OneDrive is a Microsoft cloud storage service that allows you to store all of your data in one secure location that you can access from nearly anywhere.
The service functions similarly to a standard external drive, except it is accessible over the internet and has additional capabilities. For example, because it works across devices and platforms, you can start working on a document on one device and finish it on another (desktop computer, laptop, tablet, or phone), eliminating the need to transfer files to a USB flash drive or email them to yourself, which not only adds extra steps but also duplicates them.
Using the Microsoft 365 integration, OneDrive also makes it simple to share files with others and collaborate in real time.
You get even more features if you use a Windows 10 device. You may also sync and roam your system preferences and numerous settings (including BitLocker recovery keys) across your devices when you set up the service using a Microsoft account on your computer. Another amazing feature is Files On-Demand, which allows you to access all of your files without having to download them, which saves a lot of local storage. Furthermore, because the data is kept in the cloud, it can be used as a data recovery tool if the computer is lost or stolen.
How to Download Microsoft OneDrive
You can download the program from the Microsoft website or from an app store (Google Play, AppStore via iTunes). Click on the Download button at the end of this review.
The Program Review
How Can OneDrive Help You?
OneDrive accomplishes the same thing as all the other cloud storage services: it gives you a location to save your data on the internet. To view your files, you must first connect in to OneDrive with your Microsoft account (or, equivalently, log in to Windows with your Microsoft account).
You can access all of your OneDrive data through the web if you log in to a different Windows 10 machine with the same Microsoft account, but not necessarily using File Explorer. In fact, if you only use Windows File Explorer to look at your OneDrive storage, you might not even know what data is there.
You can use one of the OneDrive programs, OneDrive for Mac, OneDrive for iPhone, iPad, or Android, to work with the OneDrive platform on a mobile device. Many of the same issues exist in the mobile apps as they do in File Explorer in Windows 10.
There’s no need to download or install a separate program because OneDrive is already built into Windows 10.
As soon as you connect to a network with OneDrive installed, data is synced between computers, phones, and/or tablets that are set up using the same Microsoft account. When you save a OneDrive file on your iPad, for example, the changed file is stored on the Internet in your OneDrive storage area. The revised version of the file is then available to all other computers that have access to it.
Pricing
As of the time of writing, OneDrive offers 5GB of free storage to anyone with a Microsoft account, with 50GB available for $2 per month. For as long as you are an Office 365 customer, several subscription tiers get 1TB (1,024GB) of OneDrive storage for free.
