SharePoint login tutorial

Connecting to SharePoint: Key Points

• SharePoint is an intranet site creation and document management solution based on the cloud (SharePoint Online) or hosted on the company's local servers (SharePoint On-Premises).
  
  
• To connect to SharePoint, open your web browser, enter the URL of your SharePoint site in the address bar and then enter your credentials (email address and password).
  
  
• You can also access SharePoint through your company's Microsoft 365 portal. To do this, open your browser, go to office.com, enter your credentials, and then search for SharePoint in the app launcher.
  
  
• Connecting to SharePoint Online and on-premises via the SharePoint mobile app is also possible. To do so, download the SharePoint app for Android or iOS and enter your Microsoft 365 credentials.
  
  
• For more secure access to SharePoint, your employer can configure two-factor authentication (2FA) with a security code (sent by SMS or email) or biometric identification (facial, fingerprint, etc.).
  
  
• In addition, to avoid you having to enter your credentials every time you log in to an application in your Microsoft environment, your IT department can implement single sign-on (SSO) with Entra ID.

There are several methods to connect to SharePoint, the collaboration and content management platform of the Microsoft365 suite.

Access to SharePoint is indeed different depending on whether you use the cloud version of SharePoint (SharePoint Online), a version hosted on your company's servers (SharePoint On-Premises) or the SharePoint mobile application.

So, how do you access SharePoint to view your organization's intranet or a team site? In this article, Jint – the SharePoint intranet solution that engages your teams – provides a step-by-step tutorial on how to connect to SharePoint.

You will learn everything you need to know to access SharePoint effortlessly (login page, authentication, username, password, etc.) and overcome the most common  SharePoint login problems .

Enjoy your reading!

Connecting to SharePoint step by step: the tutorial

To be able to access SharePoint, you must have a Microsoft 365 license that includes SharePoint Online or SharePoint Server (On-Premises).

If necessary, various procedures are available to you to connect to your organization's SharePoint intranet or access your SharePoint team site.

Option 1: Sign in via the Microsoft 365 homepage

You can access SharePoint Online from the Microsoft 365 home page.

Once logged in with your professional account, you will have access to your company's SharePoint site.  

Specifically, to access SharePoint via the Microsoft 365 homepage, follow these steps:

1. Open your web browser  (Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, etc.);
   
   
2. Enter the Microsoft 365 homepage URL in your browser's address bar ( https://www.microsoft365.com/signin ) or type "Microsoft 365" in the search bar and then click on "  Office.com  ";
   
   
3. When you are on the Microsoft 365 home page, click on "sign in";
   
   
4. Enter your work email address and click "next" to be redirected to your organization's login page;
   
   
5. Once on your company's personalized login page, type your password,  then click "log in";
   
   
6. If your organization has implemented SharePoint two-factor authentication (2FA), you may be asked to enter the security code that was sent to you via SMS, voice call, or the Microsoft Authenticator mobile app. Enter this code in the designated field and then click "verify".
   
   
7. You are automatically redirected to your account on your employer's Microsoft 365 portal;
   
   
8. Click on the " application launcher  " in the top left corner  to open the SharePoint application or type "SharePoint" in the search bar at the top of your screen;
   
   
9. Click the Microsoft SharePoint icon to access the application's start page;
   
   
10. To open the SharePoint site you want to visit, click the shortcut on the SharePoint navigation page or search for it in the search bar that appears at the top of your screen.

Option 2: Connect using a SharePoint site URL

You can access your SharePoint collaborative site or your company's communication site directly via its URL.

To use this method of connecting to SharePoint, you need to know the URL of the SharePoint site you want to access.

A SharePoint site address typically looks like this:

https://nomdevotreentreprise.sharepoint.com/sites/nomdevotreprojet

If you do not know the URL of the SharePoint site you want to use, contact your IT department or the site owner to have them send you the corresponding link.

Do you have the URL of your organization's team site or SharePoint intranet platform? If so, proceed as follows:

1. Copy the URL of the SharePoint site you want to connect to;
   
   
2. Open your internet browser ;
   
   
3. Paste the SharePoint site URL into your web browser's address bar;
   
   
4. You are automatically redirected to the Microsoft 365 login page;
   
   
5. Enter your Microsoft 365 work credentials to finish signing in. This is the same email address and password you use to sign in to other Microsoft applications (OneDrive, Teams, Outlook, etc.).

Option 3: Connect from the SharePoint application

SharePoint Online and SharePoint Server are accessible as a mobile app for iOS and Android.

Here are the steps to connect to SharePoint Online from your tablet, iPhone, or Android smartphone:

1. Go to the Apple Store or Google Play Store from your mobile device and download the SharePoint app;
   
   
2. Open the SharePoint mobile app;
   
   
3. Enter your Microsoft 365 work email address and then click the "next" arrow;
   
   
4. Enter your password to sign in to SharePoint with your Microsoft 365 work account;
   
   
5. If two-factor authentication (2FA) has been enabled by your company to protect access to SharePoint, enter the security code that was sent to you via SMS, call, or through the Microsoft Authenticator app.

Option 4: Connect from a local SharePoint server

Does your organization use SharePoint Server (On-Premises) to host its intranet locally? To access it, ask your IT department for its exact URL .

You can then access your document libraries and follow internal news by going to the SharePoint mobile application and entering the said URL.

You can also connect to your employer's "on-premises" SharePoint intranet by opening your web browser , pasting the URL into the address bar, and clicking "Enter".

You will then be redirected to your organization's SharePoint login page and will need to provide your Entra ID authentication credentials to log in.

The different types of SharePoint authentication

Your organization can implement various access management systems to ensure the security and confidentiality of data hosted on its SharePoint intranet.

Standard Microsoft authentication

You can first log in to your intranet or SharePoint team site using the standard authentication procedure.
This simply involves entering the work email address associated with your Microsoft 365 account and then the password linked to that same account.

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) or Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) or two-factor authentication (2FA) is a more secure way to log in to your SharePoint intranet.

If two-factor authentication is enabled by your company, you will be asked for a security code , in addition to your credentials, to access SharePoint from a new device.

This verification code can be sent to you via SMS, email, voice call or via the Microsoft Authenticator app (which must be downloaded beforehand).

According to studies conducted by Microsoft , when this security procedure is in place, user accounts are 99.9% less likely to be compromised.

As an administrator, it is therefore recommended to require multi-factor authentication for all employees in your organization.

Do you want to further strengthen the protection of your internal data and limit the risks of identity theft?

Use the Windows Hello for Business feature to set up biometric identification (facial, fingerprint or iris recognition).

Single Sign-On (SSO) avec Microsoft Entra (ex Azure AD)

Single Sign -On (SSO) is a method of authentication to SharePoint that promotes smooth intranet use.

With SSO, employees use a single identifier to access all their applications and are automatically connected to all their software when they "log in" to one of them.

In practical terms, this means you're automatically logged into SharePoint whenever you open another application in the Microsoft 365 suite.
With SSO, you don't have to enter your email address and password multiple times. You can navigate seamlessly and quickly between your digital work tools.

This SharePoint connection option must be configured with Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure Active Directory) by your employer.

Log in using your company identity

Your company can use Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure Active Directory) to configure the login procedure for its SharePoint Online or on-premises SharePoint intranet site.

In this case, you will need to use your Microsoft Entra ID credentials to log in to your organization's intranet platform.

Managing multiple Microsoft accounts

Managing multiple Microsoft accounts requires taking some precautions. Here's what you need to know about it:

Switch accounts on SharePoint

To switch from one Microsoft 365 account (and therefore SharePoint) to another, sign out of the one you want to leave and then sign in to the account you want to access.

To switch profiles, click on your name or photo in the top right corner of your web browser window. You will be logged out and transferred to your other account.

Sign in to multiple Microsoft accounts simultaneously

Do you have multiple Microsoft 365 accounts and want to be able to switch between them without constantly logging out and logging back in?

No problem: solutions exist to connect to multiple Microsoft 365 profiles (and therefore multiple SharePoint sites) simultaneously, without constantly entering your credentials:

1. Access your Microsoft365 accounts by opening a new private browsing window in your browser to sign in to another profile;
   
   
2. Use the Microsoft Edge browser to create an Edge profile for each of your Microsoft 365 accounts. You can then open a profile by clicking in the top left corner of your screen and activate several of them simultaneously.

SharePoint connection problem: what to do?

Choosing SharePoint to create your company intranet means opting for a reliable, integrated, complete and secure solution.

However, even with the most advanced technology, employees may still encounter connection problems.

Here's how to resolve the most frequently reported SharePoint access issues:

Are you having trouble finding SharePoint?

You don't see the SharePoint icon appear in your application launcher when you sign in to your company's Microsoft 365 portal?

Try using the search engine at the top of your web browser page to find SharePoint.

If you are unable to locate the SharePoint shortcut in your application library and in your Microsoft 365 space, the tool may not be included in your subscription.

Contact your administrator or IT department to find out if SharePoint is included in your Microsoft 365 license and, if so, take the necessary steps to make it visible.

Forgotten or expired SharePoint password

Can't remember your Microsoft account password? Don't panic, you can update it.

Specifically, to reset your Microsoft account password :

1. Select "forgotten password" on the Microsoft account sign-in page;
   
   
2. Choose the identity verification method you wish to use (SMS or email);
   
   
3. Enter the email address or phone number to which the verification code will be sent;
   
   
4. Click on "get the code";
   
   
5. You will receive a security code by SMS or email depending on the option chosen;
   
   
6. Enter the verification code you just received by SMS or email in the field provided for this purpose;
   
   
7. Click on "next";
   
   
8. Enter your new strong password.

Don't have access to the "forgotten password" feature? Use this link to recover your Microsoft account and reset your password.

Is your SharePoint intranet hosted on your company's local servers (on-premises)? If so, contact your IT department for assistance in updating your SharePoint ID.

SharePoint login page not displaying correctly

The Microsoft 365 or SharePoint login page is not displaying in your web browser?

You have two solutions to resolve this SharePoint access problem:

1. Clear your web browser's cache using the "delete/clear browsing data" feature of your web browser (section "settings" or "more").
   
   
2. Try using a different web browser (Google Chrome, Safari, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, etc.) to try logging in again and see if the block persists.

SharePoint access problems depending on permissions

Are you being denied access to an intranet, a SharePoint team site, or a document? Are you unable to load your SharePoint site?

Ask your administrator or IT department to:

• Check if you have a Microsoft 365 subscription that includes the SharePoint application;
  

• Make sure you have the necessary permissions to connect to the darn thing or the site you're interested in.
  

Access to SharePoint Online may be temporarily limited or even blocked due to, for example, excessive resource usage.

In this case, wait in the SharePoint connection "queue" or reconnect to the site later.

At the same time, ask your administrator to intervene to avoid any blockages or limitations in SharePoint later on.

SharePoint Connection: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How do I connect to SharePoint?

You can connect to SharePoint by:

• Go to your company's Microsoft365 portal via your web browser and then search for the SharePoint app;
  
• By directly entering the link to your SharePoint site (Online or on-premises) into the address bar of your internet browser;
  
• By going through the SharePoint application and then entering your credentials on the SharePoint mobile login page.

What is a SharePoint space?

SharePoint is a platform that allows you to share files and create intranet sites, collaborative portals, and document libraries.

A SharePoint space can be a team site dedicated to collaborative work or an internal communication site (intranet).

How do I find my SharePoint?

To find your SharePoint site:

• Request the link to the SharePoint Online or On-Premises site from your IT department;
  
• Sign in to your Microsoft 365 account and then look for the SharePoint icon in the app launcher;
  
• Access SharePoint through your SharePoint mobile app.