OneDrive facts for kids
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File hosting service |
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| Owner | Microsoft |
| Launched | August 1, 2007 as SkyDrive; February 19, 2014 as OneDrive |
Microsoft OneDrive is a special online storage service run by Microsoft. It lets you save your files, like photos, videos, and documents, on the internet. This means you can get to them from any device, anywhere, as long as you have internet access. OneDrive also helps you share files with friends and family, and keep your files updated across all your devices.
When you sign up, you get 5 GB of storage for free. If you need more space, you can buy extra storage or get it with a Microsoft 365 subscription. The OneDrive app also helps you keep your files in sync and backed up to the cloud. You can find the app on many devices, including Microsoft Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and even Xbox consoles.
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History of OneDrive
OneDrive started way back in August 2007. It was first called Windows Live Folders, and then quickly changed to Windows Live SkyDrive. At first, only a few people in the United States could try it. Soon, it became available in more countries.
In December 2008, the free storage space grew from 5 GB to 25 GB. Microsoft also added a special section called Windows Live Photos. This made it easier to see and organize your pictures and videos. You could even add tags to photos and view them in full-screen slideshows.
In June 2010, SkyDrive got an update that let you work with Office Web Apps (now called Office for the web). This meant you could create and edit Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents right in your web browser.
Changes and new features
On June 20, 2011, Microsoft updated SkyDrive's look and made it faster. They also increased the maximum file size you could upload from 50 MB to 100 MB. All the different parts of SkyDrive, like photos and Office documents, were brought together into one easy-to-use place.
In December 2011, Microsoft released SkyDrive apps for iOS and Windows Phone. This made it simple to access your files on your phone. Then, in April 2012, desktop apps for Windows Vista, 7, 8, and macOS were released. These apps let you sync your files between your computer and SkyDrive. At this time, the free storage for new users was reduced to 7 GB, but existing users could keep their 25 GB.
In August 2012, SkyDrive got a new, modern design, similar to Outlook.com. It also added features like instant search and the ability to drag and drop files. An app for Android phones was released later that month. In September 2012, a recycle bin feature was added, so you could recover deleted files.
Why SkyDrive became OneDrive
Microsoft had a legal issue with a British TV company called Sky UK. The TV company said that Microsoft's use of the name "SkyDrive" was too similar to their own brand. Because of this, Microsoft agreed to change the name.
On February 19, 2014, SkyDrive officially became OneDrive. This new name showed that the service was a single place for all your files, no matter where you were.
In 2015, Microsoft made some changes to its storage plans. They removed the unlimited storage option for some users and reduced the free storage from 15 GB to 5 GB. This made some users unhappy, and many asked Microsoft to change it back. Microsoft explained that some people were using the service to store huge amounts of data, like entire movie collections.
How OneDrive Stores Files
Storage Space
As of 2018, new users get 5 GB of free storage. You can buy more space if you need it.
The amount of free storage has changed over time:
- It started at 5 GB, then went up to 25 GB.
- Later, it was reduced to 7 GB for new users.
- In June 2014, the default free storage increased to 15 GB, matching Google Drive.
- An extra 15 GB was offered if you turned on automatic photo uploads from your phone.
- In November 2015, the free storage went back down to 5 GB, and the photo upload bonus was removed.
- However, Microsoft later allowed existing users to keep up to 30 GB of free storage if they asked for it.
- In June 2019, the paid standalone plan increased from 50 GB to 100 GB.
You can upload files up to 300 MB directly through your web browser. If you use the OneDrive desktop app, you can upload much larger files, up to 10 GB each.
File Versions
OneDrive keeps older versions of your files for up to 30 days. This is super helpful if you accidentally save over something important or want to go back to an earlier draft of a document.
Recycle Bin
When you delete a file from OneDrive, it doesn't disappear right away. It goes into a "recycle bin" first. This means you can get it back if you change your mind, and it doesn't count towards your storage limit while it's in the recycle bin.
Downloading Files
You can download entire folders from OneDrive as a single ZIP file. There are some limits: the total download size for one ZIP file is 15 GB, and the ZIP file itself can be up to 20 GB. It can also include up to 10,000 files.
Files On-Demand
On Windows 10, OneDrive has a cool feature called "Files On-Demand." This means you can see all your OneDrive files listed on your computer, but they don't take up space on your hard drive until you actually open them. When you need a file, it downloads in the background.
Editing Documents with OneDrive
Office for the web
OneDrive works perfectly with Office for the web. This lets you create, edit, and share Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote documents right in your web browser. You can even work on the same Excel or OneNote document with other people at the same time!
Different File Types
OneDrive can show you documents in PDF and Open Document Format (ODF). It also has an online text editor for plain text files. This editor even helps with syntax highlighting for many computer programming languages, which is useful for coders.
Photos and Videos on OneDrive
OneDrive can use location data from your photos to show you where they were taken on a map. You can also tag people in your photos. If you upload pictures taken with a 360° camera, OneDrive can even recognize them as 360° images and let you view them that way.
OneDrive Apps
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| Developer(s) | Microsoft |
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| Type | File manager, file synchronization |
Microsoft offers OneDrive apps for many devices, including Android, iOS, Windows 8, Windows 10, Windows 10 Mobile, Windows Phone, Xbox 360, and Xbox One. These apps let you look at, organize, and share your files easily.
There are also desktop apps for Microsoft Windows and macOS. These apps let you sync all your OneDrive files to your computer, so you can access them even when you're offline. The apps can also automatically upload photos from your phone to OneDrive.
Working with Microsoft Office
Starting with Microsoft Office 2010, you can directly open or save documents to OneDrive from Office programs. You can also work on shared documents with others at the same time. If you use Microsoft OneNote, you can sync your notebooks to OneDrive, making them available everywhere.
Personal Vault
In September 2019, Microsoft added a feature called Personal Vault. This is a super-secure area in OneDrive where you can keep your most important or private files and photos. To open your Personal Vault, you need an extra step of security, like a fingerprint, face scan, PIN, or a code sent to your phone. It's like a digital safe for your files.
How OneDrive Works with Other Services
OneDrive can connect with many other online services:
- Outlook.com: You can easily upload Office documents and photos from Outlook.com to OneDrive, and then share or edit them.
- Facebook, Twitter', and LinkedIn: You can quickly share your files with your friends and contacts on these social media sites.
- Samsung Gallery: If you have a Samsung phone, you can sync your photos and videos from your phone's gallery directly to OneDrive.
Privacy and Your Data
When you store files on OneDrive, Microsoft has rules about what kind of content is allowed. They use special tools to check for content that breaks their rules. If content is found that goes against these rules, it might be removed.
If your account is found to have content that breaks the rules, Microsoft might temporarily or permanently close your account. If your account is closed, you could lose access to all the files stored in your OneDrive, as well as other Microsoft services linked to that account, like your Outlook emails, contacts, and even your Xbox games or Microsoft Office 365 license. This is why it's important to only store appropriate content on OneDrive.
OneDrive for Business
There's also a service called OneDrive for Business. This is different from the regular OneDrive. OneDrive for Business is made for companies and schools to store their work files. It's a managed cloud storage service that helps businesses keep their documents safe and organized.
See also
In Spanish: Microsoft OneDrive para niños
- Comparison of file hosting services
- Comparison of online backup services
