Microsoft's online storage service, OneDrive, is evolving in its macOS version. It gains a welcome feature that makes it less restrictive to use. Here's what it is.
Using a Mac doesn't mean you have to do without all Microsoft services and software. Some people use both macOS and Windows, for example, one at the office and the other at home, and in this case it is more practical to use the same programs as much as possible on both. If you are used to using OneDrive on PC for online storage of your files, it is very likely that you also use it on Mac.
That's good, because it is precisely the macOS version of OneDrive that is gaining a new feature today. A surprise given that at the beginning of 2025, the Redmond company looked into it and added several useful options, but since then, nothing. The one in question here is currently in the testing phase. Only those enrolled in the Insiders program can try it, with the understanding that bugs may occur.
OneDrive is less restrictive on macOS after the addition of this feature
In OneDrive build 25.097 or higher on Mac, it is now possible to sync your files to an external storage device such as a USB flash drive or removable hard drive.
The principle is very simple since it is the same as on a fixed device. The only difference is that if you unplug the external device, the sync stops and an error message warns you. Syncing resumes when you reconnect the drive/key and restart OneDrive.
Microsoft specifies that there are conditions to meet:
- Be running macOS 15.0 or later.
- Use an external storage device formatted in APFS, protected by FileVault and that is not read-only, a network drive, or quarantined by macOS.
The feature is useful, but not as permissive as we would like. For example, you cannot plug the external device into another Mac to transfer your OneDrive files. You'll first need to reconfigure the software on the media from the new device. Microsoft hasn't yet announced a date for when this option will be rolled out to all users.
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