The Microsoft Office mobile apps for Android and iOS are phasing out file sharing features as Microsoft transitions to the Microsoft 365 brand on mobile devices.
Microsoft is removing the File Transfer feature from Office Mobile but says it will become easier to transfer files. File transfer will be replaced by OneDrive integration in Office apps.
Users will be able to continue using File Transfer as a legacy feature on Android and iOS until December 31, 2022, after which using the OneDrive app will become the only option.
“Rest assured that files sent and received using File Transfer will remain in the Office apps and will not be affected by this change,” Microsoft Notes.
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It has instructions for using OneDrive to share files on Android and iOS.
Microsoft is also removing the Share Nearby feature from Office Mobile after finding it met “some but not all needs”.
This change affects the Office app on Android and will also take effect December 31. Currently, Office users can tap Share Nearby within the app to share files between two Android phones via Wireless Connectivity.
Files already shared with this feature will not be affected, but the feature will be removed after December 31.
“We made this decision as we continue to re-evaluate the value our users get from Office apps, and we aim to provide a consistent, reliable, and enabling experience.” Our users are productive across their devices. We pursued this goal of streamlining this solution and we decided to remove this feature,” explains Microsoft.
Microsoft in October at the Ignite conference announced that they will rebrand its unified Office apps in Microsoft 365. That happened in November. Microsoft hopes the Microsoft 365 app will highlight how Office has evolved. Microsoft plans to release Microsoft 365 apps at some point in November and will start with the web version.
