You turned on your newly bought computer & were roaming around. Suddenly, you noticed a cloud icon on the task manager named OneDrive.
Now, on a fresh computer, where did this app come from & do you even need that?
In this article, I will explain your query about that mystery OneDrive cloud icon & whether it is required for you. Let’s jump in.
What Is Microsoft OneDrive?
Microsoft OneDrive is a service from Microsoft based on an online cloud storage platform. The app was first launched in August 2007. By creating an MS account, you will get a considerable portion of free space to use.
It is integrated with Windows by default for saving files, documents, or pictures across various devices. Users can store their files in OneDrive & sync them to other machines to access & work on them from other locations. This also offers sharing option to share files with others.
In other words, it’s like hard drive storage in the cloud without taking space from your actual storage drive on the PC. So, now you know what Microsoft OneDrive is used for. But how to use OneDrive?
As said, you will require a OneDrive account at first & then set it up. OneDrive has personal & business accounts that can be used on the same computer. There will be two OneDrive folders in your file explorer in that case. But sometimes, you will not need the personal account & in that case, you can unlink that account.
Then you can upload files to your OneDrive & share them with other people. Note that you must have an internet connection to sync your local files to the cloud.
However, if you encounter network troubles or your OneDrive is getting max to its capacity, you can stop OneDrive from syncing to upload to the cloud storage. Now this brings a question, how much storage will I get in OneDrive? Well, read along to know the answer.
How Much OneDrive Storage Can You Get?
As you sign in to a Microsoft account, you will get some free cloud storage with it. But, if you ask, is OneDrive free to use unlimitedly, then the answer is no.
For a personal account, you will get 5 GB of free storage. Depending on the account, the storage amount varies; for example, I have an organization work account that has 5 TB of storage space. For further storage, you have to pay a few bucks.
You can save files, documents, and pictures on your hard drive from OneDrive. But where are OneDrive files stored locally? Remember I told you about the OneDrive folder in your File Explorer? That’s where you will find all the files.
But as you are storing & sharing OneDrive files with others, how secure is this service? Can there be a data breach? Continue reading to learn about your OneDrive safety.
Is Microsoft OneDrive Secure?
Nowadays, people are more concerned about their security. Applications with telemetry services collect data & can void your safeguard. Like other apps, security is a tremendous key factor for OneDrive as it directly involves your personal files.
So, is OneDrive encrypted to secure your files? Yes, as a Windows built-in software, OneDrive is 100% risk-free to save your data.
Additionally, OneDrive has Personal Vault with another layer of security to protect the most sensitive & essential files. With this feature, your data will be harmless.
Do I Need Microsoft OneDrive?
Well, you have OneDrive installed in your Windows. Now do you need it? This can be an exciting topic, since some users use the service on a daily basis to keep their files safe, while others do not tend to use it.
Below, I’m giving some advantages & disadvantages of OneDrive to make your decision easier.
| OneDrive Benefits | OneDrive Drawbacks |
|---|---|
| You can store various files on OneDrive & access them from different locations. | The free storage is too small & users have to pay for more storage. |
| By having a Microsoft account, you will get free 5 GB of storage space | Sharing files with others has some limitations. |
| You can share files with others & others can visit the files with a link. | As MS scans your OneDrive files for objectionable content, some users consider it a privacy issue. |
| You can download cloud content to the local hard drive to work offline later. | After syncing, files can be corrupted, disorganized, or can’t be opened. |
| Furthermore, you can select which files to sync using the Files On-Demand feature. | As OneDrive starts during the booting PC & scans after turned on, it can slow down the PC. |
So, if you had a question, how does OneDrive work & do you need it? You got your answer. It depends on you whether to pick OneDrive to store files online or not.
If you don’t consider a privacy issue while MS is looking at your files & documents, or you don’t have enough local storage space, you can consider OneDrive an option & go ahead. But if the privacy concern bothers you, or you have enough local storage space, you can avoid the service.
So, you were using OneDrive & now want to disable OneDrive. What happens if you don’t use OneDrive? Will the files be removed?
If you disable or unlink an account from OneDrive, you won’t lose any data or files. After re-login, you can access the files again.
That being said, you may have a question, do I need MS OneDrive on my phone like on my Desktop?
As mentioned earlier, by syncing OneDrive files, you can access your files from different locations & devices. OneDrive is widely compatible with other gadgets. You can use OneDrive on Mac, Windows, iPhone, or even on Xbox.
If you have to move a lot or work with your phone, you can install & use OneDrive on your mobile. Like a cell phone, you can’t use a laptop anywhere. So, for a quick view, edit, or share of your OneDrive files, a mobile will be more handy. Besides, you will also be able to sync your lovely pictures captured with your phone. But it totally depends on you as there are other alternatives to this.
Now discussing all these pros & cons, is this Microsoft’s free service worthy in today’s cloud storage era? Can the OneDrive features carry its weight? Read along to know about it.
Is Microsoft OneDrive Worth It in 2023?
Microsoft OneDrive has various features that can make you consider it worthy.
You can use OneDrive as a file server. When having one personal account logged in, you can add another OneDrive account for work or school. Furthermore, with OneDrive Admin Center, you can also recover deleted files from OneDrive.
With OneDrive Files On-Demand, which came with Windows 10 Fall Creator’s Update, it saves your local storage space by storing files in online storage & allows you to use them as you do in Windows file explorer.
In addition, with OneDrive version history, you recover, view & edit previous versions of a file. Up to 500 file versions can be restored within 30 days.
However, as technology is evolving & many other online cloud services are increasing day by day with charge-free & other features, it’s really a tough choice to say one service is totally worth it.
I have described the advantages & disadvantages of OneDrive & It’s really up to you to decide whether it is worth it to you or not. For the advantages, if you think the OneDrive is worthy, you can transfer Google Drive to OneDrive right now & start enjoying the service.
FAQs
Is OneDrive free?
Yes, if you create a Microsoft account, you will get 5 GB of free storage space. Though, with additional charges, you can increase the storage space.
Is OneDrive safe?
As a Windows built-in app, OneDrive is secured. It uses AES 128-bit encryption for protection. Additionally, you can add two-factor authentication for extra protection.
How to unlink account in OneDrive?
Right-click on the OneDrive cloud icon >Settings > Account tab > Unlink this PC > Unlink account. This will remove the account from OneDrive.
Final Thought
OneDrive is an online based storage space option, but do you need it? This is a helpful tool for storing your data online as a backup & secondary storage. However, as there are other alternatives to cloud storage, it’s up to you to decide whether the service is worth it or not.
