OneDrive will get new sharing features soon: Here's what you need to know

Microsoft is preparing some big updates for OneDrive. As soon as the company revealed its roadmap for Office 365, we noticed a couple of interesting additions for every version of OneDrive, including OneDrive for Business and its web version.

Most of the improvements deal with OneDrive for Business’ sharing features. We’ve listed each notable change here, so you can find more information about the upcoming improvements in one place.

Upcoming OneDrive updates

Simplified sharing from OneDrive for Business from the web

Microsoft will make the sharing experience in the web version of OneDrive for Business easier. The previously-established workflow of users emailing links or saving them to the clipboard will remain.

We’re updating the user experience for sharing files and folders in OneDrive for Business from the web.  This new sharing experience simplifies the flow of emailing links to colleagues and guests and copying links to the clipboard. Like the original experience, the new experience presents two choices to users who want to share: type email addresses to send a link in email, or copy a link to the clipboard. Both the “Share” and “Get a link” command support all three types of links in OneDrive, including anonymous access links (accessible by anyone), company shareable links (accessible to those within your organization) and restricted links (accessible to a custom set of users both in and outside your organization).

The revamped feature allows users to easily choose their sharing method. Microsoft already started rolling out this feature and is expected to be completed in by the end of February.

Dedicated OneDrive for Business Admin Console

Microsoft added a graphical user interface to the Office 365 Console to make management easier for admins.

Office 365 Admins will have a GUI in the Office 365 Console to manage OneDrive for Business in addition to leveraging PowerShell. This will help admins to gain control over sync, storage, user and device management , external sharing , auditing and compliance . Currently it is in a preview for First Release.

OneDrive for Business Folder Sharing Links

One useful feature Microsoft will implement in the upcoming update is a success indicator for sending links. .

Today, when a user adds an ODB modern attachment, there’s no indication before sending that sharing with their recipients will work. We’re adding Sharing Tips to fix this by adding tips that warn you if sharing with your recipients will not work and provides a suggested action. In addition, Outlook will use the best URL for your situation – in most cases the Company sharing link.

Outlook on the web: OneDrive Sharing Improvements

Finally, Microsoft will be introducing more access levels, like “anyone can edit” and “anyone in my organization can edit.” That way, group admins will be in full control over users’ assignments within the project.

Today, modern attachments are shared by default with “recipients can edit” access and you can switch to “recipients can view” access before you send your mail. With this update, you’ll also be able to switch to other access levels such as “anyone can edit” and “anyone in my organization can edit.

Microsoft has already started rolling out these features to all eligible users. However, as the rollout is gradual, not everyone will get them at the same time but they should arrive by the end of this month.

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