OneDrive

Ripping you off Stage 3

OneDrive is built into Windows, which makes it the default place your files go. Since 2024, new Windows 11 setups turn on folder backup automatically, syncing Documents, Pictures and Desktop to the cloud without asking, and the free 5 GB fills fast, which leads to Microsoft 365 upsells. One extraction criterion plus gatekeeper lock-in. Stage 3.

Since
2007
Category
Storage & photos
VC-backed
No
Public
Since 1986 (NASDAQ: MSFT)
Website
microsoft.com
X
@onedrive

The promise

Its first promise, and how much is kept · Scoring

80% kept

“Easily store and share photos, videos, documents, and more — anywhere, on any device, free.”
OneDrive homepage, 2014 1 extraction criterion met.

Why it’s rated 3

The criteria it meets, with sources · Method

Alignment 0 of 3
None
Lock-in 1 of 4
  • L4 Gatekeeper or default
Extraction 1 of 7
Decline 0 of 3
None

Result Two or more extraction criteria, or lock-in plus at least one, so stage 3.

News signals

Sourced reporting, tagged by strategy

Jun 26, 2024
Windows 11 setup turns on OneDrive folder backup without asking
Dark patternsEcosystem lock-in