Onedrive: Discover Microsoft’s online storage

If you use a Windows 10 PC or laptop, a Microsoft Surface tablet, or an Xbox One console, you’ve probably encountered OneDrive, even if you don’t use it. The same is true if you use Office 365. You may have even seen OneDrive on your Android smartphone. You are wondering: What is OneDrive? Want to know what the benefits of OneDrive are and why you should use it? Read this article and find out everything you need to know about OneDrive:

What is OneDrive?

OneDrive is Microsoft’s storage service for hosting files in the cloud. It is available free of charge to all Microsoft account owners. OneDrive gives you an easy way to store, sync, and share your files. Windows 10 also uses OneDrive to sync system settings, visual customizations, themes, app settings, and even tabs, browsing history, and saved passwords from Microsoft Edge.

You can access files stored in your OneDrive directly from a web browser, directly from Windows 10, or from a OneDrive app on your PC or device. Microsoft has developed OneDrive apps for iOS, Android, macOS, Xbox and all versions of Windows.

Historical note : Until January 2014, OneDrive was called SkyDrive. Before that, until the launch of Windows 8, it was called Windows Live SkyDrive. More information about the history of this service and its previous names can be found on Wikipedia: History of OneDrive.

Why should you use Microsoft OneDrive?

There are several reasons, from easy access to your cloud storage on any device, to the ease with which you can share documents from OneDrive, to the excellent backup solution what is OneDrive. Here’s why we think you should use OneDrive:

Getting started with Microsoft OneDrive costs nothing: it’s free, as long as you make do with the default 5GB of free storage space it offers. This is a good starting point for anyone who wants to store more than a few files in the cloud.

Additionally, in Windows 10, Microsoft configures OneDrive to be the default place to save your documents. If you let it, OneDrive can automatically save backups of your files to the cloud and automatically sync them with your other devices that you have OneDrive set up on. If your hard drive or solid state drive fails, your documents are available in OneDrive, preventing the loss of important files.

You can even configure OneDrive to automatically upload files (photos and videos) from your Android smartphone or iPhone, so you never risk losing them.

What is OneDrive in Windows 10?

Microsoft OneDrive is ubiquitous in Windows 10, which is the most widely used operating system for PCs. This also means that you don’t have to do anything special to get OneDrive in Windows 10. By default, OneDrive is installed with Windows 10, and all you have to do to access your cloud files is open the folder OneDrive in File Explorer.

You can use OneDrive to sync your settings across different Windows 10 PCs. If you’re using Windows 10 (or Windows 8.1) devices or an Xbox One gaming console, and you configure them to use the same Microsoft account, they can back up and sync not only your files, but also your settings and customization options.

Having your devices sync settings and personalization details into your OneDrive means you can have the same or as similar user experience as possible across all of those devices.

You can use OneDrive for backup. OneDrive has become an affordable solution, and it’s cheaper than many similar products, including Dropbox. It can be used as a great backup solution because it meets the essential criteria: it’s affordable, it offers plenty of storage space, it’s accessible on all major platforms, and it’s well integrated with Office 365 and Windows 10.

Another great feature of the OneDrive app for Windows 10 is called Files On-Demand. This feature allows you to use OneDrive to save storage space on your Windows 10 computers and devices. How does OneDrive do this? By saving copies of your files only in the cloud, and downloading them to your PC only when you open them or manually configure them to always be available offline.

Additionally, in Windows 7 and Windows 10, you can use OneDrive to access any file on your PCs, even if it is not stored in your OneDrive folder and synced to the cloud. This feature is called « recover files », and you only need to change a few settings in the OneDrive app for it to work.

What is OneDrive for smartphones and tablets?

Microsoft has worked hard to make OneDrive available on all major computing platforms. The company has developed OneDrive applications for Windows, macOS, iOS and Android. You can install OneDrive apps on all your devices to securely access and sync your files in the cloud from anywhere.

The OneDrive apps for Android and iOS also allow you to automatically back up photos and videos taken with your Android smartphone or iPhone. Just a few tweaks to make, and you should never worry about losing your photos again.

OneDrive for mobile devices has become so advanced in recent years that it even lets you scan whiteboards, documents, business cards, and photos, using any Android or iPhone smartphone.

If you need any of the Microsoft OneDrive apps, you can download it from the official OneDrive website here: Download OneDrive.

How to use OneDrive to share files

Everything in your OneDrive is already stored online in a cloud storage service, and sharing any of your files or folders from it is a breeze, pun intended Understood. OneDrive makes it easy to share your files with whoever you want: just a few clicks or taps, and your files are shared directly with the person(s) of your choice. You can also choose to use OneDrive to get links (even temporary ones) that you can share anywhere online by pasting them. People who click or tap your links get instant access to linked files, in any web browser they may use.

How much storage space does OneDrive offer?

OneDrive offers 5 GB of free storage space. Older users of the service could claim 15 or even 25 GB of free space. There are several ways to add free space to your OneDrive. For example, if you recommend this service to your friends, you can earn up to 10 GB of free OneDrive storage space.

You can host any type of files on OneDrive, as long as they don’t exceed 15 GB each. This file size restriction applies regardless of how you choose to upload your files.

If you need additional space, OneDrive offers a few storage plans that you can purchase for a monthly fee:

• OneDrive 100 GB – 100 GB for €1.99/month.
• Office 365 Personal – 1 TB for €69.99/year or €6.99/month. This plan includes a full license for Office 365.
• Office 365 Home for 6 users – 6 TB (1 TB per user) for $99.99/year or €9.99/month. This plan includes a full license of Office 365, which can be installed and used by up to six users at the same time.

How to uninstall OneDrive from your PC?

We’ve noticed that despite all its features and positive aspects, some of our readers don’t like OneDrive and want to get rid of it. The good news for those of you who don’t want to use OneDrive is that it’s easy to remove. On mobile devices such as smartphones or tablets, simply delete the OneDrive app. To uninstall OneDrive from Windows, follow the steps in this tutorial: How to uninstall OneDrive from Windows (all versions).