Microsoft is Discontinuing OneDrive for Windows 8.1/ 8/ 7 by Early 2022. How to Download Large Data from OneDrive and Dedupe it?

After ending the extended support for Windows 7 last year, Microsoft has decided to discontinue support for the OneDrive application for Windows 7/ 8/ 8.1 users. This gentle nudge to upgrade has caused an Internet storm among the loyal community that prefers to continue using earlier Windows versions.

Support for OneDrive will be ending from March 1, 2022 and users will be left with only three options: Continue using the unsupported OneDrive app, migrate to another cloud service provider or upgrade to Windows 10/ 11 to be able to use an up-to-date OneDrive app. Even though users have got some time to decide which option suits them, it’s time to start planning on how to download or migrate data for good.

What is OneDrive for Windows 8.1/ 8/ 7?

Microsoft OneDrive is a popular cloud sharing and synchronization app. OneDrive enables students, professionals and businesses to create backups of their data online, sync files across multiple devices at home and office, edit files on the go using Microsoft Office Online.

Unlike Windows 7, Microsoft OneDrive comes preloaded with the Windows 8/ 8.1 operating systems. When a user installs these operating systems, a OneDrive folder automatically appears in the File Explorer, allowing the user to move or copy files much like any other files on the hard drive. No separate installation is required. However, if there are issues with the installation, the users can download OneDrive for Windows 8.1/ 8 from the Microsoft Download Center.

In contrast, Windows 7 users need to separately download and install OneDrive for Windows 7 from the Microsoft Download Center.

Will OneDrive Stop Working Completely After March 1, 2022?

Long answer short, no, it will not.

Any files stored in your OneDrive app aren’t going anywhere and you can continue to access them as usual. However, you will no longer receive OneDrive application updates that fix potential security and compatibility issues. Moreover, the download links for the OneDrive application for earlier Windows versions may be removed from the Microsoft website (although there is no official word about it at the moment).

How to Download Large Data from OneDrive?

Step 1: Dedupe your Data

Before downloading your OneDrive data to your local hard disk, or migrating it to another cloud platform, dedupe it first. Finding and deleting duplicate files will help you eliminate redundancy, reduce the file transfer time and save your Internet bandwidth. Fortunately, there is a Web-based third-party service available to automate this task for you.

1. Open the Cloud Duplicate Finder website.
2. Register a new account and verify your email. Account creation is free-of-cost.
3. Set a password for your account.
4. You will be redirected to the scan area. Click on the OneDrive tab.
5. Click on Add New Drive.
6. Sign in with your OneDrive account and provide the required privileges by clicking Allow.
7. Select the folders you want to dedupe from the list on the left.
8. Click on Scan.
9. Patiently wait while CDF scans the files and compares them for dupes.
10. Once you get the scan results pop-up, click OK.
11. Now you will get a list of all the duplicate files that have been detected in the scan. You can manually select which files you want to further process or use the automatic selection patterns by clicking on the Select Duplicates button.
12. Once you’ve selected the files for removal, click on Select Action > Delete and confirm your action.

Cloud Duplicate Finder Benefits:

• No external application has to be downloaded or installed as CDF is a browser-based app.
• No files have to be downloaded for scanning duplicate content.
• The Official APIs are used to provide the highest level of privacy and data security.
• Your data is protected with the highest level of file encryption.
• You can also search for specific file types by clicking Customer and selecting the file type(s) you want to scan.
• In-house file previewing.

Step 2: Download your Data Offline or Transfer Your Data to Another Cloud Platform

Option 1: Download your Data

1. Open File Explorer (Windows Explorer in Windows 7).
2. Open up the OneDrive folder from the left panel.
3. Select the folders you want to download locally.
4. Right-click the folder selection, select Copy.
5. Go to a folder on your computer’s hard disk where you want to download the files. Right-click on an empty area and select Paste.
6. This process may take some time depending on whether your files are available locally or online-only.

What if your OneDrive folders don’t appear in the OneDrive folder?

If you can’t see some of the folders in your OneDrive account inside the OneDrive folder in File Explorer, you will need to change some additional settings. While setting up OneDrive for the first time, you may have opted out from syncing some of your OneDrive folders to your computer.

1. Click on the OneDrive icon in the Taskbar.
2. Select Help & Settings > Settings.
3. Click on the Account tab, followed by the Choose folders option.
4. Select the checkbox for the Make all files available option. Click OK to save the changes.
5. This process may take some time.

Option 2: Using Cloud Migration Tools

If you’re planning to move your OneDrive files to another cloud platform, a cloud migration tool can be a great help. These Web-based apps automatically transfer files from one cloud account to another and also take additional backups on scheduled interval(s).

Keep in mind, cloud migration tools are not completely free. They offer free plans with limited transfer bandwidth. If you’ve tens of GBs of data, these free plans may be insufficient and you’ll be forced to buy a monthly or annual subscription.

1. Visit the MultCloud website and register for an account.
2. Click on Add Cloud.
3. Select Microsoft OneDrive and login to your account.
4. Again, click on Add Cloud and choose the destination cloud platform (such as Google Drive) and login to that account.
5. Once you’re done adding both of the accounts, click on Cloud Transfer.
6. Select OneDrive as your source drive, and another account (such as Google Drive) as your destination drive.
7. Choose your target directory where you want to move the transferred files and start the process.

Raza Ali Kazmi

Raza Ali Kazmi works as an editor and technology content writer at Sorcim Technologies (Pvt) Ltd. He loves to pen down articles on a wide array of technology related topics and has also been diligently testing software solutions on Windows & Mac platforms.