Why is OneDrive so terrible?

Anonymous
2024-03-30T14:40:28+00:00

Why would MS think that anyone would want the entire contents of their personal hard drive to be uploaded to a cloud? And further, why would it make sense to delete the local files if someone deleted them from the cloud? In what world does this make sense. It is a poorly designed system and it's a huge violation of privacy of your customers. I have nearly lost all my files because I "deleted" them from OneDrive. I guess I stupidly thought that my local files were safe, as I did not try to delete them. OneDrive, in its ineptitude, decided for me that since I didn't want them on some server somewhere, that I must not need them at all.

Please move to an opt-in model instead of the current opt-out model. And upon opting in, there should be a tutorial of the functionality of the software. A tutorial that an idiot can understand. And it should default to sharing a single folder, not the entirety of a computer.

If it was designed this way to artificially increase "usage" of the terrible software, you did a great job. But you increased usage to impress whoever at the cost of your customers' happiness and at the cost of their privacy. As a basic rule, people don't like their personal possessions (including data) being taken without their knowledge or consent. If you are going to steal our data anyway, at least be sneakier about it.

Microsoft 365 and Office | OneDrive | For home | Windows

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  1. Anonymous
    2025-03-24T12:23:54+00:00

    gogooglego, I do not share your enthusiasm for Google Workspace, or Google anything for that matter, other than the search engine. It's not that they are bad products, but rather that the documentation, such as it is, is so poor. I am trying to create a space for a community organization where documents and other files can be shared. This is not a possibility Google has anticipated, apparently. The Google Workspace site is geared toward using it as a full-time collaborative tool at work. If there are other possibilities, they are buried deep in the jargon.

    Then there is Google Groups and Google Drive, which may or may not be part of Workspace. One thing for sure is that we aren't going to have lengthy training sessions just so people can occasionally refer to a membership spreadsheet or revise the guidelines.

    I'm not a neophyte. I made my living as a database developer and technical writer. I know how to write instructions. Google's instructions are dreadful.

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  2. Anonymous
    2025-03-23T22:20:00+00:00

    I have tried, and tried, well, and tried to get along with Microsoft both with a personal account and a business account, and I can honestly say that I will never, or at least do my best to ever have anything to do with Microsoft again. It doesn't matter what program you use, there will be problems and frustrations. Don't even think about the Business account, good grief. It's very unfortunate that I have a very demanding program I use which is only available for Windows.

    So now I have three Google Workspace Accounts and I couldn't be happier. Like Google Drive, ahhhhh, it's so refreshing to easily be able to use it with absolutely no problems.

    Onedrive, it's time to go to the trash, you will not be missed.

    Go Google !!!

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  3. Anonymous
    2025-03-19T14:21:10+00:00

    "Why is OneDrive so terrible". If I were to sign into OneDrive, it will instantaneously begin "syncing" (uploading) every file in my documents folder. why do I need that to happen? I should be able to sign in and choose what files I deem necessary to store in that cloud. One problem Microsoft does not take into consideration is, not everyone has a "no data cap" internet provider. Currently I only have 60 GB per month. If every time I would to fire up OneDrive, it going to automatically upload files that I do not need to have uploaded; couple that with YouTube and TV streaming, 60 GB is gone before the month is half gone. Why do I need a backup of my OS? Why do I need to copy all my photos and videos? Maybe I store those someplace else, like a external SSD or external HDD. OneDrive or any 'cloud' type storage is not necessarily something that everyone needs, especially one that works automatically. Just like auto pay. Not everyone wants auto pay. I would be more likely to use OneDrive if it was more user friendly. I think it sucks, and I do not like Microsoft shoving everything up my butt just because I use a Windows based computer. To be honest, I am looking towards a mid to high end Apple laptop. From everything i have been told, it is the way to go.

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  4. Anonymous
    2025-02-10T03:08:07+00:00

    One Drive functioned as you exepcted!

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  5. Anonymous
    2025-02-02T10:18:41+00:00

    I'd get rid of OneDrive completely if I hadn't copied folders to it. Now they have disappeared from my PC, so the only place they exist is in OneDrive. So I can't get rid of it as long as my Music Folder contents are in it and nowhere else.

    Do not trust Microsoft.

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