Since 2021, OneDrive allows you to add files from a web page without having to download it, simply by copying its link. This feature, which saves time and storage space for the user, will however be abandoned by Microsoft. By March 29, it will no longer be possible to use it.
For some time now, Microsoft has seemed determined to improve OneDrive, its online cloud storage service. Last month, the tool underwent a complete makeover, adding several very interesting features along the way. Unfortunately, not all changes are good changes. Rather than adding more, it also happens that Microsoft decides to remove some.
This is the case for this feature that appeared on the service in 2021. Its operation is simple: it allows a user to upload a file to the cloud using a simple link. Concretely, there is no need to download said file beforehand before dragging it into OneDrive. All you have to do is provide the application with the link leading to its download and it will take care of the rest.
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OneDrive will no longer allow you to upload a file from a link
Indeed, OneDrive then takes care of downloading the file itself from a third-party server. It is probably this detail that caused its loss of functionality. Microsoft actually specifies in its blog post that it has a very high maintenance cost. Knowing that it was only available to individuals and not to businesses, and therefore necessarily less used, we imagine that these expenses were not necessarily profitable for the firm.
As of March 29, it will no longer be possible to use a link to store a file in OneDrive. So much for saving time and space, you will now have to download the files upstream. However, note some good news: files that have already been uploaded in this way will not be impacted by this measure. These will remain in your storage space without you needing to redownload them.
Source: Microsoft