Microsoft is upgrading OneDrive with new AI and photo features

• OneDrive is getting new AI features to help users work with files and create content.
• The redesigned Photos app combines local, OneDrive, and iCloud photos into a single Gallery.
• New photo tools include natural-language search, Moments, albums, and an upgraded editor.
• Business updates include improved file syncing, Hero Links, and a preview OneDrive Sync CLI for administrators.

Microsoft is adding new AI tools, photo-editing features, and file-management improvements to OneDrive. The changes aim to make it easier to find your files, rediscover old photos, and create new content without jumping between multiple apps.

The announcement comes shortly after the company revealed a major change to Microsoft 365 Family and Premium subscriptions. Instead of giving each member 1TB of OneDrive storage, the company is moving to a shared 2TB pool for up to six people, reducing the total available storage from as much as 6TB to 2TB.

What’s new in OneDrive?

One of the biggest changes is the new photo experience for Windows 11, the web, and mobile devices. Microsoft is also expanding Copilot capabilities and improving how users access and manage their files.

A new Photos experience on Windows

The redesigned Photos app brings together pictures and videos stored on your computer, in OneDrive, and in iCloud Photos. The new Gallery makes it easier to browse your collection without switching between locations.

The app also introduces “Moments,” which groups OneDrive photos into collections to help you rediscover old memories. You can search for pictures by describing what you’re looking for, find photos of specific people, and organize your favorites into albums.

Microsoft is also rebuilding the photo editor with tools to enhance images, remove unwanted objects from backgrounds, and apply creative styles. The updated viewer and editor also include performance improvements.

Copilot can help you create new content

The company is expanding Copilot in OneDrive to help users do more with their files. The new capabilities include analyzing multiple spreadsheets, identifying trends, organizing project folders, and creating interactive HTML reports from existing content.

Copilot can also help turn photos into something new. For example, you can ask it to find pictures of your family from different years and put them together in a slideshow.

Some of these capabilities depend on your account, subscription, and the experience you’re using, so they won’t necessarily be available to everyone.

New ways to create and edit photos

OneDrive is also getting a dedicated creation experience for making collages, holiday cards, and other shareable content. AI-powered editing tools can help improve photos or remove distracting objects from the background.

The OneDrive mobile app is also getting a map view to browse photos by location. Some creation features are platform-specific, including iOS templates for social media posts.

Better file management and synchronization

Microsoft is improving OneDrive’s file browsing experience with updated navigation, filters, and shortcuts to shared folders and libraries.

The company is also expanding synchronization support to handle up to one million items on Windows and macOS, with as little as 8GB of memory. Improvements to long file paths should also help reduce synchronization errors.

The larger synchronization limit will be particularly useful for people who manage extensive file collections, although support can depend on the configuration.

What’s coming to OneDrive for businesses?

Microsoft also announced changes aimed at organizations using OneDrive and SharePoint. Hero Links will simplify file sharing by allowing users to change permissions without creating a new link. Administrators are also getting new tools to manage synchronization, archive inactive files, and identify security risks.

Looking further ahead, the company plans to bring AI agents into file collaboration and use Copilot to help diagnose sharing and permission problems.

The company is also preparing a new OneDrive Sync command-line interface (CLI) for network administrators. Using the odsync command, admins will be able to check configured OneDrive accounts, client and CLI versions, folder backup settings, applied Group Policies, and the sync and backup status of devices, accounts, and folders.

The tool is designed to reduce manual troubleshooting by providing real-time diagnostic information that administrators can use in scripts and automation workflows. It also supports verbose diagnostics and JSON output, making it easier to process results programmatically. Microsoft says the CLI is coming soon, and organizations can sign up for early access.

What’s next

Microsoft says these improvements will roll out over the coming months, but availability will vary by feature and platform. Some Copilot capabilities also require eligible subscriptions or work accounts, so not every OneDrive user will have access to the same tools.