OneDrive's desktop app won't be supported anymore on Windows 7 and 8.1 in early 2022
Microsoft announced plans this week to end support for OneDrive desktop applications on the company's operating systems Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 8.1. Customers who use these operating systems may still access their files via OneDrive for the Web or supported devices such as Windows 10 or Windows 11.
OneDrive Desktop Application Termination Schedule
Microsoft plans to stop updates for the OneDrive desktop application for Windows 7, 8 and 8.1 on January 1, 2022.
Starting March 1, 2022, OneDrive clients installed on devices powered by these operating systems will stop syncing data.
The change applies to personal or home use versions of OneDrive and Windows only.
Support for the OneDrive desktop application for business will be aligned with the Windows support lifecycle starting January 1, 2022.
In other words: OneDrive's desktop program for business continues to be supported until January 10, 2023, as this is the date when Windows 7 ESU and Windows 8.1 will run out of extended support.
Why is Microsoft making the change?
Microsoft provides the following statement
In order to focus resources on new technologies and operating systems, and to provide users with the most up-to-date and secure experience [..]
The company recommends that customers upgrade their PCs to Windows 10 or Windows 11, if they want to continue using OneDrive's desktop application. The upgrade from Windows 7 and 8.1 to Windows 10 is still free, and if the system is compatible with Windows 11, it can also be upgraded to Windows 11 for free.
The Home editions of Windows 7 are no longer supported, and support for programs on unsupported operating systems has to end sometimes. What is hard to understand is Microsoft's decision to stop support for OneDrive on Windows 8.1 early. All editions of Windows 8.1 are supported until January 2023. Terminating support early for OneDrive, arguably a crucial service for many Windows customers, may be seen as disrespectful. Would it have been that difficult or expensive to end support for all versions on January 10, 2023?
OneDrive users who are affected by the change need to make sure that files are synced with OneDrive before the applications are terminated. It may be a good idea to start looking for OneDrive alternatives. Google Drive, Dropbox, and many others continue to support Windows 7 and 8.1 for the time being.
Now You: do you use a file syncing service?
Maybe stop using non end-to-end encrypted online file storage that the surveillance behemoths like Microsoft can use and admit using to read your private files, and with them the FBI ? Same for Google Drive and Dropbox.
The issue of discontinuing support for an old OS is separate from privacy. That said, I use OneDrive because it provides the best support for backing up my mobile photos, Dropbox because I use a writing app with limited cloud storage options, and SpiderOak for anything sensitive. For some things I honestly don’t need privacy, and for things I do want to keep private I am resigned to the thought that bugs and exploits and 3-letter agencies are capable of defeating that privacy too.
I don’t use OneDrive, but my first thought upon reading the headline was nicely summed up by Martin here:
“All editions of Windows 8.1 are supported until January 2023. Terminating support early for OneDrive, arguably a crucial service for many Windows customers, may be seen as disrespectful. Would it have been that difficult or expensive to end support for all versions on January 10, 2023?”
(*I* would have said that early termination of OneDrive support is a big, fat, gratuitous “f— y–” from Microsoft to Windows 8.1 Home customers, but I’m not always as diplomatic as Martin is.)
At any rate, *all* Windows users, whether they’re affected by this particular termination of service or not, should make a mental note of it and remember it when deciding how much to rely on Microsoft’s ostensible support lifetimes for its various OSes in the future. The next Microsoft service or product to get terminated on your “pre-end-of-life” version of Windows may be one that you actually need.
I don’t use OneDrive on Windows 8.1, so this decision doesn’t affect me.
I don’t trust Microsoft with my data.
If you use OneDrive, what happens to your data if you can’t access it?
It’s always possible to use the web interface on onedrive.live.com.
True but it is incredibly inconvenient compared to the app. Especially if you have one device (or more) running Windows 10 and another device running Windows 7.
>what happens to your data
>to your data
>your data
That’s the first mistake. it stops being your data when it’s up on somebody else’s server. as for… access to that data, I presume it just sits there being datamined endlessly to train skynet.
You should still be able to download your data from a browser.
I have a massive free data allowance so that is a major blow. Perhaps there’s a 3rd party app that can doing what is required?
perhaps a webdav app like
https://winscp.net/eng/docs/guide_microsoft_onedrive
Hmmm. Doesn’t look like a simple install and (mostly) forget but it is an option. Thanks.
Good, one less crap I won’t have to worry about Microsoft forcing on to my Windows 7 PC.
One possibility will be to map OneDrive as a Network Drive
https://www.guidingtech.com/42273/map-onedrive-network-drive/
If Microsoft doesn’t cripple it somehow, change you default save locations and everything should happen automagically.
you might enjoy similar “gains” by going back to Windows 98 or NT 4.01.
No no no, it’s not that simple. Maybe i don’t want my system to spy on me. So i use either 7 or Linux.