OneDrive Just Got 2x Faster on Mac, Thanks to Native Sync Engine

Mac users who rely on OneDrive may finally be getting the upgrade they’ve been asking for. Microsoft has unveiled a completely rebuilt sync experience for OneDrive on macOS, and the company claims it offers major jump in speed, reliability, and overall responsiveness.

The update is rolling out now to OneDrive Insiders through version 26.098, bringing what Microsoft calls the Native Sync Engine. While the change happens mostly behind the scenes, it could solve several frustrations that Mac users have been dealing with since OneDrive moved to Apple’s File Provider platform back in 2022.

Microsoft rebuilt OneDrive’s Mac sync experience

The biggest change is the removal of the hidden cache folder that has quietly powered OneDrive syncing on macOS for years. According to Microsoft, that folder became responsible for many of the reliability issues and performance complaints reported by users. Rather than patching the old system again, the company rebuilt large parts of OneDrive’s architecture to work more directly with Apple’s File Provider framework.

As a result, Microsoft says initial file syncing and local file changes can now process up to twice as fast. The company also claims the new system uses less CPU power, memory, and battery compared to previous versions.

Another highlight is noticeable improvement in file browsing. Previously, some folders would display loading messages while Finder waited for content to appear. Microsoft says files and folders are now always browsable on disk, making OneDrive behave much more like a native macOS folder.

More than just faster syncing

The update also improves support for external drives, simplifies how shared libraries appear inside Finder, and reduces the amount of data stored inside OneDrive’s hidden folders. Speaking of which, most hidden folders now contain metadata only, while actual file data remains inside the OneDrive directory users interact with every day.

Microsoft has started a gradual rollout to OneDrive Insiders and says rollout will continue over the next several weeks. Users enrolled in the Insider program will receive the upgrade automatically once it becomes available for their device.