Microsoft updates OneDrive for Mac with native sync engine

Microsoft is rolling out a new native sync engine for the OneDrive app on macOS to improve performance and system integration. The update features a simplified architecture designed to make the app more responsive and reduce CPU usage, which is expected to improve battery life on MacBooks.

Key technical improvements include initial synchronization and on-disk state changes that are approximately twice as fast. While Files On-Demand behavior remains unchanged, the update offers better reliability for external drive support.

One notable change affects organizational users: synced SharePoint document libraries will no longer be nested under a single entry in the Finder sidebar. Instead, each library will appear as its own root location. The rollout is expected to be completed by late November, and the update will occur automatically without user intervention. Users can verify the migration by checking the ‘About’ section in OneDrive settings for a specific letter suffix in the version number.