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Can't get OneDrive with all my data on new computer
I bought a new laptop recently and have been working to set it up with everything my old computer has. I love my old laptop, but it is five years old and I worry about failure and losing everything. Because of that fear, I have used OneDrive heavily. Anyway, when there was a pre-BlackFriday sale, I purchased a new laptop. I got OneNote to come over with my folders, but I can't get the OneDrive synced. I have researched online and have tried sharing and other suggestions, and nothing works. How can I get my new computer to use the same OneDrive?
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You don’t need to “transfer” OneDrive from your old laptop at all.
Your files already live in the cloud — you just need to sign in correctly on the new computer.
If OneDrive isn’t syncing on the new laptop, it’s almost always one of a few simple issues.Make sure you're signed into the SAME Microsoft account
This is the #1 issue.
On your new laptop:
- Click Start → Settings → Accounts → Email & Accounts
- Look for the Microsoft account that appears on the old laptop (typically ends in @outlook.com, hotmail.com, or your personal email)
- If it’s not there → click Add account and sign in with the correct one
Then:
- Click the cloud icon (OneDrive) on the taskbar
- If it asks to sign in → use the same Microsoft account as the old laptop
If you sign in with a different Microsoft account by accident, it creates a new, empty OneDrive.
Check if OneDrive is installed
New Windows machines usually have it, but if not:
- Download: OneDriveSetup.exe from Microsoft’s site
Then run it and sign in.
Let OneDrive recreate the folder automatically
When you sign in, OneDrive will ask where you want to store your OneDrive folder.
Just click Next and accept the default folder.
Do NOT copy your old OneDrive folder manually — this causes sync problems.Once logged in, your files should start downloading automatically.
These instructions apply to the current OneDrive sync client on Windows 10 and Windows 11 — the unified Microsoft OneDrive (Standalone Sync Client) that Microsoft has shipped since ~2017.
Hope this helps you
