This past week, Microsoft hosted an online event dedicated to OneDrive, unveiling a suite of new features powered by its Copilot AI technology. Among the highlights was the announcement of a new OneDrive app tailored for Windows 11, which had been the subject of speculation following a recent leak. Interestingly, while Microsoft indicated that this app would officially launch next year, it appears that some users can access it sooner, provided they are running the latest Windows 11 builds, specifically 24H2 or 25H2.
Accessing the New OneDrive App
For those eager to explore the new app, the process is straightforward. Users can navigate through File Explorer to access the app directly. Here’s how:
- Open File Explorer and go to the following directory (be sure to replace “paul” with your actual user account name):
C:UserspaulAppDataLocalMicrosoftOneDrive
- In this location, you should find a new app labeled OneDrive.App alongside the standard OneDrive application.
- For convenience, consider pinning a shortcut to this app on your Start menu or Taskbar for easier access.
The new app features distinct views for Photos and Files, although it currently supports only cloud-based content, leaving local files inaccessible for the time being. However, this limitation is expected to be addressed by the public release. The focus of the app leans heavily towards enhancing the photo management experience. Within the Photos view, users will find tabs for Moments, Gallery, Albums, People, and Favorites, with the Gallery tab set as the default view.
As the app continues to develop, further insights and evaluations will emerge. For now, the emphasis on the Photos experience stands out, while the Files view essentially mirrors the OneDrive web interface within the app’s framework.
