From our earliest days, OneDrive set out to redefine secure file storage in the cloud, giving you access to your content anytime, anywhere, and from any device. That same vision is what brought on the second generation, as OneDrive evolved into more than just a safe place for your files—it became the center of collaboration and productivity.

Building on these strong foundations, our second generation brought seamless desktop Sync, sharing files across both work and home, and real-time collaboration across Office apps.

Today, we are entering a new generation that brings OneDrive into a new era for managing content—personal or professional—across Windows, Mac, Office, and Teams.

Let’s take a look at how we are bringing OneDrive to the next generation of file management and collaboration-both what’s new and what you can benefit from today-to get the most out of your work.

Your around-the-clock personal genius

When we launched Copilot into OneDrive , we wanted to give you the power to turn your files into your very own thinking partner. Helping you accomplish tasks that would normally take hours to complete by simplifying the complexity of your day-to-day work. Today you can reason over your files to generate a quick summary, ask questions to get key insights, and even create an FAQ-all with one simple click of the Copilot button.

We have been diligently working to enhance these skills even further, and we are introducing new and exciting ways to interact with your files using Copilot.

Audio overviews

Everyone has their own way to take in information, and Copilot is here to make that experience both enjoyable and efficient. In today’s fast-paced world, staying up to speed shouldn’t be a chore.

With audio overviews, your files aren’t just read—they’re brought to life. Copilot turns your content into a dynamic listening experience, making it easy to absorb key insights on the go, or while you work.

Getting started with audio overviews is as simple as a click in your OneDrive Copilot menu. Pick any file—whether it’s a Word document, PDF, or even a meeting transcript—and watch Copilot transform it into an engaging audio overview in just seconds. Enjoy your experience hands-free insights with a floating, draggable player that lets you control playback and catch up at your own pace.

🔊Have a listen for yourself of an audio overview of “Contoso’s Five-Year Vision” in just a few minutes-

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Ask questions on images

Day-to-day there are many different file types you work with, and images are one of the most common. Just as you were able to ask questions on your files – you can now ask questions on images!

With Copilot’s intelligence you can instantly identify objects, extract text, or get quick context from any image—no extra tools needed.

Are you ready to Share an exciting future?

About 10 years ago, we set out to change the way people shared and worked together-building a seamless experience on top of SharePoint’s architecture to create what you all know as link-based sharing. Which brings us to the modern sharing & collaboration experience you all know today.

We are improving the underlying sharing model for Microsoft 365 with an experience that is simpler, more intelligent, and secure by default – introducing the hero link.

A smart, simple, and improved sharing experience

Say hello to the new hero link – your key to share files with clarity and confidence. With one hero link per file, you control who has access, whether you’re sending it by email, copying it from the address bar, or sharing directly in your company.

You can update permissions quicker than ever to keep files secure or open them up for teamwork all with just a few clicks

No more managing a tangle of links or running into “Access Denied” surprises. Hero links put you in the driver’s seat, letting you adjust access for links you’ve already shared. It’s the simplest way to keep everyone connected and your files perfectly protected.

Copilot + Sharing

Why not give your team a brief summary of the file you’re sharing to keep everyone in the loop? Now, when sharing a file, a single tap of the Copilot button will instantly provide a handy summary to include in your sharing notification. Your coworkers get the key details upfront—no need to open the document to figure out what’s inside.

We’re making sharing not just smarter and safer, but less hassle and maintenance—easy to customize, a breeze to understand, and secure right out of the box! You’ve asked for these features, and now they’re finally here:

• Bulk Editing Permissions: Update sharing settings for multiple files or folders in one go—no more clicking through each item individually.


• Sharable Address Bar URLs: Instantly copy and share the link straight from your browser’s address bar, making collaboration feel as simple as browsing your favorite website

And more are coming with this new improvement. To read more about the hero link and features read our full blog covering all you need to know to be the hero of your sharing and collaboration experience.

What’s new in OneDrive Sync

On the user front, we’ve packed in AI-driven productivity, seamless collaboration, faster sync, and even Mac-only updates—so everyone enjoys a more intuitive, resilient file experience across Windows and macOS.

Enhanced performance

Intelligent Search on Copilot+ PCs: Anytime you search in File Explorer it scours both your local files and the cloud—giving you the best of both worlds in one go.

Enhance shortcuts & sharing: Adding a shortcut to OneDrive has been made easier—folders now display a crisp [Site – Folder] label, and you’ll see notifications in Windows when your shortcut springs into action. If you’ve already connected that library with the “Sync” button, don’t worry: a clever new prompt will guide you through swapping it for the streamlined shortcut. The Share dialog box now loads up to twice as fast, and a new upload-status pops up if you try to share before your file has landed safely in the cloud.

Faster Initial Sync: Initial sync is now up to 3× faster under the hood. With a new improved user experience is coming this summer for both the first time set up as well as subsequent start-ups.

Reliability

Offline Web Mode for Shortcuts & Libraries: Taking your work on the road, on a flight, or anywhere in between has just got easier. In the OneDrive web app, you can now make shortcut folders and pinned document libraries “available offline.” Tweak files, rename folders, and keep productivity moving—even when you’re off the grid or your connection is being finicky.

Offline mode for OneDrive Web

For our macOS family: For those using macOS 15 and above, you can now store your files on an external, non-removable, APFS, File Vault-protected drive with total confidence.

We’ve also heard the feedback from our dedicated Mac users loud and clear. Special Mac-only characters in file names? No problem – you can easily sync these files, having them show up just right on your Mac and HTML-encoded everywhere else. Just make sure your Sync app is version 24.206 or later – and enjoy a smoother OneDrive experience!

Improvements

Copilot in File Explorer: With a simple right-click on any file—whether it’s stored on your desktop or living in the cloud—Copilot is there to help you. Get a quick summary, whip up a handy FAQ, or ask questions to get insights without even opening the file. Copilot’s intelligence enhances the OneDrive context menu across all versions of Windows.

On Windows 11, the Summarize and Create FAQ options are now accessible directly from the top-level Windows AI Actions menu, making it faster and easier to use these features.

Streamlined Collaboration: The Shared tab in File Explorer Home now spotlights files “Shared with me,” making team projects pop right onto your radar. You can easily connect to coworkers with handy People cards or explore new ways to connect with modern file types like Loop and Power BI.

Known Folder Move (KFM) Enhancements: Worried about scattered files? With Known Folder Move your desktop, documents, and pictures folders are automatically synced to OneDrive, keeping everything safe and ready to share or use with Copilot. Look out for the new in-app banner in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint on Windows.

To deliver the best possible experience for your users, we recommend following our Sync Ideal State guidance (aka.ms/SyncIdealState). We’ve expanded that playbook with powerful new controls and reporting features

Improvements for OneDrive Web & Mobile

PDFs in OneDrive

PDFs are a hugely popular file type—with over 100 billion added to OneDrive and SharePoint last year alone! OneDrive makes managing PDFS a breeze-from annotating and bookmarking to merging and sharing, OneDrive’s got the tools to make handling PDFs simple, smart, and secure. 

Features and Improvements:

Annotation and markup tools: Easily collaborate and share feedback using digital ink, highlighting text, drawing shapes, and inserting sticky notes directly onto your PDF files

Bookmark PDF pages: Navigate effortlessly through lengthy documents by adding bookmarks to important sections, just like using tabs in a physical book

Change the appearance of your PDF: Enhance your reading experience by adjusting the background color of your PDFs to dark mode, sepia mode, or light mode

Rotate PDF pages: Correct the orientation of scanned documents by rotating individual or multiple pages 90° clockwise

And much more! Read our blog to learn about everything OneDrive can do to make handling PDFs effortless. 

Colored Folders on Mobile

After launching support for colored folders in Windows File Explorer, We are now bringing this vibrant feature to mobile devices as well. You can personalize and organize your files on the go with a burst of color, making it easier—and more fun—to keep your digital life in order.

Updates for unlicensed OneDrive user accounts

We understand that recent policy changes around unlicensed accounts have raised many questions. Please know that we are here to support you through these updates and answer any questions you might have. Our goal is to make this transition as smooth as possible for everyone, and we appreciate your patience as we navigate these changes together.

If you’re managing OneDrive in your organization, understanding the latest changes to unlicensed account policies is essential. With a new enforcement timeline rolling out soon, now’s the time to prepare for changes that will affect access, archiving, and administration. Here’s what’s coming, when it’s happening, and how you can get ready.

Key Dates to Mark on Your Calendar

• September 26, 2025: All unlicensed OneDrive will have been transitioned to read-only mode.


• October 29, 2025: Unlicensed accounts will have been archived.

Accounts unlicensed prior to July 28th, 2025 will be affected by these changes. Specifically, accounts that have been unlicensed for at least 60 days become read-only by September 26th, while those unlicensed for at least 93 days are archived by October 29th.

What Does This Mean for Your Organization?

After these deadlines, end users will lose access to unlicensed OneDrive accounts. Administrators will still be able to view these accounts using admin tools, but restoring user access requires action on your part. For specific steps, see our guide on restoring user access.

How to Prepare

• Stay Informed: Keep up to date with the latest timelines and FAQs in our public documentation.


• Monitor Accounts: Use the unlicensed OneDrive report to track at-risk accounts before enforcement begins.


• Take Action: Decide whether to delete, license, or renew unlicensed accounts to avoid disruptions.

Being proactive means a smoother transition for your team and uninterrupted access to the files and collaboration tools you rely on every day. Check the resources above regularly to ensure you’re always ahead of the curve!

Wrapping Up

OneDrive is entering a new era, driven by better performance, smarter collaboration tools, AI-powered features, and seamless offline access- to meet you wherever you are, on any device.

We’re excited to keep the momentum going and can’t wait to connect with you at Microsoft Build on Monday, May 19th, where even more updates and insights await.

Thank you to our customers, partners, and community for helping us co-design these innovations and sharing your stories of momentum and feedback.  

More resources for you to check out!

• Join our monthly OneDrive Office Hours to take part in topics across of product with our OneDrive product teams!-https://aka.ms/OneDriveOfficeHours


• Engage with our community – https://aka.ms/OneDriveCommunity


• Listen to our SyncUp podcast – Sync Up by Microsoft 365 (libsyn.com)