Microsoft Limits OneDrive Storage Starting in Early 2016
Remember when Microsoft started offering unlimited OneDrive storage for Office 365 users? Well, that offer is no more. On Monday, Microsoft announced it will stop offering unlimited storage for Office 365 Home, Personal, or University subscribers, giving those users 1TB of OneDrive storage instead.
The reason for the change is a “small number” of users who “backed up numerous PCs and stored entire movie collections and DVR recordings,” Microsoft wrote in a post. In some instances, this would exceed 75TB per user, the company claims.
While 75TB is a lot, it’s still a far cry from unlimited (this is why most ISPs have a “fair use” clause on their flat rate Internet contracts). When you deal with infinity the math gets pretty fuzzy, though, so we’ll give Microsoft a pass here. To its credit, the company did explain that the unlimited OneDrive storage plan was never meant for “extreme backup scenarios,” but for “high-value productivity and collaboration experiences.”
Users who are currently over the 1TB limit will be able to keep all their files for “at least” 12 months, and Office 365 customers who aren’t satisfied with the change will be offered a refund.
Microsoft also introduced a number of other changes to OneDrive — starting early 2016, the 100GB and 200GB storage plans will be shut down, the only plan left being one that offers 50GB for $1.99 a month. Also in early 2016, free OneDrive storage will be reduced from 15GB to 5GB for all users, and the 15GB camera roll storage bonus will be discontinued.