How to get the Microsoft OneDrive preview that runs natively on M1 Macs

How to get the Microsoft OneDrive preview that runs natively on M1 Macs

• How-To

Microsoft is now testing a new version of OneDrive for Mac that runs natively on Apple M1 chipsets. The update enables faster syncing and better performance — particularly for larger files — with no need for emulation anymore.

Although this release is only a preview build for now, anyone who uses OneDrive on macOS can get their hands on it. We’ll show you how.

OneDrive now optimized for Apple silicon

While many M1 Mac owners would like to see Microsoft putting its efforts into a version of Windows that runs properly on Apple silicon, that’s unlikely to happen anytime soon. So, we’ll have to settle for M1 versions of its app instead.

OneDrive is first in line to be optimized for Apple’s own chipsets. The app has been updated to run natively on all M1 chipsets — including the M1 Pro and M1 Max inside the 2021 MacBook Pro lineup — as well as Windows on Arm devices.

“This should improve the performance of the OneDrive sync app, as the OneDrive process will no longer run emulated,” notes The Verge. “The jump to 64-bit is also useful for OneDrive users with lots of files or large files.”

How to get OneDrive for M1 chips

Microsoft hasn’t offered a public release date for this update yet, but it does allow anyone to download the preview version and enjoy the improvements early. To do so, you’ll first need to ensure OneDrive is installed on your Mac.

You can then follow these steps to obtain the preview build:

1. Click the OneDrive icon in your Mac’s menu bar
2. Select Help & Settings, then click Preferences
3. Click the About tab
4. At the bottom of the window, select Get Apple silicon build

One OneDrive has been updated, the latest preview release will be running natively on your M1 Mac.