Recently Microsoft unveiled a big change to its online file locker SkyDrive. They changed it from a website that you could upload files to (much like many other file lockers) to a multi-platform synchronization tool like Dropbox.

However, alongside these awesome changes comes a downside: they’re decreasing all SkyDrive accounts to 7GB of free storage, instead of 25GB. (Accounts that already had more than 4GB of space used were not affected.)

Luckily, they mercifully provide a way for anyone who cares to very easily get their 25GB back. (New accounts and accounts of people who have never uploaded a single file unfortunately can not get the 25GB.)  However, you’ll have to do it quickly, because it’s a limited time offer and they’ve not announced when it ends.

Requirements

The only thing this offer requires is that you have a Microsoft SkyDrive account and have uploaded a single file at any time in the past.

Instructions

First, visit the Microsoft SkyDrive home page. Chances are, if you haven’t used Windows Live in a while, you’ll not be logged in, so log in using any pre-existing Windows Live/Hotmail/MSN account.

After you log in, you’ll be presented with a screen showing all of your files and a notice telling you to upgrade to 25GB for free:

Either click on the banner’s header or click the small Manage Storage link in the lower left. It’ll bring you to a page where you can either upgrade to the free 25GB or sign up for one of their free plans:

To upgrade to the free 25GB plan, just hit the Free Upgrade button. Like magic, your account will be upgraded to 25GB!

Now, at any time in the future, if you want to use SkyDrive with your existing Microsoft account, you’ll have access to 25GB instead of the new account’s limit of only 7GB.

via Lifehacker