New unlicensed OneDrive user accounts policy

My knowledge about this is actually very limited, but since it has been unanswered for several days, I would like to inform you about this text that I have put together from Microsoft information with the help of the AI.

Please read with caution, because the AI ​​cannot always do everything, sometimes it acts as if it knows everything. This is probably due to the nature of the algorithm.

Microsoft is implementing a new policy starting January 27, 2025, concerning unlicensed OneDrive accounts. Here's how it affects your organization:

 1. Impact on Unlicensed Accounts:

• Accounts Unlicensed Before February 17, 2025:
• April 25, 2025: These accounts will transition to read-only mode.
• May 16, 2025: Accounts will be archived.
• Accounts Unlicensed After February 17, 2025:
• Day 60: Account enters read-only mode.
• Day 93: Account is either archived (if under retention policy/legal hold) or moved to the recycle bin (if not).

Since many of your 5,000+ unlicensed accounts have been unlicensed since 2022, they fall into the first category. By May 16, 2025, these accounts will be archived, restricting access until specific administrative actions are taken.

 2. Identifying Accounts Assigned to Managers:

To notify managers about these changes without mass communication, you can identify OneDrive accounts reassigned to them. Here's how:

Using PowerShell:

    Connect to SharePoint Online:

        Install the SharePoint Online Management Shell if you haven't already.

        Run:

    Connect-SPOService -Url https://yourdomain-admin.sharepoint.com

Retrieve Unlicensed Users:

    Run:

    $unlicensedUsers = Get-MsolUser -All | Where-Object { $_.isLicensed -eq $false }

Identify Managers:

    For each unlicensed user, retrieve their manager:

foreach ($user in $unlicensedUsers) {
    $manager = Get-MsolUser -UserPrincipalName $user.UserPrincipalName | Select-Object -ExpandProperty Manager
    if ($manager) {
        [PSCustomObject]@{
            User       = $user.UserPrincipalName
            Manager    = $manager
        }
    }
} | Export-Csv -Path "UnlicensedUsersWithManagers.csv" -NoTypeInformation

This script creates a CSV file listing unlicensed users and their assigned managers, allowing targeted communication.

Important Considerations:

    Retention Policies: Ensure that any necessary retention policies or legal holds are in place before the enforcement dates to prevent unintended data loss.

    Communication: Inform managers promptly about the upcoming changes so they can take necessary actions, such as backing up important data or assigning licenses to essential accounts.

By proactively managing these unlicensed accounts, you can ensure a smooth transition and maintain data integrity within your organization.

My answers are voluntary and without guarantee!

Hope this will help you.