Microsoft updates OneDrive with Spotlight search and offline file support
Microsoft has recently pushed a couple of updates to the official iOS app of its cloud storage service, OneDrive, thereby introducing a couple of new features to the app.
Spotlight search
The first update to OneDrive for iOS adds support for Spotlight search. This allows you to quickly and easily search for any file you’ve visited by name, contact or tag all in one place and go to it directly from the Spotlight search results on your device’s home screen.
Note that Spotlight search is available only on iOS 9. And you need to make sure that Spotlight search is enabled for OneDrive both in the Settings app and in the account settings section of the OneDrive app.
Offline files
The second update to OneDrive introduces a more significant feature: support for offline files. This long-overdue feature enables you to view your important personal and work files anytime, even when your device isn’t connected to the Internet.
To use this feature, just select the files you want to make available offline and tap the new parachute button in the bottom toolbar. Then, the files will be available anytime — offline as well as online — in the new Offline tab (with the parachute icon).
If you no longer want files for offline use, just select them in the Offline tab and tap the struck-through parachute.
Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad running iOS 8.0 or later, OneDrive is available on the App Store for free.
OneDrive’s previous major update arrived last month, bringing support for 3D Touch for quickly accessing the most recent files from the home screen on iPhone 6s or iPhone 6s Plus; seeing the return of Scoped folder search for personal OneDrive accounts; and adding integration with Microsoft Intune mobile application management.
Admittedly, I’m more of a fan of Dropbox than OneDrive, but Microsoft’s cloud storage app does offer neat and useful features that make it a good alternative to Dropbox, Google Drive, or even Apple’s iCloud.
