What is Microsoft OneDrive?

A lot of people keep on using Office 365. Well, that is common knowledge. But what’s surprising is the fact that they do not know how to use OneDrive, or worse, they don’t know that it exists.

If you are not familiar with OneDrive or you wish to know more about it, then this article is for you.

About Microsoft OneDrive

According to Microsoft, OneDrive is a virtual place where you store files from your PC into the cloud, and access them using any device. As an Internet-based storage platform, files saved here can be shared with others.

Anyone with a Microsoft account can use it. However, you only get a limited storage space. Should you need more storage, you can upgrade to premium plans.

As of this writing, Microsoft offers anyone with a Microsoft account a 5GB of free OneDrive storage. If you want to upgrade, you can go for a 50GB storage for only $2 a month.

How to Use OneDrive

Are you having troubles with using the OneDrive app in Windows 10/11? Then do not click away. In this section, we will share with you the simplest way to use the OneDrive app on a Windows 10/11 device.

If you already have the OneDrive app on your PC and you have set it to sync files automatically, then there shouldn’t be any problem. The files and folders on your computer will just be synced quickly to their web-based counterparts.

However, if you haven’t set up the app yet, then follow the steps below:

1. If you don’t have an account logged in to OneDrive, go to the Start menu.
2. Search for OneDrive and click on the most relevant search result.
3. The moment the OneDrive Setup Wizard starts, enter your Microsoft email account and click Sign In.
4. You will then see the This is your OneDrive folder screen.
5. Hit Next if you agree with the default folder location for your files. If you want to change it, choose Change Location.
6. Next, you will be taken to the All your files, ready and on-demand screen. Here, you will see three options: Available when online, Available on this device, and Mark your important files. Choose the most appropriate option and click Next.
7. Now, you are all set. All your OneDrive files will appear in File Explorer under the OneDrive folder. You can start saving files in this folder.

OneDrive Pros and Cons

Although OneDrive is one of the most popular cloud storage platforms on the market today, there are some pros and cons that users need to know about. Here, we look at some of the platform’s pros and cons.

PROS:

• Free Storage Space – OneDrive gives users 5GB of free storage space. And recently, Microsoft has introduced a referral incentive program where you can gain extra storage space for every friend that signs up for an account through you. This program can be availed of if you link your OneDrive account to your smartphone’s mobile camera so that your photos are automatically stored and backed up online.
• Easy Organization – One can conveniently store files on OneDrive, regardless of whether they’re videos, photos, PDFs, or other documents. These files can then be accessed on your Windows 10/11 PC or any connected mobile device. All the files will be sorted by type, so you can easily find what you need.
• Access to MS Office – Because it is created by Microsoft, you can launch MS Office applications or use them to open files and documents.
• Social Media – Here’s one thing that many users do not know. The web version of OneDrive can be linked to social media accounts. This makes it easier to collaborate with colleagues and friends.

CONS:

• Document management is limited – OneDrive can be used by anyone, but sharing files with colleagues can be a headache at times. This means OneDrive’s effectiveness as a project management platform is limited. When it comes to user collaboration, Microsoft SharePoint is probably a much better alternative.
• Privacy issues – Some users complained about privacy issues because Microsoft reserves the right to scan all files saved in OneDrive. Though Apple’s iCloud has a similar policy, the privacy problem is still something that will make users think twice.
• Syncing – There have been reports that some files may end up altered once synced or uploaded to OneDrive. However, at this point, the reason for this problem is still unknown.
• Errors – As a popular platform, OneDrive is a popular target for malware and ransomware attacks. To ensure security, users are advised to use strong and unique passwords.

OneDrive Pricing Plans

For home users, Microsoft offers four pricing plans with varying features for OneDrive. These are:

Microsoft 365 Family ($99.99 per year)

• 6 TB total storage space per person
• Access to OneDrive and Skype
• Other app inclusions: Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint

Microsoft 365 Personal ($69.99 per year)

• 6 TB total storage space
• Access to OneDrive and Skype
• Other app inclusions: Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint

OneDrive 100 GB ($1.99 per month)

• 100 GB storage space only
• Access to OneDrive

OneDrive Basic 5 GB (FREE)

• 5 GB storage space only
• Access to OneDrive

OneDrive Review

With all the pros and cons that come with using OneDrive, do you think it’s worth it? Of course, our verdict may vary depending on our needs. This means what’s impressive for you may not be excellent for others. To help you decide, here’s what we know so far.

OneDrive works best for Windows 10/11, especially that Microsoft has designed it to fit the needs of the operating system. The app shows up in the navigation pane for easier file and folder access. It’s indeed easy to use!

The web interface, however, isn’t as straightforward to use as the Windows 10/11 app version. It sure does display your files and allow you to navigate around. But it still needs to be improved.

Overall, we believe that it’s an impressive and robust cloud storage platform.

Wrapping Up

There may have been a point when OneDrive has lagged behind other popular cloud services like Dropbox and Google Drive. But it seems that Microsoft has quickly caught up. As of now, OneDrive seems to be at its peak with more and more users making a switch.

Aside from OneDrive, what other cloud storage platforms have you used? We want to hear your thoughts in the comment section below.