I received an email from Microsoft stating that my OneDrive account reached its free storage limit of 5GB and is currently using 11.1GB. If I don't either purchase more storage or clear up some space by January 3rd, all my files will be deleted. However, I'm quite confused about OneDrive because I never intentionally use it; I just upload files to my computer, and somehow they end up on OneDrive too. I don't want to buy more storage, so my main question is: if I allow these files to be purged from OneDrive, will they also be deleted from my computer? I thought the files on my desktop are saved locally, not on OneDrive. Will it only prevent me from accessing them on other devices, which I don't use anyway? I do have most of my files saved on flash drives, but there are a few I haven't backed up yet.
7 Answers
With Windows 11's default settings, if you’re not careful when installing, it can automatically set up OneDrive, syncing a lot of your user folders to the cloud. I usually recommend reinstalling without OneDrive, but that can be tricky now. Just know that it might also have enabled some extra security like Bitlocker that can complicate things. You may want to turn that off to prevent future issues.
If you have enough space on your computer, I suggest downloading everything from OneDrive to your PC as a backup. It might be wise to eventually invest in some cloud storage, too, to safeguard your files. Flash drives can fail or get lost, but cloud storage is usually more reliable. You might want to check out secure options like Proton Drive.
Yes, if you're accessing it directly from your computer, then it's on your PC. But it's crucial to check that OneDrive isn't syncing those files before you unlink it.
First off, make sure you truly have everything backed up on your flash drives. To check if OneDrive is syncing your files, click the OneDrive cloud icon in your system tray, then hit the gear icon for Settings. Look for 'Manage backup' under Sync and backup to see if your important folders are linked. If they are, uncheck them.
Double-check the settings on your computer to see if OneDrive is set to automatically sync your files. If it is, that might explain why your files are uploading to OneDrive without you knowing.
Honestly, I can't stand those sneaky 'free' storage offers that entice you into committing to cloud services. If you can manage it, look into getting a personal NAS like Synology to keep your data safe without worrying about these storage limits.
Keep in mind that OneDrive also works with Hotmail accounts, so a lot of your data may be tied to emails and attachments as well.
I mainly use Gmail and Outlook, so I think I’m covered there.
OneDrive typically creates a copy on their servers and might remove the local file, leaving just a link. You can test this by disconnecting from the internet and trying to access a file. That's why I personally remove OneDrive ASAP whenever I set up a new computer.
What a shady practice; I had no idea!
I'm confused about whether my files are already on my PC or just on OneDrive. If I open a file on my computer, does that mean it's saved locally?