Why is OneDrive so terrible?

You answer as if OP didn't understand the default behavior of OneDrive. They understand it perfectly. They are asking why it sucks?

The current functionality works entirely against the best interests of the user and that it is not at all intuitive.

On my PC's system, Windows saves files in a hierarchy that includes OneDrive by default, even though I never installed the OneDrive app. Even newly created files somebody shared to my pc via bluetooth or some other means automatically save to the cloud.

The UI is a mess. I have a Terabyte of paid storage, yet if I want to share anything with a non-technical person I have to upload those files to a more straightforward venue, unless I want to create a tutorial just for them on how to use it.

I am currently need to share photos people have sent me of a close relative who just died. It would be nice to save them all to a dedicated OneDrive folder and just send everybody the link where they can see my images and share their own, but if I grant them that access, they are also able to subtract files from the self-same folder, potentially deleting them not only fromsthe cloud but from my local devices when syncing occurs.

The photo management is abysmal. The captioning tool is buried in a menu and the captions it creates are only visible in certain views, if the user even notices them, since they appear written in small default font in a tiny field.

This doesn't even begin to address the issues with creating albums, which can be shared, but not downloaded. The recipient has to individually select each photo they want to save locally. MS didn't even include a "select all" option.

You say you are an advisor. It is perfectly fine to add a detailed explanation advising lurkers as to how OneDrive works (or rather, doesn't work) after answering OP's question, "Why is OneDrive so terrible?" but you ignored the question so as to be the first person who answered, stealing focus from the original problem for clicks.

"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.

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 !!!

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.

I totally agree. I'm the 'idiot' you talk about! But I'm not an idiot. If I knew what I know now I never would have pushed the sync button. I don't want to know anything about One Drive, but I've already been stitched up.

I have a mammoth spreadsheet with many hyperlinks to docs on my computer. MS thought it was best if they copied all my docs to their cloud (not and bad idea in an ideal world where everybody is connected to the cloud wherever they are, but...). In so doing they transposed all my local hyperlinks to their URL! Now I cannot access anything without going through the entire spreadsheet recreating the old hyperlinks. Totally nuts.

It would be nice to hear back from Microsoft, like a real person not a bot.