Recent Unlimited Storage Change
Microsoft in August made modifications to its OneDrive for Business storage plans, removing its unlimited offering for business users. OneDrive for Business (Plan 2) used to be a popular choice for large organizations that needed a lot of storage space, especially for media files like videos and art. This plan gave unlimited storage every month for about $10 per user, without taxes. But Microsoft has stopped giving unlimited storage to new customers.
Now, OneDrive for Business (Plan 1) is the main option, with 1TB of storage by default. This can go up to 5TB depending on how many users there are. Before, OneDrive for Business (Plan 2) had unlimited storage with some conditions. Organizations had to have at least five users signed up, with a starting limit of 1TB per user. More storage, up to 25TB, could be asked from Microsoft support.
Microsoft has rolled out a series of enhancements to OneDrive Sync. These updates primarily focus on safeguarding against accidental deletions, refining the user interface of File Explorer, and offering a more intuitive navigation through Sync Settings. A new confirmation dialog has been introduced, which appears when a user attempts to delete a shared file, thereby ensuring that all users are aware of the implications of the deletion. This addition is a direct response to user feedback and aims to mitigate the challenges associated with unintentional removal of shared files.
Refinements to File Explorer and Sync Settings
Microsoft has also introduced improvements to the File Explorer, with the Home page now promptly displaying files categorized as Recommended, Recent, and Favorites. A future addition, the Details panel, is set to offer users comprehensive insights about a file without the need to open it. This panel will display a range of information, including a thumbnail preview, shared status, and related activity. In parallel, the OneDrive Sync Settings have undergone a redesign, with the most frequently used settings now prominently displayed, and less commonly used options relocated to Advanced Settings or secondary pages. This reorganization aims to facilitate smoother navigation and provide users with transparency regarding the policies of their respective organizations.
Anticipated Features and Broader Accessibility
Microsoft has outlined plans for the introduction of a new feature in December, which will allow users to open and edit any file type in its desktop app directly from OneDrive. The subsequent changes will be automatically synchronized to the cloud version of the file. This development is expected to streamline the editing process for a variety of file formats, including but not limited to PDF and CAD files. Additionally, OneDrive is expanding its reach by extending support to Citrix Virtual Apps and is slated to be integrated into Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) Remote Apps soon. This expansion aims to provide users operating in virtual environments with enhanced access and collaboration opportunities on OneDrive files.