Top 10 most requested OneDrive features

Microsoft’s OneDrive file synchronization and hosting service is built into the Windows operating system. It is available on many platforms and anyone can sign up to use it.

The service and its apps have seen many iterations over the years. Microsoft introduced new apps and designs, added features and removed some.

Microsoft users can post comments and suggestions on the company’s Feedback Portal. The following 10 features are the most requested OneDrive features that Microsoft marks as open. Some feature requests have official responses from Microsoft that reveal its status or whether it is planned for future releases.

Feature 1: Re-evaluate whether to ignore or exclude selected OneDrive files and folders from the sync process

Microsoft OneDrive syncs all the files and folders that are in the parent directory structure. There is no option to exclude certain folders from sync currently. Microsoft recently implemented the ability to exclude files from sync.

Microsoft’s response: The company is looking to expand the file exclusion feature to folders.

Feature 2: enable sync over LAN

Multiple PCs and devices running OneDrive require an Internet connection to sync data, even if they’re all connected to the same network. The ability to sync data between devices that are connected to the same local area network would save bandwidth and speed up the process.

Microsoft response: The feature is on Microsoft’s radar, but doesn’t have a “timeline” yet.

Feature 3: allow shared folders to be stored in subfolders

OneDrive supports syncing of shared folders, but these folders are always placed at the root of the OneDrive directory. The ability to put them in a subfolder would add new categorization and archiving options.

Microsoft response: Microsoft is working to add the functionality.

Feature 4: Implement a folder tree like Google Drive. It would make browsing and moving files much easier.

OneDrive doesn’t support a tree structure that can improve certain navigation operations.

Microsoft response: The feature request is being tracked as part of the future roadmap.

Feature 5: enable Linux support

There is no official OneDrive client for Linux distributions.

Microsoft response: None.

Feature 6: Add the ability to tag people

Add a person tagging feature to OneDrive and introduce facial recognition support to semi-automate tagging.

Microsoft response: The feature is planned but there is no timeline yet.

Feature 7: Allow OneDrive for Business folder to be renamed

You can’t rename OneDrive for Business folders.

Microsoft Response: Noted.

Feature 8: Ability to access Personal Vault via MacOS like Win10

Add an option to the OneDrive for Mac client to access the personal vault on Mac. Currently, Mac users can only access it on the OneDrive website.

Microsoft response: none

Feature 9: OneDrive : Ability to zip and unzip a file

Add an option to zip or unzip files directly in the web version of OneDrive.

Microsoft response: Please investigate this for future updates.

Feature 10: prevent shared files from being downloaded

Add an option to set shared files and folders to view mode so that files cannot be downloaded.

Microsoft response: Microsoft added the feature to certain types of files, including PDF documents, images, and audio files. Other file types will be supported in the future.

Now you: Which of these 10 features would you like? Do you use OneDrive? (via NeoWin)

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