Use File Explorer to Access SharePoint

Use File Explorer to Access SharePoint

Disclaimer

Use the below info with the caveat that File Explorer is not the preferred method for accessing SharePoint. It can be done, but it can be clunky and is subject to speed bumps and occasional access and caching issues. There are only a couple instances where using File Explorer is suggested (over a browser), but even then, if the work can be done in the browser, that is the preferred path. 

Fastest way to gain direct access via File Explorer -- using Edge

You can use the Microsoft Edge browser to open File Explorer in a document library (and to reauthenticate).

While in Edge, go to the document library you wish to view (e.g., https://ceimaine.sharepoint.com/sites/IT/Shared Documents) and you will see "View in File Explorer" in the Options menu in the upper right. You may have to scroll down a bit in this menu, if you have any other customized views for this library.



New menu location for View in File Explorer in Edge



If you want to pin this location to Quick Access: To create the shortcut, or a Quick Access link in File Explorer, click the ... icon to display the additional menu options at the top of the page. In the pop-up menu that appears, click Pin to Quick access. 


File Explorer Does Not Open a SharePoint location

There are currently 3 different things you can try to do to reconnect File Explorer to SharePoint when you see an error like this one. The key point of the error message is just to inform you that it's a permissions issue ("Access Denied") -- and it's essentially just telling you that it's unsure who you are. File Explorer uses the computer credentials first (because it was initially designed decades ago to be used to find files on your computer, not the internet), but will then try to use the credentials stored in your system by Edge (fix 1 below), and now Adobe Acrobat (fix 2 below). If you have not recently used those apps (Edge or Acrobat), then your credentials will need to be refreshed before you can access the locations/files through File Explorer again. Follow the steps below.



  1. The first fix is to jump back to the top of this page and follow the steps to open the location in Edge, and then click View in File Explorer. This refreshes the login that is active in Edge, and File Explorer will be able to use the updated information to confirm your permissions.
  2. The second fix is for a newer connection expiration issue that is tied to Adobe Acrobat. Because our licenses for Acrobat now include cloud access, Acrobat can also connect to SharePoint directly (from within Acrobat). While this can come in handy, it also seems to have introduced a new place for our login information to get stale, and if your connection isn't active in Acrobat, File Explorer will not connect to SharePoint.  
    1. You can follow the steps here to reconnect Acrobat to SharePoint to resolve the issue. This is essentially just opening Acrobat and making sure you can access SharePoint files from within that app -- essentially the same fix as above, in Edge, but this time you are doing it from within Acrobat.
  3. Clearing Edge cookies was something we'd needed to do for a while (before a Microsoft update), so it's less likely you'll need to do this, but it's possible this issue could reappear. This is a quick link to get to that location in the settings: edge://settings/clearBrowserData 
Clearing Edge cookies


Important Notes:

  1. While this will make it easy to view/access files in a traditional File Explorer window and when using most (but not all) software, if you are accessing a location on SharePoint that uses categories/tagging, those features will not be available. You will have to open the SharePoint site in an internet browser (Edge or Chrome) to tag your items.
    1. When possible, accessing the files using an internet browser is preferable. Searching is faster and has more capabilities. Using filters and grouping is only possible through the browser.
  2. If your library uses a "Document Set" (like for "Credit Files" or "Companies"), then you must create a new top-level Document Set (essentially a folder that can store tags for itself and all its contents) through a browser and NOT through File Explorer. After it's created, you can access it through File Explorer.
  3. If you run into a pop-up permissions notice, follow the steps above.

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