Microsoft announced that, as of March 1, 2022, it will no longer support OneDrive on Windows 7, 8, and 8.1.

If OneDrive is installed on a system that does not have Windows 10 or Windows 11 installed, it will no longer get updates.

Files will still be accessible from the OneDrive app, regardless of Windows version; however, they will no longer automatically upload to the cloud. Microsoft suggests updating to a newer version of Windows before March of next year to avoid any complications with OneDrive. Users who have systems that can't run Windows 10 or Windows 11 can still back up their files by uploading them to the OneDrive online app, according to Microsoft.

OneDrive for Windows 7, 8, and 8.1 will lose support on January 1st, along with updates and the ability to sync.

The adjustment was made to “focus resources on new technologies and operating systems, and to provide users with the most up-to-date and secure experience”, according to Microsoft.

“Beginning January 1, 2022, updates for the OneDrive desktop application on your personal Windows 7, 8, and 8.1 devices will no longer be provided in order to focus resources on new technologies and operating systems, and to provide users with the most up-to-date and secure experience”, Microsoft's Ankita Kirti wrote in the announcement post.

Microsoft, according to Thurrott, recommends that OneDrive users who want local access update to Windows 10 or Windows 11.

If your PC does not support these latest Windows versions, one can still use the online interface to access OneDrive, according to the article.

It also stated that these dates apply to both OneDrive for Consumers and OneDrive for Business.

“On March 1, 2022, personal OneDrive desktop programs running on these operating systems will no longer sync to the cloud. Your personal data will no longer sync after March 1, 2022”, adds Kirti.

Microsoft stopped mainstream support for Windows 8 in 2016, and it will end support for Windows 8.1 in 2018 and Windows 7 in 2020. Now that Microsoft has announced that Windows 10 support will end in 2025, it may be time to start planning for a Windows 11 upgrade.