Simple, Smart, and Secure: The next step in sharing files in Microsoft 365
Today at the Microsoft 365 Community Conference, we announced the next generation of sharing for Microsoft 365. Not just an experience refresh, this year we are improving the underlying model that enables collaboration within oM365. We are making it simpler to use, more intelligent, and ensuring that users can keep their content secure by default. In 2011, the cloud revolutionized collaboration and SharePoint Online launched with direct permissioning to enable sharing. Three years later, the on-going cloud transformation led to the invention of “link-based sharing” to allow users to forward and share URLs that grant access within defined, yet secure scopes. Over the last decade, collaboration flourished with over 1.2 Billon people using the share dialog in M365 per month. But as we look ahead, we see new demands emerging to meet the needs of collaborative, agentic workplaces. We are excited to give you a walkthrough of the third generation of sharing in Microsoft 365 and introduce the hero link, the power behind the next decade of collaboration. Meet the hero link The next generation of sharing makes you the hero of collaboration! Each file gets a single hero link which controls all access to the file. Whether you’re clicking “Copy Link”, sending an e-mail, or yes, even copying the URL out of the address bar, it’s all the hero link! This removes the need to create, delete, and manage multiple links on your files, creating a vastly simpler experience. Sharing files with your company has never been easier: simply update the hero link and anyone with the link in your company will get access. Need to lock down a file? Change the link to only allow access for people you directly add, keeping your files secured. We know that users don’t always check file permissions before they send out a link, which can lead to frustrating “Access Denied” page. With hero links, users are empowered to update the link that they already sent, enabling them to quickly increase or decrease the scope of the hero link to match their needs. Secure by default Every hero link starts by working for only the people who have already been added to the document. As users embark on their collaboration journey, they can add more people and teams directly to the document or update the hero link as needed to broaden access. For files that are shared externally, the new share experience explicitly tags external users and guests to make sure they stand out and can be managed appropriately. Administrators will be able to change this default on a per-site collection or OneDrive basis, as needed. With the next generation of sharing, users can further secure their content by controlling who can add people or update access of the file or folder, which gives users the granular control they need to protect their most important content. At a glance access The next generation of sharing requires easy understanding of not only who has access to a file, but how they have access. The Share Dialog and Manage Access experiences are now unified into a single, powerful interface, ensuring users can see and manage their documents and folders with effortless precision. Updates to permissions now appear in real-time, giving users confidence and real-time feedback as they share! With this new sharing model, you can now update permissions in bulk. It is now easier than ever to change or remove permissions for multiple people in a single session. Changes appear instantly, helping you stay in control! If a user wants additional granularity, they can even create additional sharing links to be used for specific purposes. These links can even be named, to help users track and assign them to specific tasks. Copilot + Sharing Save time for your coworkers and keep your team up to speed by using Copilot when you share. With a single click, generate a summary of your document that will be included in the notification mail. Recipients can now understand what the file is about, without needing to open it and read the content. This is a great way to save time and help get your collaborators up to speed! Choose when you notify Have you ever had those days where your notifications are going crazy from teammates adding you to files? We hear your frustration-and we are happy to tell you that you can now choose whether to send an e-mail notification or not when you add people to your file. This update puts you in control of how you share and notify teammates – simply check the box or not based on your preference! This control is critical when you’re bringing a colleague up to speed on multiple documents, or just want to make sure that your file is shared correctly before incorporating into a SharePoint News Post or Amplify! Looking Ahead This new sharing experience and model will be rolling in late 2025! You can track the latest timelines and updates via the Microsoft 365 Message Center or the Microsoft 365 Roadmap (ID: 492622). We know change management is top of mind with any product change, and especially one’s as critical to your organization as collaboration.In addition to the standard updates at Microsoft Docs, we’ll also be uploading how to videos for end users and IT Pros to the Microsoft Community Learning YouTube Channel, walking through the changes in depth on the Sync Up Podcast and in the OneDrive Customer Office Hours. We’re excited to share the future with you! Frequently Asked Questions We know how important collaboration is to your organization! Here are answers to a few of the common questions we’ve heard! If you have others, let us know in the comments below! Q - What do I need to do to prepare for this change? A – For now, keep an eye on the roadmap id and Message Center for more information! As we get closer to release, we’ll ensure you have the content you need to update and prepare your users, admins and security teams. Q - What happens to my existing collaboration experience? A – Nothing! The new sharing model is fully backwards compatible. All the links and permissions you have today will continue to work and will show up in the “Other Links” section of the dialog! Q - Where will this change happen? A - Everywhere! OneDrive powers the sharing experience across 64 apps in M365. This change will be updated consistently across the entire ecosystem.
OneDrive Stops Running
I have a Windows 11 on a laptop and have been using Onedrive for a long time. This problem happens when the PC is started. Suddenly the program stops after showing up in the taskbar. It goes through signing in and then quits running. For a while a window kept popping up suggesting an update to PowerDrive. That's when Onedrive stops. I uninstalled the PowerDrive program, but Onedrive stills stops. When following the suggestions on the Microsoft page for resetting Onedrive the message that it cannot find Onedrive shows up. Yet Onedrive presumably has been installed in the correct location. I have uninstalled and re-installed Onedrive. Also, re-installed Windows, and the Microsoft 365 family. Each time Onedrive shows up and then stops running. I can start Onedrive, the folder opens, the icons shows up. But a few seconds later the icon is gone. Ideas?NOW ON DEMAND| OneDrive Office Hours | September 2025
Join the OneDrive product team live each month on our monthly OneDrive Customer Office Hours to hear what's top of mind, get insights into roadmap updates, and dig into a special topic. Each call includes live Q&A where you'll have a chance to ask the OneDrive product team any question about OneDrive - The home of your files.
Unable to access Onedrive through manager
Attempt to login to one drive through manager and stuck on this before a screen white out. from dev tools Walked through this: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/reset-onedrive-34701e00-bf7b-42db-b960-84905399050c and it did not help. Stuck doing the same loading error out in manager. Also attempted to reset onedrive directory. Same issue. When attempting to open or move files in the onedrive directory I get: Error 0x8007016A: The cloud file provider is not running Unsure if stuck in sync or what. This is day two of this occurring even after comp reset. Never ran into this issue before. Unable to find any indication of Microsoft onedrive being down either so this error is a bit confusing to me. Thanks for the help in advance!
Urgent: OneDrive Storage Discrepancy – Backend Audit Request
I’m the global admin and sole owner of the Microsoft 365 tenant for mailto:email address removed for privacy reasons. My OneDrive usage has jumped from 276 GB to nearly 1 TB in under 30 days, yet my visible files total only ~66.5 GB on my PC and in my web OneDrive. I’ve: Emptied the recycle bin Deleted version history Verified no shared libraries or backups Confirmed that local and cloud file views match Despite this, the Admin Center shows 0.9 TB used, and I’m unable to open a service request. The Support Assistant bot is the only option available, and it does not escalate to a live agent. I need a backend audit to identify any hidden, orphaned, or misreported data inflating my quota. Please escalate this to a support engineer who can investigate the issue.
Why OneDrive Is More Than Just Cloud Storage
When people hear “OneDrive,” they often think of a simple place to stash files. But Microsoft OneDrive is far more than a digital filing cabinet—it’s a powerful tool for collaboration, backup, and productivity across devices. Whether you're working solo or with a team, OneDrive offers features that make your workflow smarter, safer, and more seamless. 1. Real-Time Collaboration with Office Apps Open a Word, Excel, or PowerPoint file stored in OneDrive and collaborate with others in real time. You’ll see edits as they happen, complete with comments and version history. How to Use: Open the file from OneDrive in your browser or desktop app. Click Share and invite collaborators by email. Everyone with access can edit simultaneously, and changes are saved automatically. 2. Automatic Backup for Peace of Mind Enable OneDrive’s PC folder backup to automatically sync your Desktop, Documents, and Pictures folders. If your device crashes, your files are safe and accessible from anywhere. How to Enable: Open OneDrive settings from the system tray. Go to the Settings Gear and select Settings. Under Sync and Backup, select “Manage Backup.” Toggle on the folder you want to back up and click “Save Changes.” 3. Access Files Across Devices OneDrive works seamlessly across Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. Start a document on your laptop, review it on your phone, and present it from your tablet—no USB drives needed. How to Use: Download the OneDrive app on your mobile device. Sign in with your Microsoft account. Access, edit, and share files on the go. 4. Version History and File Recovery Accidentally deleted or overwritten a file? OneDrive keeps a version history, so you can restore previous versions or recover deleted files within 30 days. How to Restore: Right-click the file and select Version history. Choose the version you want to restore. For deleted files, go to the Recycle Bin in OneDrive and click Restore. 5. Files On-Demand With Files On-Demand, you can view and manage OneDrive files from File Explorer without downloading them—saving space on your device. How to Use: Open File Explorer and navigate to your OneDrive folder. Right-click a file and choose “Always keep on this device” or “Free up space.” Always Keep on this Device: Downloads the file to the computer and permanently keeps it there. It allows you to have offline access to the file even without internet and is indicated by a green checkmark icon. Free up Space: Removes the local copy of the file from your device but keeps it in OneDrive cloud. Use this option when you want to save disk space and don’t need the file offline and is indicated by cloud icon to show it’s online-only. In conclusion, Microsoft OneDrive isn’t just cloud storage—it’s a productivity powerhouse. From real-time collaboration to secure backups and seamless device access, OneDrive helps you work smarter, safer, and more efficiently. Whether you're a student, a professional, or part of a global team, OneDrive adapts to your workflow and keeps your files at your fingertips.OneDrive vs SharePoint
In the world of Microsoft 365, both OneDrive and SharePoint serve as robust platforms for file storage and collaboration. Yet, understanding which one fits your specific needs can be challenging. This blog explores their key differences, practical use cases, and offers guidance to help you make the right choice. What Is OneDrive? OneDrive for Business functions as a user-specific cloud repository within the Microsoft 365 framework, optimized for individual file storage, synchronization, and personal document management. What Is SharePoint? SharePoint Online operates as a collaborative content management and intranet platform within Microsoft 365, engineered for structured data handling, enterprise-level document sharing, and workflow automation across teams and departments.
Problems sharing files with users outside Tenant
An additional Sign In window appears for external users with whom we share files or folders through OneDrive and/or SharePoint. The window for entering the email appears (to validate that it's the intended recipient), but before entering the verification code, the Organization Sign In window appears. This sometimes requests a password, which can cause issues or even prevent users from sharing these folders with external users. Authentication flow example: Normally, step 2 is followed by step 4, but in my case, it's taking me to step 3 where I have to re-enter the email address I'd already entered in step 2. This isn't normal. In this case, there's no major problem with this email because it then asks for the verification code, and I log in without a problem. But for example, when I tried another email address, also from Gmail, it asks for a password to authenticate: Then I realized it's asking for my password because that email is associated with my GitHub account, and it's trying to authenticate with a password. However, this flow is incorrect because for authentication to SharePoint files shared with external users of the Tenant, it should only ask for the username and verification code. The fact that it asks me to enter my email twice, as in step 3 of each example, and that it occasionally asks me for a password, is incorrect in the flow, and I don't know how to change that.
Escalation Inquiry: IP Logs Request for MS Account
Hello, I am seeking advice regarding a security issue with my Microsoft account. There were unauthorized login attempts on my account between May 23 and May 25, 2025. I submitted a ticket to Microsoft Privacy / Security Incident Response (SIR) regarding IP activity logs. My ticket was created on August 7, 2025 and escalated to the IP/SIR team on August 11, 2025. Since then, I have sent multiple follow-ups, but no response has been received. I also created a new ticket on September 17, 2025, but only received the automatic acknowledgment; no agent has contacted me. I am concerned because the logs are important for verifying my account security and ensuring no unauthorized access occurred. Could anyone advise typical processing times for IP activity requests or suggest ways to escalate this issue effectively? Thank you in advance for any guidance.
