Microsoft upsets OneDrive users with major reduction in storage

When I talk to people about using music with Windows 10 I always recommend uploading your personal music collection to OneDrive and then you have access to it on any device including iOS, Android and Windows. OneDrive’s 15GB free storage for most people was enough storage and if you have larger collection there were plenty of options to upgrade it.

Microsoft have announced major changes to OneDrive that seriously reduces the amount of free storage making it much harder to recommend. Microsoft are no longer offering 15GB of free storage, they are reducing the free plan to 5GB which wouldn’t cover my music collection. They are also getting rid of the Camera roll bonus which gave users 15GB of storage for using OneDrive to store your photos which I always found handy and I know many people that used it on their iPhones and was a great reason they switched to OneDrive. Also reduced is unlimited storage for Office 365 subscribers, there is now a 1 TB limit.

Microsoft say they are making the change due to some users abusing the system and storing 75TB of data. I seems odd to punish so many users of the OneDrive that are not abusing the system and it was a great way of getting users into Microsoft cloud.

Microsoft are not going to delete any files but they could make your account read only, see their FAQ for the full details. I have to say it looks like a real PR gaff, OneDrive was looking like the best cloud service but now it seems to be just another offering and not the go to service for the cloud anymore.

OneDrive Changes FAQ

What are the changes that you’re announcing?

We’re no longer planning to offer unlimited storage to Office 365 Home, Personal, or University subscribers. Starting now, those subscriptions will include 1 TB of OneDrive storage.

100 GB and 200 GB paid plans are going away as an option for new users and will be replaced with a 50 GB plan for $1.99 per month in early 2016.

Free OneDrive storage will decrease from 15 GB to 5 GB for all users, current and new. The 15 GB camera roll storage bonus will also be discontinued. These changes will start rolling out in early 2016.

Why are we making changes?

Since starting to roll out unlimited cloud storage to Office 365 consumer subscribers, a small number of users backed up numerous PCs and stored entire movie collections and DVR recordings. In some instances, this exceeded 75 TB per user or 14,000 times the average. Instead of focusing on extreme backup scenarios, we want to remain focused on delivering high-value productivity and collaboration experiences that benefit the majority of OneDrive users.

How much can be stored with the new storage limits?

OneDrive free with 5 GB: enough space for approximately 6,600 Office documents or 1,600 photos.*

Office 365 with 1 TB: enough space for approximately 1 million Office documents or 330,000 photos.*

*Based on 9-megapixel JPEG photos, .7 MB Office files, 3.5 minute songs. Capacity varies by content.

How do I check how much storage I have and how much I’m using?

You can view that information at the Manage Storage page in your OneDrive account.

What happens if I’ll be over quota when these changes take effect?

We will be actively communicating with our users as these changes start rolling out. We also want to ensure that they have enough time to act or make changes.

If you have a free OneDrive plan and will be over your storage quota as a result of these changes:

You will be notified and will have 90 days’ notice to take action before your account will become read-only.

If you are over quota after the 90 days, you will still have access to your files for 9 months. You can view and download them. However, you will not be able to add new content.

If after 9 months and you are still over quota, your account will be locked. That means that you will not be able to access the content in your OneDrive until you take action.

If after 1 year you fail to take action, your content may be deleted.

If you are an Office 365 Home, Personal, or University subscriber with unlimited storage:

If you are an Office 365 consumer subscriber and have stored in excess of 1 TB, you will be notified of this change and will be able to keep your increased storage for at least 12 months starting on November 2, 2015.

After that period, your account will become read-only, but you will still have access to your files for at least 6 months. You can view and download your files, but will not be able to add new files.

If you are still over quota after that time, your account will be locked. That means that you will not be able to access the content in your OneDrive until you take action.

If after 1 year you fail to take action, your content may be deleted.

What happens if I have more than 12 months of Office 365 subscription time remaining?

Starting November 2, 2015, you will have access to your extra storage for at least 12 more months.

How do I get myself within the new quotas?

If you are going to be over-quota as a result of these changes, you’ll have a few options once the changes take effect:

You can remove enough files from your OneDrive to get below the new quota. The easiest way to do this is through the OneDrive for Windows or Mac application. Once installed, you can drop and drag your files or folders from your OneDrive folder to another location on your computer.

You can also purchase additional storage. A new +50 GB plan will be available in early 2016 or you can subscribe to Office 365 and get 1 TB of storage.

If you are an Office 365 subscriber with unlimited storage and will be above your 1 TB quota, then you will need to remove files from your OneDrive.

If I’m affected by these changes, what will Microsoft do for me?

Free users who are over 5 GB of storage and thus affected by this change can claim a free 1-year subscription to Office 365 Personal*.

Current customers of standalone OneDrive storage plans (such as a 100 or 200 GB plans) are not affected by these changes.

If you are an Office 365 consumer subscriber and have stored in excess of 1 TB, you will be notified of this change and will be able to keep your increased storage for at least 12 months.

If you are an Office 365 consumer subscriber and find that Office 365 no longer meets your needs, a pro-rated refund will be given.

*Credit card required and subscription will automatically renew. Cancel anytime at www.office.com/myaccount.

What does an Office 365 subscription give me?

Office 365 includes the new 2016 Office apps for your PC or Mac, an optimized experience on your mobile devices, 1 TB of OneDrive storage, and 60 monthly Skype minutes to call landlines and mobile phones around the world*. Plus, you get ongoing upgrades and unlimited Microsoft Answer Desk technical support.

For more information, visit: https://products.office.com/en-us/compare-microsoft-office-products

*Skype minutes are not available in all countries. See FAQ for details.

What if I want to pay for more storage?

There will be an option to purchase +50 GB of OneDrive storage for $1.99 per month. You can also get 1 TB of OneDrive storage as part of an Office 365 subscription.

What happens if I have extra storage from a promotion or some other offer?

The storage you have as part of other promotions is not affected by this change.