Microsoft OneDrive has unveiled a series of feature improvements designed to make managing and accessing files on the cloud storage platform easier.
Powered largely by AI, the new OneDrive improvements address the needs of business users looking for greater productivity and collaboration, but there’s also promising news for consumers using Microsoft’s alternative to iCloud and Google Drive.
It wouldn’t be Microsoft without a mention of Copilot, and its generative AI technology takes center stage alongside some visual tweaks to make data management easier in an increasingly digital world.
OneDrive productivity and collaboration upgrades
Copilot Agents can be customized to help manage tasks by collecting files and data in a shareable assistant. They can automate repetitive tasks such as retrieving documents and summarizing important information, and can be shared with other internal platforms such as Microsoft Teams and SharePoint for easier collaboration.
VP Product for OneDrive Jason Moore gave an example: “Do you need to onboard a new team member? Instead of sending them multiple links, emails, and files, you can easily share your Copilot Agent in a Teams chat.”
Copilot can also be used to summarize and compare files without having to open them, making it easier to find the right document in multiple formats such as Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and PDFs.
Microsoft has also rolled out performance upgrades for faster viewing, editing and organizing both online and offline, as well as smarter searching with filter controls and more detailed results. Visually, color-coded folders have been added to Windows Explorer, while redesigned sharing controls make it easier to apply expiration dates.
Moving away from work files, Microsoft’s OneDrive app for mobile gets a new photo-first view with smarter photo searching based on subject and context. With consumers storing more photos online than ever, the company has committed to expanding its 2TB plan to 5TB and 10TB options for Microsoft 365 Personal and Family plans by the end of the year.
Looking ahead, Microsoft is also promising deeper Copilot integration across Windows and Mac environments, as well as more photo-related improvements and streamlining storage.