Microsoft is reportedly developing a dedicated OneDrive app for Windows 11 with a focus on media viewing, editing and file management.
The native app was discovered on Microsoft's servers by our friends at Windows Central. It's apparently hidden as a separate executable named OneDrive.app.exe. Launching the new app places a OneDrive icon on the Taskbar and opens a window with the OneDrive photo library.
According to Windows Central, the new OneDrive is web-based and uses a "unique design language." From images we can see that it features more rounded menu bars and drop-down menus that fit the Windows 11 aesthetic.
The OneDrive website already has an interface for organizing your files stored on Microsoft's servers. This app version appears to have that mode plus a new gallery mode, and you can switch between the two modes quickly in the app.
New features
The file management system is the same as the one you can find via the OneDrive website, but a new Copilot feature pops up when you hover over files. This tool pulls up a Copilot chat that lets you prompt Microsoft's AI assistant with queries about the file, like asking it to generate a summary without opening the file.
In gallery mode there are five tabs: Moments, Gallery, Albums, People and Favorites.
Moments is basically a memories feature that will highlight pictures taken on the current day in previous years. This is similar to the one available in the mobile OneDrive app.
The Gallery tab is totally new and features a floating menu bar when you select a photo for editing or organizing. The app appears to have some built-in editing tools, which are similar to those in the Windows Photos app.
Microsoft hasn't officially announced a new OneDrive app, so it's not immediately clear if this will replace OneDrive features that already exist. Windows 11 already has OneDrive built into the File Explorer and Photos app.
Perhaps a dedicated app is meant to consolidate those features, and the app does look good from what we've seen. Microsoft is holding a Copilot + OneDrive showcase on October 8—perhaps this new app will be revealed then.
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