Microsoft is suddenly, and without warning, insisting OneDrive users only use drives formatted using NTFS (New Technology File System). This has left countless OneDrive users unable to access their files unless and until they format their drive using NTFS. Which makes zero sense.

If there's one thing Microsoft is struggling with at the moment it's clearly and concisely communicating its intentions to its legion of users. Earlier this week we saw Microsoft backtrack on its plans to include the new Timeline feature in the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update. And now that lack of communication has left OneDrive users feeling frustrated and, in some cases, angry.

Microsoft Dismisses Its Own File System

As reported by Betanews, within the last few days OneDrive users have discovered they're unable to access their stored files on drives formatted in anything other than NTFS. That essentially means OneDrive no longer supports either FAT32 or ReFS. Which is ironic given that the latter is Microsoft's own proprietary file system designed to one day replace NTFS.

OneDrive users have taken to both Reddit and the Microsoft message boards to complain about the change. Which, it should be noted, happened seemingly overnight and without any warning to those likely to be affected. And at the time of writing Microsoft has yet to issue a statement.

The only viable solution for anyone trying to connect a non-NTFS drive to OneDrive is to convert it to NTFS. But that's a rather extreme solution to a problem that Microsoft has unnecessarily created for what appears to be no good reason. And it's not easy switching back from NTFS to FAT32.

Microsoft Bugs OneDrive Users With a Bug

We have to assume this is either a bug or an unintended consequence of testing other features. Because surely Microsoft wouldn't have made such a big change liable to inconvenience so many users on purpose, right? If this is intentional and here to stay then we suspect OneDrive users may start looking around for an alternative cloud storage solution such as Dropbox or Google Drive.

Do you use OneDrive? Have you been affected by this enforced switch to NTFS? Do you think this is a bug or a feature? What should Microsoft do to remedy the situation? And what will you be doing to regain access to your files? Please let us know in the comments below!

Image Credit: Tom Woodward via Flickr