You may have heard of OneDrive before, but what is it exactly? And why should you care? In this article, we’ll explain everything you need to know about OneDrive and how it can help make your life easier.
Microsoft’s cloud storage service, known as Microsoft’s OneDrive, allows users to store their photos and other data in the cloud and access them from different devices. OneDrive is preinstalled on Windows 10.
iOS versions are available from the App Store, while the Android version is available on Google Play Store.
Why is OneDrive Installed on My Computer?
You have OneDrive on your PC because it was most likely automatically installed when you upgraded to Windows 10. The software lets users store photos, documents, and other types of files online using a secure cloud-based storage service.
Microsoft’s OneDrive is equivalent to Apple’s iCloud and Google Drive. It offers users a place to back up their critical data and sync their files across multiple devices which can be identified by their MAC address.
It is free to use for up to 5GB of storage, and paid plans are available for those needing more space.
What Does OneDrive Do?
OneDrive automatically syncs your files across all your devices. So, if you change a file on one device, the change will automatically sync to all of your other devices. By visiting onedrive.live.com, you may also view your OneDrive files online.
Creating a Microsoft account is required before using OneDrive. Once installed, you may use the app on a Mac or PC. You may connect to your account and begin uploading files as soon as you’ve installed the app.
Microsoft OneDrive runs in the background of your PC and automatically syncs your files to the cloud, or you can also manually sync your files by clicking the “Sync now” button in the app.
Do I Need OneDrive on My Computer?
If you have important files on your PC that you want to keep backed up, you need OneDrive or any other cloud-based backup solution such as Google Drive or iCloud.
The software can be handy if you use multiple devices regularly. For example, if you have a laptop and a phone, you can store all your essential files in OneDrive and access them from either device whenever you need them.
If you don’t have any crucial files on your PC and are not worried about losing them, then you don’t need to use OneDrive. Many computer users like to keep their most important files on a USB drive or an external hard disk.
These devices can be used to transfer files between computers by being plugged into your PC.
How Do I Stop Files from Going to OneDrive?
If you want to stop all files from being transferred to OneDrive, then it’s best to uninstall the app from your PC. You can also temporarily freeze file synchronization by scheduling the sync to resume later.
To suspend syncing, click the OneDrive icon and pick the Pause syncing option. You may restart the sync in two, eight, or 24 hours or do a manual resume by going to the activity center, selecting More, and then Resume syncing.
Syncing large files can slow down your computer, so you may consider pausing syncing while working on resource-intensive projects. If your PC is quite old, use the selective sync option to prevent specific folders from syncing.
How Do I Stop OneDrive from Syncing without Deleting?
To stop OneDrive from automatically syncing without deleting your files, you’ll need to use the “Always keep on this device” option inside the OneDrive folder you want to protect.
To do this, go to file explorer, select the OneDrive icon, access the folder where you want your files to be protected, and right-click on all the files >> “Always keep on this device.”
This will stop the files from being automatically deleted when OneDrive doesn’t detect them on your other devices.
The icon under your file will change from a green circle to a white tick once the process is complete, indicating that the files you’ve selected will automatically be available on your device.
It could take some time to get the files ready, but any modifications you make to the ones on other devices will automatically be reflected in your local copy.
What Happens if I Turn off OneDrive?
If you uninstall or unlink OneDrive from your computer, you will not lose any files or data. You can access your OneDrive files by signing in at OneDrive.com
Note: Although it can’t be uninstalled from some Windows versions, you can still hide it by preventing the sync process from running. You can do this by going to File Explorer and deleting the folder from its location.
Can You Uninstall OneDrive?
Yes, you can safely uninstall OneDrive on most computers. The exception is some Windows versions where OneDrive is a core part of the operating system and can’t be uninstalled without completely resetting your computer.
There are some videos online which can show how to wipe OneDrive from your PC completely.
Most users can head over to the control panel, select Uninstall a program, and look for Microsoft OneDrive. To uninstall the program from your computer, find it and click the Uninstall button.
Are OneDrive Files Stored Locally?
You can store your files locally or download them whenever you need them. To enable Files-On-demand, go to the Settings tab and click the “enable” button; this allows you to store your files online instead of on your computer.
All your files are accessible on your PC, whether you save them to your computer or OneDrive by default.
Secure, Safe & Free Cloud Storage!
Microsoft’s cloud storage service, known as Microsoft’s OneDrive, allows users to store their photos and other data in the cloud and access them from different devices. It’s a part of Windows 10 and can be uninstalled on most Windows-based computers.
Some people are weary of using the app because they are not sure what will happen to their files if they stop using the service or delete the app. However, you can rest assured that your data is safe and sound.
All you have to do is go to OneDrive.com and log in to your account to access your documents. If you find using OneDrive problematic, then are free alternative solutions such as Google Drive and Dropbox. Both of which sync with your PC and secure cloud storage.