9. Managing Files with OneDrive
In this chapter, you discover OneDrive, Microsoft’s multiplatform file-hosting service that enables you to access your photos and videos on your console, as well as share your Upload Studio clips with the world.
→ Getting to Know OneDrive on Xbox One
→ Integrating OneDrive from Other Devices
OneDrive, which had its name changed from SkyDrive after a trademark dispute with British Sky Broadcasting, is free online file storage that comes standard with a Microsoft account, including the account used to log in to your Xbox One. With the OneDrive app for the Xbox One, you can view your photos and videos on your TV, including those shared from others. If you add game clips to OneDrive from Upload Studio, you can share them with your friends from the OneDrive website, or upload those videos to popular social networks like YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter. OneDrive functionality is also available for Windows and Macintosh computers; Android, Apple, and Windows mobile devices; and even the Xbox 360, so you’ll almost never be without access to your files.
Getting to Know OneDrive on Xbox One
Like many of the other great features on the Xbox One, using OneDrive requires an Xbox Live Gold membership (see Chapter 3, “Examining Xbox Live”). Whether you have OneDrive access from a previous Microsoft sign-up or if this is your first time with the service through your Xbox One, the base amount of cloud storage space is 7GB. By referring friends, completing certain activities, buying certain products, or outright purchasing additional storage space (see https://onedrive.live.com/about/en-us/plans/ for upgrade options), this total can increase to the hundreds of gigabytes.
Although the Xbox One’s app doesn’t support all of the features found on some of the other platforms where OneDrive is available, it does let you view photos and videos, play slideshows, share Game DVR clips from Upload Studio, and even earn achievements, such as for viewing a certain number of photos. Of course, you can also use the Xbox One’s Internet Explorer app (see Chapter 10, “Surfing with Internet Explorer”) to go to OneDrive.com if you need to manage your files.
Install OneDrive
To use the OneDrive app, it must first be installed. To install OneDrive, do the following:
1. Select OneDrive from Pins. Alternately, you can select the app from the Apps section of the Store or by saying “Xbox, go to OneDrive.”
3. Once installed, select Launch.
Taking Control of OneDrive
Once installed and launched, the app displays the main screen. If you have nothing installed to your OneDrive storage yet, then the image will look like this.
When you have content stored in your OneDrive account, either from Upload Studio or other sources, then the Pictures folder will cycle through thumbnails of available images and videos, similar to what is shown here.
There are two main sections that you can move between in the OneDrive app. Photos & Videos contains only your photos and videos, whereas Shared contains only those photos or videos others have expressly shared with you. You can move between the two headings with either the D-pad, left stick, or left and right bumpers. You can navigate with those same controls once a folder is selected with the A button.
When a folder with content is selected, the following options become available:
• Sort—Options include A to Z, Z to A, Old to New, New to Old (default), or a Custom sort order.
• Slide Show—Show the images or videos in the selected sort order on a loop.
• Add to the OneGuide—Create a shortcut to the folder on OneGuide (see “Working with OneGuide” in Chapter 7, “Viewing Videos and Video Content”).
Once you highlight a file and select it with the A button, it either displays full screen if it’s an image or starts playing if it’s a video. Once an image or video is displayed, the following controller options become available:
• A button—Play a slideshow starting with the image selected. You can also choose the Slide Show button. The slideshow automatically loops, restarting at the beginning once it reaches the end of the folder’s contents. If a video is playing, standard video playback controls apply (refer to “Controlling Playback” under “Enjoying TV Shows, Music Videos, and Movies with Xbox Video” in Chapter 7).
Want to Loop the Same Video?
To loop the same video, put two copies of the video in the same folder.
• Left bumper—Go to the previous image.
• Right bumper—Go to the next image.
• Left trigger—Zoom out on a photo.
• Right trigger—Zoom in on a photo.
• Left stick or D-pad—Display the playback overlay and move left and right between the Rewind, Pause/Play, and Fast Forward options. Press the A button to activate the highlighted option.
• Right stick—Move around the photo when you’re zoomed in.
• X button—Switch between fitting a photo to your screen and filling the whole screen.
• B button—Go back to the previous screen.
• Menu button—Display the OneDrive app options, which are described below.
When you press the Menu button, the following options are available:
• Switch profile—Switch Xbox One profiles, which changes which OneDrive folders you can access.
• Help—Display helpful OneDrive information.
Integrating OneDrive from Other Devices
To see, add, and manage all of your files, you need to log in with your Microsoft account to OneDrive.com or use the OneDrive app from a computer or mobile device.
OneDrive functionality is preinstalled on computers and mobile devices with Windows 8 or later. For Windows tablets, you can also set the app to automatically back up your camera roll. For computers with Windows Vista or later, and Macintosh OS X (Lion or later), you can download the app from the OneDrive.com website.
For Google Android and Apple iOS mobile devices, you can download the app from the Google Play store and Apple App Store, respectively. Windows Phone devices have the app built-in. For all of these devices, you can also set the app to automatically back up your camera roll.
For the Xbox 360, you need to download and install the app from Apps. Functionality on the Xbox 360 is the same as that on the Xbox One save for its lack of Game DVR and Upload Studio integration.
Once you’ve got access to OneDrive in the places where you need it, it’s time to start setting it up for your own personal needs and make use of it.
Change Folder Types
If a folder with pictures or videos in it doesn’t show up on Xbox One, the folder type might need to be changed. To change folder types from the OneDrive website, follow these steps:
1. Sign in at OneDrive.com.
2. Select the folder.
3. Select the Details pane.
4. Under the Information panel, select Change to the far right of Folder Type.
5. Under Change Folder Type, select Pictures.
6. Select Save. The folder and any images or videos will now be visible within the Xbox One’s OneDrive app.
Add Files
With the exception of Upload Studio, you can’t directly add files from your Xbox One’s OneDrive app to OneDrive. For that, you should sign in at OneDrive.com and select Upload. To add files through the OneDrive website, follow these steps:
Automatic Uploads
On some devices, including some mobile phones and tablets, you can set your camera roll to automatically upload new photos to your OneDrive account.
1. Select Upload. (Note that you must already have signed in to OneDrive.com.)
2. Select a file or files. If you’re using a Windows or Linux computer, you can select more than one file by holding down the Ctrl key or, if you want to select a sequential block of files, by holding the Shift key. On a Macintosh computer, the only difference is using the Command key instead of Ctrl.
3. Select Open.
4. The file or files start uploading.
5. After the file or files have finished uploading, they appear in your list of OneDrive files. You can then access these files, depending on their type, using the Xbox One OneDrive app.
Share Files
You can share OneDrive files or folders with other people you specify through a shared link or by publishing directly to Facebook. To share your files in this manner so that they appear under Shared for your friends, sign in to OneDrive.com from your computer. From there, follow these steps:
1. Select the folder, file, or files you’d like to share.
2. Select the Details pane.
3. Select Share or Share Folder under the Sharing panel.
4. Select Invite People.
5. Enter a list of recipients in the To field and, if you like, add a short message to let them know what you’ve sent.
6. Select Share.
Report Inappropriate Sharing
To see photos and videos that are shared with you, look under Shared. Occasionally, spam images or other unwanted materials might be shared with you. If it’s not something you can resolve with a friend, then report the image by doing the following after signing in to OneDrive.com:
1. Select Shared.
3. Under Manage, select Report Abuse.
4. Select the type of abuse and write any comments you might have.
5. Click the Report Abuse button when you’re satisfied with the report.
