Microsoft automatically enables OneDrive backups on new Windows 11 PCs without users asking.

Microsoft sometimes dares to make questionable adjustments to Windows that offer no technical added value but merely serve to push users towards its own services. The automatic activation of OneDrive in Windows 11 fits into this list. Windows 11 now automatically backs up local files without asking for permission.

OneDrive is automatically installed on all Windows PCs. The desktop version acts as an intermediary between your local files and Microsoft’s cloud storage service. You can use Outlook in Windows to back up your files to the cloud.

Unsolicited backups

Previously, this only happened with consent, you had to accept the many notifications. But now Microsoft seems to have enabled backups automatically. For now, this only happens on new Windows PCs, but with Microsoft you never know if this won’t be enabled on all PCs with a future update.

This is useful if you actually want to do that, but you might prefer to keep certain files locally. Additionally, after a fresh install of Windows 11, you’re now stuck with a cluttered file folder. Conversely, automatic OneDrive backups can fill up your cloud storage faster if your subscription includes limited storage capacity.

There is always the option to disable backups on OneDrive. Find the OneDrive icon in your taskbar (on the right side) and right-click to access the settings menu. By Select folder Specify which folders OneDrive can and cannot back up.

Chronic intrusiveness

Microsoft desperately wants you to use OneDrive and other home products, and it’s not very subtle about it. An update late last year that caused a lot of buzz required you to provide a reason why you wanted to shut down OneDrive, though Microsoft thankfully quickly backtracked.

Now Microsoft also wants to restrict the use of local Windows accounts in favor of cloud accounts. Once again, a measure for which there is no technical justification whatsoever. Not to mention the insistence with which Microsoft is pushing Edge and Bing or urging Windows 10 users to update.