OneDrive for Business will soon have a progressive web app

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What you need to know

  • OneDrive for Business will soon have a progressive web app..
  • The progressive web app could launch as early as July 2021.
  • Progressive web apps on Windows 10 continue to gain new features that make them act like native apps.

Microsoft will soon roll out a progressive web app (PWA) for OneDrive for Business. You can already access OneDrive for Business on the web, but the new PWA will help it look better on browsers such as Edge, Chrome, and Firefox. For example, PWAs on Microsoft Edge either support or will soon support customizable title bars, streamlined menus, and controls within title bars.

The Microsoft 365 roadmap outlines the feature:

You can now install the web version of OneDrive for Business as a Progressive Web App (PWA) in Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Firefox, or other browser that supports Progressive Web Apps. After you install the web version of OneDrive for Business as a Progressive Web App, you can launch it from your desktop, and it will work the same way as it does in your web browser.

According to Microsoft, the OneDrive for Business PWA could arrive as soon as July 2021, but dates on the roadmap are subject to change.

Microsoft doesn't list any new features that would come with the PWA for OneDrive for Business, so the shift will likely only result in the gain of general progressive web app benefits, such as feeling more native than using an app through a browser.

Sean Endicott
News Writer and apps editor

Sean Endicott is a tech journalist at Windows Central, specializing in Windows, Microsoft software, AI, and PCs. He's covered major launches, from Windows 10 and 11 to the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT. Sean's journey began with the Lumia 740, leading to strong ties with app developers. Outside writing, he coaches American football, utilizing Microsoft services to manage his team. He studied broadcast journalism at Nottingham Trent University and is active on X @SeanEndicott_ and Threads @sean_endicott_.