Worried about losing files in OneDrive or getting locked out of your Microsoft account? You should be worried. Reading about one horrifying OneDrive experience. Here’s what you need to know about keeping your data safe, why regular backups matter. Discover practical tips to protect your files and avoid the common pitfalls of relying on a single cloud service.
According to the Reddit post, the customer was moving a large number of files to OneDrive when their Microsoft Account was terminated:
“Instead, Microsoft suspended my account without warning, reason, or any legitimate recourse. I’ve submitted the compliance form 18 times—eighteen—and each time I get an automated response that leads nowhere. No human contact. No actual help. Just canned emails and radio silence.”
That meant all the files saved on OneDrive, including 30 years of photos, were inaccessible as well as other vital information. More on that below.
There’s been no follow-up so we don’t know what happened after the original post.
What to do
If your Microsoft account is ‘locked’ (Microsoft’s term), there’s a process to follow that’s detailed at Account has been locked.
It might be as simple as getting a ‘security code’ to any phone number. Though using a phone number already linked to the Microsoft account would be best.
If the account has been locked “due to suspicious activity or for violating of Microsoft’s Terms of Use agreement.”, instead of a security code option, there’s a link to another Microsoft web page (using the aka.ms domain) with instructions on what to do. That page lets you communicate with the right department at Microsoft who should respond in some way – hopefully by unlocking the account.
Why was the account blocked?
Unfortunately Microsoft, like many companies, won’t give reasons for their actions. That’s a part-legal strategy to limit discussion or even litigation. It’s hard to respond if you don’t know what ‘suspicious activity’ or specific Terms of Use breach was detected. That’s assuming the automatic locking process was correct in the first place.
Keep in mind that the account locking action is either partly or fully automated. It can be hard to get a company to reverse a decision, even an automatic action.
There’s no way to know what caused the specific Microsoft account locking mentioned in the Reddit post. Most likely an automatic system was triggered with no human involved.
According to Microsoft just some reasons for an account lock are:
- Malware: Sending intentionally unwanted or harmful code or software.
- Phishing: Stealing private information from others by tricking or spoofing them into providing it.
- Interfering with, harming, or spoofing Microsoft networks, services, or other systems.
- Spam
But it’s complicated because there are a lot more possible reasons for an account lock.
Microsoft Services Agreement (sometimes called the Terms of Use) – specifically the Code of Conduct. The Code of Conduct links to this page.
One point in the Code of Conduct is 3 (a) viii
“…unauthorized sharing of copyrighted music or other copyrighted material”.
An item that many Microsoft accounts probably breach because the Music and Video folders are suggested by Microsoft Windows for moving to OneDrive.
“ We may block, remove or decline to display content if it appears to violate our Code of Conduct or another Service policy or where required by law. If you violate these terms or Policies (https://aka.ms/trustandsafety), we may take action against your account. “
MS Services Agreement 4 (b) iv “Enforcement”
In practice, Microsoft could block any account if they wanted to. An account can be blocked if it “appears” to breach their rules (our bold text above). There’s no standard of proof required, just the appearance of a violation.
In the case of the Redditor, there might have been files/images in the large upload that caused some automated concern. Or simply the unusually large uploads in a short period of time.
Given the lack of information from Microsoft, it could be the customers horoscope or the number of vowels in their name.
What all OneDrive users should do
Don’t rely on Microsoft or any cloud provider to keep your files safe.
There are seven vital words, way down in the 17,168 word Microsoft Services Agreement tucked into the middle of a 141 word paragraph …
“You should have a regular backup plan.”
MS Services Agreement 4 (g) “Ending your Services.”
Our ebook Everyday Backups – protecting your documents, photos and personal info includes a chapter on backup and protection of your cloud storage, including OneDrive.
What NOT to do!
Do NOT move files to OneDrive – that was a key mistake made by the Redditor. Always COPY.
You should never rely on a single storage location for important files. Certainly not a single cloud storage location.
Your OneDrive content isn’t safe. There have been plenty of cases where cloud data has been lost with the online backups unavailable.
That’s because Microsoft could cancel access to your files at any time and not give any reason.
