AI integration in OneDrive updates

Microsoft has introduced several new features for OneDrive storage, with AI playing a central role in the updates. The company has removed several Copilot commands from the context menu in the file explorer and deployed a new synchronization engine on Mac. Microsoft also plans to throttle OneDrive to encourage Windows 10 users to move to Windows 11.

Copilot's evolving role in OneDrive

A new series of announcements highlights Copilot's central role within OneDrive, where it now serves users' files. During the event "OneDrive + Copilot: Your file system and photo solution for the AI era," Microsoft unveiled its plans for the future of its cloud storage. Copilot now includes features such as comparing multiple spreadsheets to generate charts and trends, organizing disorganized project folders, and transforming documents into interactive HTML reports.

New features for efficiency and collaboration

Users will be able to save time by recording recurring tasks as personal skills stored in Markdown files and select from a gallery of prompts to initiate new actions. Microsoft also plans to allow mentioning an agent in comments and facilitate the identification of files to which Copilot has contributed. The standout new feature, currently being rolled out, is called "Hero Links," which provides a single link per file or folder by default.

Improved file management and sharing

Users can modify access rights by updating permissions, and the URL will automatically be updated without the need to create new links. Microsoft is also working on automatic expiration rules, allowing users to request that links expire after a specified period, such as 90 days. Once the period has passed, access will be restricted again. Markdown and HTML files, essential for AI, can now be created, modified, and shared directly in OneDrive.

Enhanced synchronization and management

The management of long file paths has been redesigned to reduce errors. Synchronization now reaches up to 1 million items on Windows and macOS. However, this evolution will be rolled out gradually on macOS, with a preview offered through the Insiders program this month and a general rollout planned for June 2027. Microsoft has noted that devices not meeting hardware requirements will remain limited to 300,000 items.

Administrative tools and command-line interface

The company also explained that synchronization may slow down if too many large files are read-only or kept for legal reasons, and it is working on resolving this issue. Administrative controls have been simplified with the arrival of a SharePoint agent that streamlines content governance, offers finer management of OneDrive synchronization, and introduces new options for archiving inactive files. Microsoft is also working on a command-line interface (CLI), currently in private preview, allowing administrators to learn more about configurations and the synchronization status of files.

Major updates to photo management

Photos have also received a major overhaul. A new "desktop experience" combines images from OneDrive storage, the PC, and iCloud into a single gallery. A map view allows users to find photos based on the location where they were taken. AI is also involved, as it can now automatically create collections highlighting moments it considers important. Microsoft has planned natural language search, allowing users to create ready-to-share slideshows.

New tools for photo editing and sharing

New tools have been integrated to facilitate photo editing, remove unwanted elements, or modify photos to create original creations. A dedicated space, the Create hub, is planned for creating personalized and shareable content, such as collages and greeting cards. Microsoft appears to be targeting Google Photos with these updates. The company also outlined its roadmap, aiming to make OneDrive a space where collaborators and agents can work more efficiently together. Soon, Copilot will be able to detect excessive sharing to anticipate potential information leaks. Teams will also be able to find photos or videos by describing their content.

Changes to OneDrive storage plans

Microsoft has revised the storage for the Family and Premium formulas, reducing the free storage from 1 TB per person to 2 TB shared.