In short: OneDrive, Microsoft’s reply to iCloud and Google Drive, is deeply embedded in Home windows 11. The working system would not show prompts for opting out of this system, and Microsoft is making ready to introduce extra obstacles for customers who want to save recordsdata regionally. The change will start with Microsoft Phrase earlier than coming to different apps.
Microsoft 365 Insiders ought to quickly start seeing Microsoft Phrase robotically save recordsdata to the corporate’s OneDrive cloud by default. Customers can toggle the function through Phrase’s settings.
When Insiders replace to Model 2509 (Construct 19221.20000), the AutoSave icon within the prime left nook of the Phrase window will change to “On” by default, robotically saving recordsdata to a folder in OneDrive. When customers click on the Save icon, Phrase confirms that the doc is saved within the cloud and lists OneDrive below the situation drop-down menu. Later updates will introduce this habits to Excel and PowerPoint.
To deactivate OneDrive in Phrase, navigate to File > Choices > Save, and uncheck the field that claims “Create new recordsdata within the cloud robotically.” One other field beneath it additionally mentions autosaving recordsdata in OneDrive. Different bins additional down the checklist decide whether or not and the way usually Phrase robotically saves recordsdata.
Though saving recordsdata to the cloud creates backups and immediately makes them accessible on different gadgets, Microsoft’s current habits feels considerably forceful. Mechanically saving paperwork to OneDrive by default with out first asking customers will seemingly annoy those that want storing recordsdata regionally and confuse customers who do not perceive that their work is being uploaded.
It might probably additionally grow to be a technique to push Microsoft 365 subscriptions onto unsuspecting customers. The newest change to Phrase’s habits solely impacts prospects who already subscribe and thus obtain not less than 100GB of cloud storage. Nonetheless, extending it to non-subscribers, comparable to those that bought standalone variations of Microsoft Workplace, may trigger them to shortly and mistakenly replenish their paltry 5GB of free house.
Home windows 11 already saves photos, paperwork, and movies to OneDrive by default upon set up. Since there is no such thing as a immediate to elucidate the selection, customers who notice what has occurred should manually deactivate this system by clicking on the OneDrive icon within the taskbar and navigating to Settings > Sync and backup.
The newest insider replace might be one other step in Home windows’ gradual transformation from an working system right into a service.