This page is being updated. Switch Drive recently moved from ownCloud to Nextcloud, and we are revising this documentation to reflect the changes. Some information may be outdated or incomplete in the meantime.

Getting Started

What is Switch Drive and who can use it?

Switch Drive is a secure cloud storage service for the Swiss higher-education community. You can:

  • keep your files safe in one place,
  • open and edit them from any device,
  • share them with colleagues, students and project partners.

Who can use it? Members of institutions that subscribe to Switch Drive. See the list of institutions.

What about external partners? People outside these institutions can take part too. A Switch Drive user at a participating institution has to invite them. 

How do I get a Switch Drive account?

  1. Go to https://cloud-id.switch.ch and sign in with your Switch edu-ID.
  2. Click the registration link and accept the terms and conditions.
  3. Open https://drive.switch.ch and sign in.

Details: How to register Switch Drive

Three ways to use Switch Drive

You can connect as many devices as you like. They all show the same files.

 

Web

Sync Client (computer)

Mobile app

What it is

Switch Drive in your browser

A small program that keeps a folder on your computer in sync

An app for your phone or tablet

Best for

Quick access, sharing, restoring files, older versions, no copy left on the computer

Working with your usual programs, offline work, very large files

Files on the go

Needs installation

No

Yes

Yes

Works offline

No

Yes

Only for files you saved on the device

 

Using Switch Drive in the browser (Web)

  1. Open https://drive.switch.ch in any current browser.
  2. Sign in with your edu-ID email address and password.
    Forgot your password? Use the "Forgot password?" link on the edu-ID page.
  3. To upload, drag files or folders onto the browser window (on the "Drag and drop files here" place), or click +.
  4. To create a folder, click + and choose New folder.

drive_web_client

In the browser you can also:

  • share, rename and delete files,
  • preview many file types (PDF, images, videos),
  • edit Word, Excel and PowerPoint files online,
  • restore deleted files and older versions,
  • see who shared what with you and what happened to your files (Activity),
  • create Teams.

On a public or shared computer: log out when you are done, close the browser and clear its cache.

Using the Sync Client on your computer

The Sync Client keeps a folder called switchdrive on your computer identical to your Switch Drive account.

  • Put a file in the folder and it is uploaded.
  • Change or delete a file and the change appears everywhere.
  • Someone shares a file with you and it is downloaded automatically.
  • No internet? Keep working. Changes sync once you are back online.

Syncing can take a few seconds to a few minutes, depending on how much changed and how fast your connection is. 

drive_sync_client

Warning: deleting a file in the switchdrive folder also deletes it on the server and on your other devices. You can restore it from the trash.

Can I read these help pages in my language?

The pages are in English. Your browser can translate them for you:

  1. Open the page in your browser (Chrome, Edge, Safari and Firefox all offer translation).
  2. Click the Translate option in the address bar or the browser menu.
  3. Pick your language. You can switch back to English at any time.