How to Save a Document, from Mail, Word, Excel and PowerPoint, to your SharePoint Site

Overview

Saving documents directly to SharePoint helps ensure that files are stored in a secure, centralized location where they can be accessed, shared, and managed by your team.

Many Microsoft 365 applications, including Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, allow you to save files directly to SharePoint without first saving them to your computer.

Saving documents to SharePoint offers several benefits:

  • Makes files available to authorized team members
  • Enables collaboration and co-authoring
  • Preserves version history
  • Reduces duplicate copies of documents
  • Improves document search and organization

Before You Begin

Before saving a file to SharePoint, ensure that:

  • You have access to the SharePoint site and document library.
  • The document library has been added to your Microsoft 365 account (if applicable).
  • You know where the document should be stored.
  • You are familiar with any required metadata fields that may need to be completed.

Save an Email Attachment from Outlook to SharePoint

If you receive a document by email, you can save it directly to SharePoint.

  1. Open the email containing the attachment.
  2. Select the attachment.
  3. Click the drop-down arrow or right-click the attachment.
  4. Choose Save As.
  5. Browse to the SharePoint location, or save the file locally and upload it to SharePoint.
  6. If prompted, complete any required metadata fields.
  7. Select Save.

Tip: If your SharePoint libraries are synchronized through OneDrive, they may appear in File Explorer and can be selected directly when saving attachments.

Save a Word Document to SharePoint

  1. Open the document in Microsoft Word.
  2. Select File > Save As.
  3. Choose the SharePoint site or document library from the available locations.
  4. If the site is not listed, select Browse and navigate to the SharePoint location.
  5. Enter a file name if required.
  6. Select Save.
  7. Complete any required metadata fields if prompted.

Once saved, future changes can be saved directly back to SharePoint using Save.

Save an Excel Workbook to SharePoint

  1. Open the workbook in Microsoft Excel.
  2. Select File > Save As.
  3. Choose the SharePoint site or document library.
  4. If necessary, browse to the desired folder or library.
  5. Enter a file name.
  6. Select Save.
  7. Complete any required metadata fields if prompted.

The workbook is now stored in SharePoint and can be shared or edited collaboratively.

Save a PowerPoint Presentation to SharePoint

  1. Open the presentation in Microsoft PowerPoint.
  2. Select File > Save As.
  3. Choose the SharePoint site or document library.
  4. Browse to the appropriate location if needed.
  5. Enter a file name.
  6. Select Save.
  7. Complete any required metadata fields if prompted.

The presentation is now stored in SharePoint and available to authorized users.

Upload an Existing File to SharePoint

If a file has already been saved to your computer, it can be uploaded to SharePoint.

  1. Open the SharePoint document library.
  2. Select Upload.
  3. Choose Files.
  4. Browse to the document on your computer.
  5. Select the file and click Open.
  6. Complete any required metadata fields.
  7. Select Save if prompted.

The file will be added to the document library.

Working with Metadata

Some SharePoint libraries require metadata before a document can be fully saved.

Common examples include:

  • Document Type
  • Classification
  • Academic Year
  • Fiscal Year

Required metadata fields are typically marked with an asterisk (*).

Providing accurate metadata helps ensure documents can be easily located, filtered, and managed by others.

Tips and Best Practices

  • Save documents directly to SharePoint whenever possible rather than storing them locally.
  • Use clear and descriptive file names.
  • Complete metadata fields accurately.
  • Verify that the document is being saved to the correct site and library.
  • Avoid creating duplicate copies of the same document in multiple locations.
  • Use SharePoint version history instead of saving multiple versions of the same file with different file names.
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