It can be helpful knowing when someone has worked with a file you have shared.  You can setup OneDrive to get notified when members of your team update your shared files.  With notifications, you do not need to constantly check the file in effort to recognize it may have been changed.


This process applies to all OneDrive shared files, such as documents created in Excel, Word and PowerPoint.



There are three variations of notifications to consider:

  • IN APP – where you receive notifications right within the application Word, PowerPoint, or Excel, when people you’ve shared your file with make changes, edits, comments, etc. 

  • NOTIFICATION CENTER – When a shared collaborator start to edit your file, you can receive a notification via he Windows Action Center or in the Notification Center of your mobile device

  • EMAIL – You can choose to always receive an email notification when a change or comment has been made to your file.


The sections below provide guidance and steps to enable the various notification methods.



The Microsoft Version History Pane

Microsoft 365 has a Version History Pane for any documents stored on OneDrive or SharePoint. The version history pane shows you when your file has been saved, and by whom. To open it, just click the document title on the title bar at the top of the window, and select Version History.  Or from your file manager right-click on the file and click on Version history.  If you miss a notification, you can use the Version history to view and confirm changes made.




IN APP

The In-App experience for notifications shows you which files have been changed and by whom.  The notification experience may vary by application and device platform.  For example, If you share a PowerPoint file from Microsoft 365  and other people make changes to the file, you'll be notified with a small banner to let you know who has made changes.  Many Apps have their own notification setting options.




NOTIFICATION CENTER

If your file is stored on OneDrive, and Notifications from OneDrive are enabled you will receive alerts in the Windows Action Center, or on the Notification Center of iOS or Android, when people start to make changes to your file.



To Turn notifications ON or OFF for all OneDrive files


In Windows, Right-click the OneDrive icon (looks like a Blue cloud in the system tray of your task bar) and select the GEAR icon (Settings) then Select the settings option. You'll find a switch to enable or disable notifications.  On other platforms go into the Settings in the OneDrive app to change notification settings.




Use OneDrive Online to Disable notifications for a single file


To turn notifications off for a file, open your web browser and go to https://Office.com, login to Microsoft 365 and Launch OneDrive Online. Navigate through your document library and locate the file that you want to disable notifications for. Select it (Use the Selection Circle/Check box) then at the TOP of the OneDrive screen, click the “Info” at the top right corner (or right-click the file and choose Details). On the Information panel shown, Click the notifications icon (looks like a bell) to turn Off or On notifications for that file.



EMAIL

Classic OneDrive Online can be used to enable send you emailed (or text) notifications when people make changes to your shared files.  Currently, you must use the classic OneDrive portal to access this feature.


To enable his feature on a file, open your web browser and go to https://Office.com, login to Microsoft 365 and Launch OneDrive Online.


Enable Classic OneDrive


Enable the Command Ribbon


Click the “Gear” Icon for OneDrive Settings, and click the “Show Ribbon” option.

Note that the link may read “Hide Ribbon” when the Ribbon is already enabled.



Navigate through your document library and locate the file that you want to disable notifications for.

Select it (Use the Selection Circle/Check box)



From the Left Panel, Select the Files Tab to display the Ribbon.



In the Ribbon, in the Share & Track section, Select the “Alert Me” dropdown and select “Set alert on this document”.


From the Pop-Up menu, you’ll have several options to configure Notifications for this file.


  

Remember to Click “OK” to when you’ve completed your desired selections to save them.


You can re-visit the “Alert Me” options at any time, and use the “Manage my Alerts” selection to make changes.