Connect to SharePoint and Microsoft 365

In this article, you will find details on how to create a connection to your SharePoint and Microsoft 365 environment.  

Index

• Prerequisites
• Establish a connection
  • From the Explorer
  • From Copy
• Connection screen overview
  • Site address
  • Authentication
  • Connect using a proxy
  • Add connection to explorer
• Troubleshoot connection issues

Prerequisites

You need the correct administrative rights for your connection.

Establish a connection

From the Explorer

1. Select Explorer from the menu.
2. Click the All connections drop-down at the left of the search bar.
3. Click +Add connection.
4. Enter your connection information. See Connection screen overview below for more details.
5. Click Connect.

From Copy

1. Select Copy from the menu.
2. Select the action you want to perform.
3. Enter your connection information. See Connection screen overview below for more details.
4. Click Connect.
5. Select your target. For example, you can select a list or library when using Copy content.
6. Click Next.
7. Repeat steps (1) to (6) for the destination if applicable.

Connection screen overview

Site address

You can connect using a:

• SharePoint admin center address (Microsoft 365)
• Central administration address (SharePoint on-premises)
• Site address

For more information on the benefits of each site address connection type, see Site address connection types overview.

Note: Custom domains are not currently supported. For more information see Custom domain connection.

Authentication

Authentication dropdown

There are 3 options to authenticate the connection:

Current Windows user - Connect using your current Windows session credentials. The authentication cookies are preserved locally by the app, but the credentials themselves are not saved.

Other user - Connect by manually entering a username and password. An encrypted version of your credentials is stored when using this type of authentication.

Tip: If your organization requires you to routinely change your passwords, ensure you update your information when authenticating with Other user.

Browser - Opens a browser authentication session. The authentication cookies are preserved locally by the app, but the credentials themselves are not saved.

Note: The browser authentication method is the only authentication method that supports a multi-factor authentication configuration.

Username

Enter the relevant username for authentication of your site, SharePoint admin center, or central administration.

Password

Enter the relevant password for authentication of your site, SharePoint admin center, or central administration.

Single sign-on

Your workstation may use the SharePoint single sign-on (SSO) feature, which will automatically login to each session without asking for credentials.

Disabling single sign-on will ensure that you must log in each time you connect using browser authentication.

Tip: If you notice unforeseen behavior associated with your connected account, you should disable single sign-on to ensure that you are logging in with the correct account. Disabling the single sign-on option will force the app to prompt for user credentials during the authentication process.

Connect using a proxy

For more information on how to connect using a proxy, see Use a proxy.

Add connection to explorer

If this connection has not yet been added to the connections listed in Explorer, you can choose to add it now. Add a checkmark in the box to the left of Add connection to explorer.

Troubleshoot connection issues

If you are having issues with your connection, see Troubleshoot Microsoft 365 connection issues or Troubleshoot SharePoint on-premises connection issues.