MS365 apps prompt for data backup in OneDrive; two GPOs for OneDrive are removed

[German]I'll pull out two topics separately that became known about Microsoft OneDrive a few days ago. Microsoft is rolling out an update that causes the Office applications from Microsoft 365 to prompt users to back up files to OneDrive (known since March 2025, the rollout was postponed by one month). And Microsoft removes two outdated GPO settings for OneDrive.MS365 apps prompt to back up to OneDrive; Two GPOs for OneDrive are removed

MS365 prompts you to back up data to OneDrive

There was already an announcement on March 5, 2025 (Message MC1024398) that Microsoft 365 apps will use OneDrive to store folders from March 2025. This feature runs under the term OneDrive Known Folder Move (KFM). I wrote about that in the blog post Does Outlook.com store attachments in OneDrive? Microsoft 365 will use OneDrive from March 2025. Now there is a revision that Microsoft has already announced on April 11, 2025 (with update on April 14) in the Microsoft 365 Message Center under the message ID MC1053121. This message replaces the older message.

Microsoft 365 apps (Excel, PowerPoint, Word) ask users to back up their document files to OneDrive.

New rollout dates

The above details was already known. Now Microsoft has specified the rollout schedule:

• Public Preview: Microsoft began rolling out in preview versions in mid-April 2025 and is expected to complete the process by the end of April 2025.
• General Availability (worldwide): Microsoft will begin rolling out these changes to Microsoft 365 in early May 2025 and expects to complete the rollout by mid-June 2025.

Microsoft has delayed the rollout by one month from the initial announcement in March 2025.

What happens after the rollout?

Authorized users will be prompted to sign up for OneDrive Known Folder Move (KFM) in the message bar below the toolbar in Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel and Microsoft PowerPoint for Windows desktops. Users can then select the folders to be backed up in Microsoft OneDrive.

Specifically, it is about organizations that still have users who are not registered in Known Folder Move (KFM). They receive the message ("SAVE THIS DOCUMENT: Share this and other files with OneDrive and collaborate with others").

Administrators in organizations can manage or block these requests using policies. Further details and information can be found in the old blog post Does Outlook.com store attachments in OneDrive? Microsoft 365 will use OneDrive from March 2025 and in the Microsoft 365 Message Center under Message ID MC1059667. Hans Brender has also addressed the topic in this blog post.

OneDrive policies will be deactivated

Hans Brender points out another change in the blog post OneDrive Policy Update: Microsoft Retires EnableHoldTheFile and EnableAllOcsiClients GPOsThe two obsolete OneDrive group policies

• EnableHoldTheFile
• EnableAllOcsiClients

will be removed without replacement at the beginning of May 2025. These changes will affect all Microsoft 365 tenants, including Worldwide, GCC, GCC High and DoD environments. Details can be found in the linked blog post by Hans Brender.