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Microsoft 365 is a great collection of apps for collaborating with others. Create a file, save it to OneDrive, and share it, with others in your business or with clients you're working with.

After you've shared your doc, work together in real-time making changes to different parts at the same time. Use comments and @mentions to give and respond to feedback.

And if someone makes changes you're not a fan of, use Version History to go back to a previous version of the doc.

What will I learn?

  • How to save and share a document using OneDrive

  • How to use comments and @mentions to give and respond to feedback

  • How to work together in real-time with others in the document

  • How to use Version History to go back to a previous version of a document

What do I need?

  • OneDrive

  • Word for desktop

This article uses Word as an example to collaborate, but you can also do this in PowerPoint, Excel, and more apps.

As you start a new document, it's best to save it to OneDrive. This makes sure you can access the document from any of your devices and it lets you easily share it with others instead of sending different copies of the same file back and forth through email.

To save it to OneDrive:

  1. In Word, select File > Save As.

  2. Choose OneDrive and then a folder where you want to save it.

  3. Enter a file name and select Save.

With your file in OneDrive, it now autosaves. No more losing your progress because you forgot to save. When you're ready to invite others to work on the file with you or to get feedback:

  1. Select Share Sharing dialog box

  2. Add the names or email addresses of those you want to share with. If you're sharing with others outside of your business, make sure to change permissions to Anyone with the link can edit.

    Check out Share OneDrive files and folders to learn more about sharing permissions.

  3. Add a message if you want and then select Send.

Recipients will receive an email with a link to the document.

Or, select Copy link and then you can share the link to the document however you want, like in an email, chat message, or in another document.

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After you share a file, you can collaborate with others and work at the same time.

  • See who else is in the document and where they're working.

  • A presence indicator shows where someone is making changes. See any changes right as they're being made.

  • Add comments and @mention others to get input right where you want.

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When you comment in a file and use the @-sign with someone's name, they receive an email with a link to your comment. Clicking the link brings them into the document and conversation.

  1. Add a comment.

  2. Type your comment. Use an @mention to name specific people in your comment.

  3. Select Post comment.

  4. The recipient will receive an email notification. They can reply to the comment right from the email or select the link to go directly to the comment.

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With your file saved to OneDrive or SharePoint, use Version History to go back to a previous version of a file if someone makes a change you don't want.

  1. Select the file name.

  2. Select Version History.

  3. Choose one of the versions.

  4. Click through the Changes or scroll through the file to compare changes.

  5. Select Restore to replace your file with the older version.

Related topics

Share OneDrive files and folders

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