Microsoft OneDrive offline mode is now rolling out to internet users
In an effort to improve file accessibility and productivity, Microsoft has announced the rollout of offline mode for OneDrive on the web.
The update follows other feature improvements applied to the cloud storage solution late last year and is designed to give users access to their files wherever they are, on even more devices.
OneDrive’s new web-based offline mode allows users to access the Home, My Files, Shared, Favorites, People, and Meeting tabs without an active internet connection.
OneDrive for web gets a new offline mode
Other changes include the ability to rename, sort, move and copy files offline, with changes syncing once the internet connection is restored.
In addition to improving functionality when a user can’t connect to the internet, OneDrive’s new offline mode also promises performance improvements when a connection is active. Users can designate files or folders for offline access from OneDrive for the web, streamlining the process and optimizing local storage space.
According to Microsoft blog postviewing and using files in offline mode promises up to three times faster loading times, both in the browser and in the OneDrive app, Teams and Outlook.
Andrey Esipov, chief product manager of OneDrive and Microsoft Lists, explained that offline mode uses local storage to store file metadata, which can work around issues with cloud services.
For work and school accounts, the enhanced offline mode is now rolling out globally. To use the feature, users need the latest Windows or macOS version of the OneDrive app. The feature is also limited to Edge and Chrome.
Wider availability, including other browsers and other types of Microsoft accounts, has not been confirmed. Ny Breaking asked Microsoft about its plans, but the company did not immediately respond.