Microsoft Reportedly Developing Dedicated OneDrive App for Windows 11 with AI Integration

Microsoft is reportedly developing a dedicated OneDrive app for Windows 11 -- here's what it looks like

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. 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.

Leaked Windows 11 app could be the file and photo management tool you've been waiting for

A dedicated OneDrive app has been spotted in a leak direct from Microsoft's servers What's happened? An exe file supposedly leaked from Microsoft's own servers has apparently turned out to be a OneDrive application for Windows 11. Currently, OneDrive is available through File Explorer, the web and the Photos app, allowing users to store, access and share files, photos and documents from any device wherever you are. A dedicated app would be good through, right? According to Windows Central, the un-released OneDrive app for Windows 11 launches into a photo-first gallery and features new Copilot (Microsoft's AI chatbot) tools, a contemporary interface and integrated photo editing capabilities. The leaked executable (OneDrive.app.exe) was discovered within Microsoft's OneDrive software program files and opens a self-contained window that appears and functions like a native app. Why is it important? The new app adds photos to the cloud. This provides users with a unified area to explore, edit and control cloud media, more in line with what existing mobile cloud photo apps provide. The UI reportedly has a Copilot feature showing when you hover over documents, to invoke rapid chat, summaries or basic AI actions without even opening the file. This is a huge step-up, with the integration of file management and AI. Why should I care? If you keep lots of photos or videos in OneDrive, the gallery-first interface and Moments/People views might make finding, previewing and lightly editing media far quicker than jumping between File Explorer, the web and Photos. With smarter, AI-driven file assistance with Copilot, summarizing papers, pulling out key points from PDFs or posing context-related questions regarding a picture or file should be easier. And you shouldn't need to buy a new device. The leak suggests this is essentially a software update pushed through OneDrive. If released, most current Windows 11 users would receive the experience as an update. What's next? Microsoft is hosting a "Copilot + OneDrive" virtual event on October 8, 2025 This could be where Microsoft announced the new app and discusses rollout schedules - we'll be keeping a close eye on any announcements from the event.