Microsoft Makes OneDrive Free Storage U-Turn

Microsoft has reneged on its decision to reduce the amount of free storage available to users on its OneDrive cloud storage platform.

It was November when Microsoft said it would be taking away the default 30GB of free storage available to users and knocking it down to 5GB.

But Microsoft has now apologised for the decision in a message on the OneDrive forum, stating that it is “truly sorry”.

Frustration

“In November we made a business decision to reduce storage limits for OneDrive. Since then, we’ve heard clearly from our Windows and OneDrive fans about the frustration and disappointment we have caused. We realize the announcement came across as blaming customers for using our product,” read the message, penned by Douglas Pearce, group program manager at Microsoft.

Users had flocked to the free OneDrive service, which comes preinstalled on Windows and Windows Phones. A default 15GB free service was in place, with a further 15GB free storage to Windows Phone users who used OneDrive for their photos.

But in November Microsoft said: “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.”

The company also said it would introduce a new limit of 1TB on OneDrive storage in an effort to prevent customers taking advantage of the unlimited space to store entire movie collections, hours of recorded video, and entire PC backups, as had been seen by “a small number of users”.

Since then, a request from a user on the OneDrive feedback website titled “Give us back our storage” received more than 72,000 votes.

“For customers of our free service who have over 5 GB of content and who are directly impacted by the storage change, we will offer one free year of Office 365 Personal, which includes 1 TB of storage.  These customers will receive an email with redemption information early next year,” wrote Pearce.

“In addition, for our biggest fans who have been loyal advocates for OneDrive, we are adding a new offer that lets you keep your existing 15 GB of free storage when the changes happen next year. If you also have the 15 GB camera roll bonus, you’ll be able to keep that as well.

“We are all genuinely sorry for the frustration this decision has caused and for the way it was communicated. Thank you for sticking with us.”

Here’s the link you have to access to make good the deal offered by Microsoft, you have until the end of January.

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