Microsoft is downgrading the amount of storage available to OneDrive users from 15 GB to 5 GB. The reductions on the storage capacities for users will come into effect once February rolls in.
Microsoft made the decision to reduce free OneDrive storage in November last year, in addition to ending the bonus 15 GB camera roll for users. The company also said that it will be dropping the unlimited storage offered to subscribers of the Office 365 Home, University and Personal services, instead offering OneDrive storage of 1 TB.
According to Microsoft, it made the decision to limit OneDrive capacities due to the abuse of a few users who upload 75 TB worth of files, which is 14,000 times the average. Instead of the company developing backup scenarios for such massive amounts of content uploaded by a handful of users, Microsoft decided that it would rather focus on keeping the value of the service for the majority of its users.
Microsoft, however, backtracked on its decision a month later after outrage from users.
"We've heard clearly from our Windows and OneDrive fans about the frustration and disappointment we have caused," said a Microsoft spokesperson. "For this, we are truly sorry and would like to apologize to the community."
For Microsoft's new policy, Office 365 Home, University and Personal subscribers are still offered the 1 TB of storage plus the extra capacity under the unlimited storage offer allowed for at least another year.
Customers who have stored over 5 GB on their free accounts will receive an offer for one year of Office 365 Personal and 1 TB of storage. OneDrive users will be able to keep their free storage of 15 GB and camera roll bonus of the same capacity if they sign up on a dedicated website.
The time for users to sign up to be able to keep their storage is ending, however, as users are only given until the end of January.
Users who have not yet signed up to claim their OneDrive storage should do so immediately through the dedicated website. Signing up will only take a short time, as the procedure will only have to authenticate the user's Microsoft account credentials.
