I’ve been moving away from OneDrive for a while, but the latest problem I encountered is the final straw. I’m unimpressed that Microsoft encouraged me to sync my desktop to OneDrive, and that it also considers this default behavior when you first set up the Windows cloud storage app.
On the surface, it felt convenient. However, when I dug deeper, I realized there were definitely more cons, and it stems from the fact that OneDrive actually seems to influence how my desktop works, rather than just mirroring and providing easy access to my files.
When I reinstalled Windows and signed back into OneDrive, I expected my desktop to appear exactly as I had left it. Instead, it returned as a shell—icons were there, but most of the files behind them weren’t usable until they finished downloading.
I have replaced OneDrive, and I won’t be coming back
This is the setup I use
To be clear, I haven’t just replaced OneDrive—I’ve replaced most of my cloud services, especially my free cloud storage like OneDrive and Google Drive. I have chosen the open-source route, opting for Nextcloud, which offers several options. For instance, you could build your own Raspberry Pi cloud server with Nextcloud or repurpose an old system. In my case, I repurposed an old laptop.
I installed Linux Mint because I wanted something that works well even on low-spec systems. Then, I installed Docker and Docker Compose. This is the core of my setup, allowing me to run Nextcloud and its dependencies in isolated containers. This approach simplifies my installation process and keeps the host computer clean. I’ve done this for three main reasons: I would rather be in control of my own data, and I am tired of complaining even after paying a subscription.
However, when it came to OneDrive, there were so many reasons I was glad to see the back of it.
Why I’ll never use OneDrive again
I’m glad I’ve finally ditched OneDrive—I won’t be coming back
Many of the gripes I experienced with OneDrive stem from its suggestions that I sync my desktop, and the plethora of issues that resulted.
1. Vanishing files after reinstalls and restores
During a reinstall or when setting up a new PC, OneDrive can automatically rebuild the desktop from its cloud copy. But the files don’t arrive fully formed. Instead, OneDrive creates placeholders. These are icons and names that look like files but aren’t actually downloaded yet.
I always fall for the OneDrive placeholders because I assume my files are already downloaded, only to find, when I try to open them in a location with bad or slow internet, that they aren’t available. Suddenly, I may be stuck for hours without any of my important files.
This is the same problem as with how OneDrive implements the “Always keep on this device” function. If you reset your computer, it won’t matter if you’ve marked your files as Always keep on device, as those local copies will be deleted. You’ll then need to re-mark them to have them downloaded back to your computer.
2. Excess clutter from sync icons
OneDrive has a visual feature that displays the syncing status of files and folders. Some files or folders may have a green icon indicating they’re ready, while others may have two blue arrows forming a circle, indicating they’re still syncing.
Sadly, it comes at a visual cost. The icons, especially on larger desktops, are a visual overdose and create the impression of clutter. If you like your desktop to be well-organized, it’s one of the things you’ll dislike about syncing your entire desktop.
This clutter takes a mental toll on you as well, because you’re forced to memorize what each icon means just to know which files and folders are ready for use.
3. Conflicting files multiply rapidly after file edits
Once your files are syncing across devices, OneDrive can create “-PCName-Conflict” duplicates if edits happen too close together. This error is triggered when files are edited just seconds apart on different devices. The short interval between edits causes OneDrive to create duplicate files. All the duplicates downloaded to your computer cause confusion, and because they may not be exact copies, you may not know which one contains your most updated work.
Additionally, if you use apps like Photoshop or CAD that save temporary versions, OneDrive will treat them as modified files, which increases the number of duplicates on your desktop.
What makes all of this concerning is that it isn’t a general problem with cloud storage. For instance, version-control systems like Git and services like Dropbox use smart merges for duplicates. This is something that OneDrive doesn’t attempt. It simply leaves a trail of duplicates for you to clean up.
4. Accidental bloat from large desktop files
There is a serious issue with how OneDrive handles uploads, which becomes more evident when working with larger files. OneDrive will start uploading any file as soon as it’s added to the synced folder. But it does this without any built-in filter to distinguish between large and small, high- or low-priority files.
This means that, without planning for it, your entire internet upload bandwidth may be instantly consumed, and you really can’t do much until OneDrive is done. Your only alternative is to manually press pause on the entire sync.
Where OneDrive sync becomes problematic is when large files exceed your OneDrive plan’s limit. This happens without warning or error, creating an incentive to upgrade the plan, as you won’t want to risk a broken sync experience.
5. File organization changes between my devices
Windows uses a hidden grid to organize your desktop icons, with positions stored as coordinates. But because positions don’t adapt across resolutions, the layout shifts when OneDrive rebuilds the desktop to a different screen size or resolution. It ruins the uniform experience you’ll want to have on your devices.
There is, however, another change across devices that may break some files. If you sync a shortcut linked to a specific path on one device to a different device, it becomes unstable and, in some cases, may not work at all. So while you have the file shortcut, it’s unusable unless you return to the original device with the exact path.
OneDrive is useful in a pinch, but I’m using other apps now
Open-source cloud storage apps are a great way to boost your privacy
If you need a low-effort way to keep your files synced, OneDrive is still a decent option. However, you must avoid syncing your entire desktop. That’s where I’ve noticed most of the issues, such as placeholders, duplicates, and visual clutter, appear. If you prefer to have control, consider what I did and explore self-hosted options like Nextcloud. If, in the end, you stick to OneDrive, just being mindful of what you sync can save you a lot of frustration.
