Microsoft is about to get really pushy about OneDrive backups

If you’re not backing up your files to OneDrive while using Microsoft Office apps, expect to start seeing a rather persistent message soon. Microsoft is gearing up to nudge — some might say nag — users into enabling OneDrive’s Known Folder Move (KFM) feature in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

As first reported by Bleeping Computer, Microsoft has announced through its 365 Message Center that starting mid-March 2025, users of its Office apps on Windows will start seeing prompts encouraging them to back up files to OneDrive. These messages will appear in public preview first and are expected to roll out worldwide by early May 2025.

The notification in question states:

“BACK UP THIS DOCUMENT: Share and work with others in this and other files using OneDrive.”

Below is a screenshot of the message:

Users will then be given the option to click an “Open OneDrive” button, where they can select the folders they want to back up. However, organizations that have explicitly blocked OneDrive KFM won’t see these messages.

Microsoft says this is all in the name of helping users keep their files safe and accessible, but let’s be honest — it’s also about getting more people locked into OneDrive’s ecosystem. Once users start relying on OneDrive for backups, they’re more likely to hit storage limits and consider upgrading to a paid plan.

This isn’t the only way Microsoft is pushing OneDrive, either. The company has recently been experimenting with ad-supported versions of Office apps, which only allow users to save their documents to OneDrive. While Microsoft claims this was a limited test with no immediate plans for a full rollout, it shows a clear trend: Microsoft wants more people storing files in its cloud, and it’s not afraid to poke users repeatedly to make that happen.

What remains unclear is how aggressive these prompts will be. Will they be a one-time suggestion or an annoying, recurring popup every time you open an Office app? Given Microsoft’s track record, it wouldn’t be surprising if this prompt turns into something far more persistent — perhaps even resembling the infamous Windows 11 upgrade nags of the past.

For now, if you’re not a fan of cloud backups or prefer using an alternative service, be prepared to dismiss some extra prompts starting next month. And if this push doesn’t go as planned for Microsoft? Well, expect them to find other ways to keep nudging you toward OneDrive.