Microsoft’s OneDrive Web App to Add New Search Capabilities to Improve File Discovery and Management

Microsoft is about to add a new search experience to its OneDrive web app next month. This new search results page will feature advanced filters and a clickable location column to quickly locate files across OneDrive, shared folders, and document libraries.

Currently, Microsoft OneDrive users face issues while filtering search results by date or file type and locating files with similar names. The upcoming release will address these issues by introducing new filters for file types and modification dates. It should help users quickly narrow down results and find files created or updated within a specific timeframe. Additionally, users will be able to switch easily between different views, such as My Files, All Files, Current Folder, and Current Document Library.

“We understand that searching within a folder or document library is important to you, and for that, we have simplified scoping options that will enable precise searches within folders, sites, or document libraries. We’ve also visually updated the interface with more metadata, ensuring you effortlessly identify the right files every time,” the company explained on the Microsoft 365 roadmap.

New search experience coming to the OneDrive web app in September

Microsoft plans to roll out the new search experience to OneDrive users in late September, with general availability expected by late October. This update will enhance users’ ability to manage their files more efficiently, saving time and reducing frustration.

In related news, Microsoft plans to begin archiving unlicensed OneDrive user accounts after 90 days. The company says that these unlicensed accounts can pose serious security and compliance problems. Organizations will incur a monthly fee of 5 cents per gigabyte to store these accounts in the Microsoft 365 Archive, with reactivation costing 60 cents per gigabyte.