Microsoft confirms OneDrive will keep files 'forever' if users want it

OneDrive remains one of the better cloud storage services out there.
OneDrive remains one of the better cloud storage services out there.

Microsoft has confirmed to TechRadar Pro via its OneDrive Twitter account that its cloud-based storage service will save files on OneDrive forever or until the user decides otherwise.

To the question "are the files on OneDrive saved forever?", OneDrive's team answered "You'll still be able to view, share, and download files, but you won't be able to upload files until you buy more storage."

This means that you can upload as many files as you want over the course of a year, allow your subscription to lapse and still access them later without limits.

Google also allows you to do that on Google Drive although if you're over the free storage limit, incoming messages to your Gmail account will be returned to the sender.

Will Box and Dropbox follow?

Microsoft removed the 1TB storage limit on all Office 365 subscriptions, although the rollout has been staggered and likely to reach non-business users early next year.

A 10GB limit on individual files and a 20,000-file limit for OneDrive for Business still hold although you will be able to upload as many files as you want if you compress them.

The cheapest way to get unlimited OneDrive storage is to get a one-year subscription to Microsoft's Office 365 Personal which costs less than £50 at CCL.

Check out our review of Microsoft Office 365.

Desire Athow
Managing Editor, TechRadar Pro

Désiré has been musing and writing about technology during a career spanning four decades. He dabbled in website builders and web hosting when DHTML and frames were in vogue and started narrating about the impact of technology on society just before the start of the Y2K hysteria at the turn of the last millennium.