Microsoft Ends OneDrive Support For Windows 7, 8, and 8.1

Microsoft has announced the official end of support for OneDrive desktop applications for Windows 7, 8, and 8.1. From the beginning of next year, support will be discontinued in several steps.

So far, all remaining users of the old Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 8.1 operating systems can still receive security updates for the OneDrive desktop app. Although the regular support period for the old operating systems has long since expired, there is still a stable user base who use the old OS, for example – but not only – in the corporate environment.

Microsoft is now ringing the end of support for the OneDrive application for these old systems. According to a contribution in the TechCommunity, this will take place gradually, starting January 1, 2022. The OneDrive team has now confirmed that the support will be gradually ended.

Ended support for the OneDrive desktop app

Microsoft explains: “In order to concentrate resources on new technologies and operating systems and to offer users the most up-to-date and secure experience possible, from January 1, 2022, no more updates will be made for the OneDrive desktop application on your personal Windows 7, 8 and 8.1 devices. Personal OneDrive desktop applications running on these operating systems will no longer sync with the cloud as of March 1, 2022. After March 1, 2022, your personal files will no longer be synced and should be uploaded/retrieved directly to OneDrive for the web.“

Earlier: Microsoft Mistake Block Users To Access OneDrive

Microsoft generally recommends that users switch to Windows 10 or Windows 11. In order to avoid interruptions to the use of OneDrive, the change should be made at short notice.

Back up on Onedrive for the web

As a tip, the OneDrive team writes that for computers that do not meet the system requirements to upgrade the operating system to Windows 10 or Windows 11, all OneDrive data should be manually uploaded to OneDrive for the web. With it, you can easily back up and protect all files. On OneDrive on the web, you can at least access the files on all devices, edit them and share them with other users.