On the official Tech Community Forum, Microsoft announced upcoming changes to the built-in OneDrive client in Windows. On January 1, 2022, Microsoft will stop supporting OneDrive in old Windows versions, namely Windows 8.1, 8, and 7. The company says it wants to focus resources on new technologies and operating systems and "provide users with the most up-to-date and secure experience."
End of support for the OneDrive client in Windows versions released before Windows 10 means Microsoft will no longer offer feature and security updates. Despite that, the app will continue working for two more months.
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On March 1, 2022, OneDrive will stop working on Windows 8.1, 8, and 7. Users will no longer be able to sync, download, or upload personal files with the outdated Windows client. Microsoft urges users to upgrade their systems to Windows 10 or 11 (if compatible).
If your computer does not support Windows 10 or 11, Microsoft recommends accessing OneDrive from a modern supported browser. Although Microsoft has already ended mainstream support for Windows 8.1, 8, and 7, Google and other developers continue updating their browsers due to a relatively large install base. That means OneDrive for Web will continue working on old Windows versions for quite a while.
Note that the change applies exclusively to OneDrive for personal accounts. On January 1, 2022, Microsoft will align the OneDrive desktop application for business with the Windows support lifecycle. That means business users paying Microsoft for extended support will continue getting updates and support until January 10, 2023 (Windows 7 and Windows 8.1).
Changes in support policies for OneDrive on Windows mean the app will work on Windows 10 (any given version) and 11. On mobile platforms, OneDrive requires Android 6.0 or later and iOS/iPadOS 13 or later. OneDrive for Web officially supports Microsoft Edge (Chromium), Chrome, Firefox, and Safari.
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