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This is a list of all consumer protection incidents related to this product. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{PAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]].
This is a list of all consumer protection incidents related to this product. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{PAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]].


=== Automatic syncing ===
===Automatic syncing===
Previously, Microsoft prompted users to back up their devices through reminders and asked for their permission to back folders up to OneDrive. Currently, OneDrive alters the Windows File Explorer to default to OneDrive's folders, and to replace the standard shortcuts to folders for Documents, Images, Downloads, etc. with shortcuts to OneDrive's folders.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pippig |first=Laura |date=25 Jun 2024 |title=Windows 11 starts forcing OneDrive backups without asking permission |url=https://www.pcworld.com/article/2376883/attention-microsoft-activates-this-feature-in-windows-11-without-asking-you.html |url-status=live |access-date=27 Aug 2025 |website=PCWorld}}</ref> This causes user files to back up to OneDrive by default, even when the folders are disabled for syncing,<ref>{{Cite web |title=OneDrive's Forcable Takeover of Folders Is Intolerable |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/onedrive/comments/1e5riab/onedrives_forcable_takeover_of_folders_is/ |access-date=27 Aug 2025 |website=Reddit}}</ref> usually without their knowledge or consent.  
Previously, Microsoft prompted users to back up their devices through reminders and asked for their permission to back folders up to OneDrive. Currently, OneDrive alters the Windows File Explorer to default to OneDrive's folders, and to replace the standard shortcuts to folders for Documents, Images, Downloads, etc. with shortcuts to OneDrive's folders.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pippig |first=Laura |date=25 Jun 2024 |title=Windows 11 starts forcing OneDrive backups without asking permission |url=https://www.pcworld.com/article/2376883/attention-microsoft-activates-this-feature-in-windows-11-without-asking-you.html |url-status=live |access-date=27 Aug 2025 |website=PCWorld}}</ref> This causes user files to back up to OneDrive by default, even when the folders are disabled for syncing,<ref>{{Cite web |title=OneDrive's Forcable Takeover of Folders Is Intolerable |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/onedrive/comments/1e5riab/onedrives_forcable_takeover_of_folders_is/ |access-date=27 Aug 2025 |website=Reddit}}</ref> usually without their knowledge or consent.  


Once users have reached the maximum space OneDrive allows, they are prompted to pay for additional space, and in some cases are prevented from downloading attachments through Outlook and other Microsoft products.<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 Mar 2025 |title=OneDrive sync'd EVERYTHING without permission? |url=https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/3887116/onedrive-syncd-everything-without-permission |access-date=27 Aug 2025 |website=Microsoft Q&A}}</ref> Without the standard shortcuts to local folders in place, users are often unaware that they have alternative options. When users attempt to disable OneDrive, the service removes the user's files from the cloud.<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 Mar 2024 |title=RANT: OneDrive enabled without consent |url=https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/4043083/rant-onedrive-enabled-without-consent |url-status=live |access-date=27 Aug 2025 |website=Microsoft Q&A}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=9 Feb 2023 |title=Onedrive is horrible, invasive and impossible |url=https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/5213385/onedrive-is-horrible-invasive-and-impossible |url-status=live |access-date=27 Aug 2025 |website=Microsoft Q&A}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |first= |title=Onedrive Syncs files without permission and can't be removed without deletion of the files in the local machine. |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/onedrive/comments/zx79j6/onedrive_syncs_files_without_permission_and_cant/ |url-status=live |access-date=27 Aug 2025 |website=Reddit}}</ref> If users have not made a local backup beforehand, their files are permanently lost.[[File:OneDrive Desktop Shortcut.png|thumb|<u>''Staggering of "feature" implementation (automatic backup):''</u> ''Includes the time & date the shortcut was created, which is when the user opened their computer. See references for evidence that this has been happening to users at different rates over the last year.'']]
Once users have reached the maximum space OneDrive allows, they are prompted to pay for additional space, and in some cases are prevented from downloading attachments through Outlook and other Microsoft products.<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 Mar 2025 |title=OneDrive sync'd EVERYTHING without permission? |url=https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/3887116/onedrive-syncd-everything-without-permission |access-date=27 Aug 2025 |website=Microsoft Q&A}}</ref> Without the standard shortcuts to local folders in place, users are often unaware that they have alternative options. When users attempt to disable OneDrive, the service removes the user's files from the cloud.<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 Mar 2024 |title=RANT: OneDrive enabled without consent |url=https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/4043083/rant-onedrive-enabled-without-consent |url-status=live |access-date=27 Aug 2025 |website=Microsoft Q&A}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=9 Feb 2023 |title=Onedrive is horrible, invasive and impossible |url=https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/5213385/onedrive-is-horrible-invasive-and-impossible |url-status=live |access-date=27 Aug 2025 |website=Microsoft Q&A}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |first= |title=Onedrive Syncs files without permission and can't be removed without deletion of the files in the local machine. |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/onedrive/comments/zx79j6/onedrive_syncs_files_without_permission_and_cant/ |url-status=live |access-date=27 Aug 2025 |website=Reddit}}</ref> If users have not made a local backup beforehand, their files are permanently lost.
[[File:File Corruption When Copying from OneDrive.png|thumb|''<u>File corruption as a result of OneDrive's forced backup:</u> Interrupted action notification from Windows, stating that "file ... has properties that can't be copied to the new location". This file is a recording of a song the user wrote & believed to be safe on their computer.'']]
 
[[File:OneDrive Permission Notification.png|thumb|''"Ensure'' ''that you have the right permissions to allow the item to sync." User did not request that this or any item be synced to OneDrive.'']]
[[File:OneDrive Notification to "Upgrade" or "Free up space".png|thumb|''Notification from OneDrive to "Upgrade" or "Free up space" - after moving all files it had space for onto OneDrive & off of local storage.'']]
[[File:File In Use by OneDrive.png|thumb|''"File in use [by OneDrive]" notification from Windows when attempting manual backup, not allowing the user to copy their file that OneDrive had moved off of their device.'']]
 
==See also==
==See also==
*[[iCloud]]
*[[iCloud]]

Latest revision as of 17:37, 27 August 2025

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OneDrive
Basic Information
Release Year 2007 (as SkyDrive)
Product Type Cloud storage
In Production Yes
Official Website https://onedrive.live.com/

OneDrive is a cloud storage service created by Microsoft in 2007 as SkyDrive and rebranded in 2014.

Consumer impact summary[edit | edit source]

Overview of concerns that arise from the conduct towards users of the product (if applicable):

  • User Freedom
  • User Privacy
  • Business Model
  • Market Control

Add your text below this box. Once this section is complete, delete this box by clicking on it and pressing backspace.


Incidents[edit | edit source]

This is a list of all consumer protection incidents related to this product. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the OneDrive category.

Automatic syncing[edit | edit source]

Previously, Microsoft prompted users to back up their devices through reminders and asked for their permission to back folders up to OneDrive. Currently, OneDrive alters the Windows File Explorer to default to OneDrive's folders, and to replace the standard shortcuts to folders for Documents, Images, Downloads, etc. with shortcuts to OneDrive's folders.[1] This causes user files to back up to OneDrive by default, even when the folders are disabled for syncing,[2] usually without their knowledge or consent.

Once users have reached the maximum space OneDrive allows, they are prompted to pay for additional space, and in some cases are prevented from downloading attachments through Outlook and other Microsoft products.[3] Without the standard shortcuts to local folders in place, users are often unaware that they have alternative options. When users attempt to disable OneDrive, the service removes the user's files from the cloud.[4][5][6] If users have not made a local backup beforehand, their files are permanently lost.

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. Pippig, Laura (25 Jun 2024). "Windows 11 starts forcing OneDrive backups without asking permission". PCWorld. Retrieved 27 Aug 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. "OneDrive's Forcable Takeover of Folders Is Intolerable". Reddit. Retrieved 27 Aug 2025.
  3. "OneDrive sync'd EVERYTHING without permission?". Microsoft Q&A. 3 Mar 2025. Retrieved 27 Aug 2025.
  4. "RANT: OneDrive enabled without consent". Microsoft Q&A. 19 Mar 2024. Retrieved 27 Aug 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. "Onedrive is horrible, invasive and impossible". Microsoft Q&A. 9 Feb 2023. Retrieved 27 Aug 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. "Onedrive Syncs files without permission and can't be removed without deletion of the files in the local machine". Reddit. Retrieved 27 Aug 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)