when you are in microsoft teams chat and attacha a file, what is the difference between a cloud file and upload and where does the document live?

These two options determine where the file lives and how people access it. Here's the breakdown:

📁 1. Upload from My Computer

• What happens:
  The file is uploaded directly into the Teams environment, specifically into your OneDrive (not SharePoint, unless you're in a channel).

• Where it lives:
  ➤ In your OneDrive for Business under a folder called:
  Microsoft Teams Chat Files

• Who owns it:
  You own the file. You’re sharing a copy with the chat participants.

• Permissions:
  Teams will automatically create a shared link with edit permissions for everyone in the chat.

• Best use case:
  When you're sharing something new that others need to collaborate on or edit, and you want to manage access.

☁️ 2. Attach Cloud File

• What happens:
  You’re attaching a link to a file that’s already in your OneDrive, SharePoint, or another connected cloud service (e.g., Dropbox, Google Drive if enabled).

• Where it lives:
  ➤ Wherever the original file is stored:

  • OneDrive (yours or someone else’s)

  • SharePoint document library (if it's from a Team/channel)

• Who owns it:
  Whoever owns the original file.

• Permissions:
  You may need to adjust sharing permissions manually to ensure chat members can view or edit the file.

• Best use case:
  When the file already exists in the cloud, and you want to bring people into it without creating duplicates.

🧠 TL;DR – Quick Comparison

ActionWhere It LivesOwnershipPermissionsUse CaseUpload from ComputerYour OneDrive (Teams Chat Files)YouShared automaticallyShare a new fileAttach Cloud FileExisting OneDrive or SharePointOriginal ownerMay need to be adjustedShare an existing doc

💡 Pro Tips:

• If you're in a channel instead of a chat, files go to the channel's SharePoint site, not your OneDrive.

• For record retention, governance, or compliance, cloud files linked from SharePoint are usually easier to track and manage.

• You can always check the storage location by clicking the "..." next to the file in chat and choosing "Open in OneDrive" or "Open in SharePoint."

How do I upload documents from Outlook to OneDrive?

💌 SCENARIO 1: Uploading Attachments from an Email to OneDrive

✅ Option A: From the Outlook Web App (Outlook on the Web)

1. Open the email that contains the attachment.

2. Hover over the attachment.

3. Click the dropdown arrow next to the attachment.

4. Choose “Save to OneDrive”.

   • This saves the file to your OneDrive > Email attachments folder automatically.

5. Done. It’s now in OneDrive and can be moved to any folder from there.

🟣 You can now access it via OneDrive web, File Explorer, or mobile app.

✅ Option B: From the Outlook Desktop App (Microsoft 365)

Unfortunately, the desktop version doesn’t have a direct “Save to OneDrive” button, but here's the workaround:

1. Right-click the attachment > Select Save As.

2. In the dialog box, navigate to your OneDrive folder (usually under C:\Users\YourName\OneDrive - YourCompanyName\).

3. Choose or create the subfolder you want.

4. Click Save.

🟢 Now it’s synced and stored in the cloud automatically.

🧠 BONUS TIP: Automate It with a Rule or Power Automate

If you're consistently receiving attachments (e.g., invoices, contracts, etc.), automate the process:

🔁 With Power Automate (formerly Flow)

• Set up a rule like:

  • Trigger: When a new email arrives with an attachment

  • Action: Save that attachment to a specific folder in your OneDrive

➡️ Ask me if you want a ready-made automation recipe for this. I’ll whip it up.

📂 Where It Goes in OneDrive:

• From Outlook Web: OneDrive > Email attachments

• From Desktop Save As: Wherever you point it inside your OneDrive folder tree

✨ Pro Moves

• After upload, rename and organize attachments in your OneDrive for versioning.

• Use “Request Files” from OneDrive if you want clients to upload docs directly to you.

• Add OneDrive as your default save location to simplify your workflow going forward.