Apple silicon support in the OneDrive Mac app is now gradually rolling out to all OneDrive users. Native M1 Mac support is available in an upcoming build 22.022.
- Microsoft has pushed an update to its OneDrive app client for macOS that includes native support for the Apple silicon-based Mac computers
- OneDrive for macOS version 22.022 is required to run the software at full speed on Apple silicon Macs instead of executing Intel-based code via Rosetta
- Apple silicon support is currently in public preview for M1 Mac users, as well as Windows on ARM. You’ll need to elect to receive OneDrive Insider Preview updates to test the feature before it expands to more people.
Apple silicon support in the OneDrive Mac app rolling out
Microsoft announced in a blog post on the OneDrive blog that its OneDrive Mac client now runs natively on Apple silicon computers as well as on Windows on ARM.
We’re excited to announce that OneDrive sync for macOS will now run natively on Apple silicon. This means that OneDrive will take full advantage of the performance improvements of Apple silicon.
The company acknowledges that Apple silicon support is “a long-awaited and highly requested feature.” It will generally available starting with build 22.022. The Windows maker has offered Mac users an Apple silicon-optimized version of the OneDrive Mac syncing client for several months now. To try out native Apple silicon support in OneDrive right now, open your OneDrive settings and click the About tab, then tick the box next to “Get OneDrive Insider Preview updates.”
Download OneDrive for macOS via the Mac App Store or the Microsoft website.
OneDrive folder backup now being tested
This isn’t the only new feature in this upcoming update to OneDrive. According to Microsoft, another top feature request, folder backup, is now available on macOS ion public preview. Now Mac users running macOS Monterey 12 can move their Desktop and Document folders to OneDrive. Any selected folders will sync in OneDrive even if you lose the Mac holding the folders, Microsoft explains:
Folder Backup (Known Folder Move) will also enable macOS users to access their most important files across different devices and applications with no disruption to productivity, because their content is automatically synced to OneDrive.
This feature should especially appeal to businesses.
If admins of organizations decide to perform a device refresh, they don’t need to worry about losing user data. For new machines, Known Folder Move can be configured from the start, so all new files are uploaded to the cloud. This is great for organizations as it increases user engagement with OneDrive, and admins can easily protect files with enterprise-level security and compliance that comes built in.
And this:
IT admins will be able to use preferences to encourage Mac users to perform Known Folder Move to keep their files backed up and protected, or they can use a silent property to automatically move content in the Desktop and Documents folders to OneDrive.
The feature is currently accessible to about ten percent of the Insider ring, but should rolling out to the rest of the testers over the next few weeks.
What about M1 Mac support for Dropbox and Google Drive?
Some rival solutions such as Google Drive already support Apple silicon Macs natively. Competing cloud storage provider Dropbox, however, currently supports Apple silicon systems through Rosetta emulation but it’s been testing an Apple silicon build since January 2022. Read: How to create folder shortcuts on Mac