Simply SharePoint • Foundations
Microsoft 365 Quick Start Checklist
Your First Day with Microsoft 365
Purpose: Get up and running with Microsoft 365 in under 30 minutes.
Your First-Day Checklist
1
Sign In and Explore
- Go to office.com and sign in with your work or school account
- Bookmark office.com in your browser (this is your home base)
- Click the App Launcher (9-dot waffle icon, top-left) to see available apps
- Explore the Recent section to see your latest files and activity
Why this matters: Office.com is your single starting point for everything in Microsoft 365. No more hunting for links or apps.
2
Secure Your Account
- Click your profile picture (top-right) and select View account
- Set up Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) if not already enabled
- Add a recovery phone number and alternate email
- Review your recent sign-in activity to ensure it’s all you
Why this matters: MFA protects your account from unauthorised access. Set it up now before you need it.
3
Update Your Profile
- Upload a profile photo (helps colleagues recognise you)
- Add your job title and department (if allowed by your organisation)
- Add your phone number and office location
- Check that your display name is correct
Why this matters: A complete profile makes you easier to find and builds trust with your team.
4
Set Up OneDrive
- Open OneDrive from the App Launcher
- Create a folder structure for your work (e.g., Projects, Templates, Drafts)
- Upload a test file or create a new document
- Practise sharing a file as a link (right-click → Share → Copy link)
Why this matters: OneDrive is your personal cloud storage. Files saved here are accessible from any device and automatically backed up.
5
Join Your First Team
- Open Microsoft Teams from the App Launcher
- Browse your Teams list (left sidebar) to see which teams you’re already in
- If you’re not in any teams yet, ask a colleague to add you
- Send a test chat message to a colleague or in a channel
- Explore the Files tab in a channel to see shared documents
Why this matters: Teams is where your team collaborates. Getting comfortable here will save you hours of email back-and-forth.
6
Find Your SharePoint Site
- Open SharePoint from the App Launcher
- Click Sites to see your team or department sites
- Open a Document Library to view shared files
- Try searching for a document or person using the search bar
Why this matters: SharePoint is where your team stores official documents and shared resources. Think of it as your team’s file cabinet.
7
Practise Smart File Sharing
- Open a file in OneDrive or SharePoint
- Right-click the file and select Share
- Choose Copy link instead of sending as an attachment
- Paste the link in an email or Teams chat
- Verify the permission level (Can view vs Can edit)
Why this matters: Sharing links (not attachments) means everyone works on the same version. No more “final_v3_FINAL_USE_THIS.docx” chaos.
8
Set Up Your Workspace
- Pin your most-used apps in the App Launcher (if your organisation allows)
- Install the OneDrive desktop app to sync files to your computer (optional)
- Install Teams desktop app for a better meeting experience (optional)
- Install Microsoft 365 mobile apps on your phone for on-the-go access
Why this matters: The right setup makes Microsoft 365 feel natural, not overwhelming.
Quick Wins for Day 2–7
- Day 2: Practise sharing files as links (not attachments) in every email
- Day 3: Use Teams chat instead of email for quick internal questions
- Day 4: Explore the Files tab in Teams to see how it connects to SharePoint
- Day 5: Use the search bar in Office.com to find files and people
- Week 2: Start using version history instead of saving “final” copies
Ready for More?
- Want to collaborate better? Check out the Collaboration Workflow Cards
- Confused about where to save files? See the 3-Space Decision Framework (included in your Foundations pack)
- Need to master Teams? Explore the Teams & Meetings Workflow Cards
- Want everything? Get the Getting Started Pathway (Foundations + Collaboration + Teams)
Tip: Replace the # links above with your real page URLs.
Related Resources
- F-01: What is Microsoft 365?
- F-02: Three Ways to Access Microsoft 365
- F-04: Manage Your Microsoft 365 Account
- F-05: What is OneDrive?
- F-06: What is SharePoint?
- F-07: What is Teams?
Pro Tips
- Treat Microsoft 365 as an ecosystem — apps work better together than in isolation
- Start with one “home base” for team files (SharePoint/Teams) to avoid duplication
- Use links and permissions instead of attachments and copies
- Learn search, sharing, and version history early — they’ll save you hours later
Want the full Foundations pack?
Take the quiz and download the FREE Foundations Workflow Cards
