OneDrive account and move USNH files/folders to that account. Microsoft OneDrive offers a free OneDrive account with 5 GB of cloud storage.

Alternatively, download the files to a computer or external hard-drive or save them to another cloud service.

Important: Copy or move any files you want to keep out of OneDrive while you still have access.

 

Task: To create a personal OneDrive account.

Note: Be sure to use a different email address than your school email address when signing up for a personal Microsoft account.

 

Instructions

Create a Personal OneDrive account directly through Microsoft by following the onscreen instructions here. 

 

Outcome

A personal OneDrive account is created. An email message is sent to the email address used to create the account.

To open your Microsoft account from the email message, click VIEW YOUR ACCOUNT.

Back to top

 

Task: To copy files/folders from your USNH account to your personal OneDrive account.

If your USNH OneDrive account files are synchronized with a folder on your computer, open File Explorer or Finder to see both of your accounts.

Windows File Explorer with Personal and USNH folders highlighted.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If your USNH OneDrive files are not synchronized with a folder on your computer then follow the instructions in the OneDrive: Synchronizing Files/Folders article to synchronize them prior to starting this procedure.

 

Instructions

Step 1 - Open File Explorer or Finder and navigate to the folder that contains the synchronized USNH OneDrive files.

Step 2 - Select any files and folders to keep.

Windows File Explorer with all the USNH OneDrive files selected.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 3 - Right-click and select Copy from the context menu.

Step 4 - Hover over the Documents folder of the personal OneDrive account, right-click and select Paste from the context menu.

 

Outcome

What users can expect to happen after completing the steps in the how-to knowledge base article.

Windows File Explorer with duplicate files and folders highlighted in both the USNH abd personal OneDrive folders.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Back to top

 

Further Readings

OneDrive: Moving Institutional Files to SharePoint before leaving USNH - for USNH owned/shared data

FAQs for Graduating and Departing Students

 

OneDrive: Uploading/Saving your Files/Folders to OneDrive

OneDrive: Synchronizing Files/Folders

OneDrive: Introducing Sync

How to add an account in OneDrive 

Sync files with OneDrive in Windows 

Sync files with OneDrive on Mac OS X 

  

Need additional help?

For assistance concerning site creation, content sharing, file synchronization, or other common SharePoint, OneDrive, Teams, or Office app activities, we recommend our Microsoft 365 Learning sites:

Learn more about the great tools our Microsoft 365 Learning sites offer!

Visit the Technology Help Desk Support page to locate your local campus contact information or to submit an online technology support request.  For password issues you must call or visit the Help Desk in person.  

Details

Article ID: 4241
Created
Thu 10/14/21 1:36 PM
Modified
Tue 4/23/24 11:48 AM
Applicable Institution(s):
Keene State College (KSC)
Plymouth State University (PSU)
University of New Hampshire (UNH)
USNH System Office