Forum Discussion
How do users default onedrive files to open in microsoft desktop applications.
Nowhere to action this in your browser interface.
Selecting files by clicking on them simply opens the files in new browser windows.
Setting 'open in app' as default in desktop applications has no effect.
We do not want to have to select 'open > in app' on every single microsoft format file in a browser.
Tested in latest version of modern browsers Firefox / Chrome / microsoft edge.
See attached for visual if unclear
3 Replies
Microsoft has defaulted to opening Office files in the browser (Office Online) when accessed via OneDrive or SharePoint.
Set Office files (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) stored in OneDrive for Business to open by default in the desktop applications, not in the browser.
Change Library Default (Admin Required)
To make Office files open in desktop apps by default in OneDrive or SharePoint:
Go to the document library (OneDrive or SharePoint site).
Click the Gear icon > Library settings.
Go to Advanced settings.
Under “Opening Documents in the Browser”, choose:
Open in the client application
Save.
Or…
Use OneDrive Sync Client (Best for Individuals)
Sync your OneDrive to your computer via the OneDrive app.
Open files directly from File Explorer — they’ll always open in the desktop app.
My answers are voluntary and without guarantee!
Hope this will help you.
To make Office files open in desktop apps by default in OneDrive or SharePoint:
Go to the document library (OneDrive or SharePoint site).
Navigated to https://onedrive.live.com/?id=root&cid={CLIENT-IDENTIFIER-HERE}
Click the Gear icon > Library settings.
Clicked Gear icon. See image for screencapture
.
Go to Advanced settings.
Where are these 'Advanced settings'.
What you’re seeing on https://onedrive.live.com is personal OneDrive (consumer), not OneDrive for Business (via Microsoft 365/SharePoint).
You're in the personal OneDrive interface. It does not support "Library Settings" or “Advanced settings”.
If you're trying to change this for OneDrive for Business, do the following:
Open your work/school OneDrive via Office 365:
Go to https://www.office.com
Click the OneDrive icon (should go to a URL like https://[your-tenant]-my.sharepoint.com)
You'll now be on OneDrive for Business, not onedrive.live.com.
Once you're in your OneDrive for Business, click the gear icon (⚙️) in the top-right.
Choose "Site settings" or "Return to classic OneDrive" (if "Library Settings" isn’t visible).
From there:
Click Library settings
Then Advanced settings
Under "Opening Documents in the Browser," set it to “Open in the client application”
Save your changes.
In OneDrive for Business, these settings apply per document library, and you may need admin or owner rights to see and change them.
If none of this helps you, please provide detailed information!
Are you using OneDrive for Business or just personal OneDrive?
Do you have a Microsoft 365 work/school account?
Do you use OneDrive from home or on the company/school's internal network?
My answers are voluntary and without guarantee!
Hope this will help you.
