Changes to file open behavior for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files on Outlook iOS and Android

We’re changing the default file open actions that occur on Android and iOS devices when users open Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files from Outlook, OneDrive, and Teams.

Given that Microsoft 365 mobile apps have built-in functionality to open and create Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files, we’ve heard from customers that there’s uncertainty about how to open them. To address this feedback, we plan to standardize file open behavior across the entire system. field of vision, One Drive and team The mobile app experience works in the following way:

Why did this change occur?

Our goal is to increase the predictability of how files open when launched in the main “hub” environments of mobile devices (OneDrive, Outlook, Teams). When installed, the standalone Word, Excel, and PowerPoint apps are preferred by default to handle opening files. operate. For customers who want to open more than one Word, Excel, or PowerPoint file at a time, standalone apps better handle the side-by-side and windowing scenarios that modern tablet and mobile operating systems support.

If you are an enterprise customer and want your employees to use only the combined Microsoft 365 apps, you can implement MDM policies to restrict standalone app installations on managed mobile devices. This will cause users to launch Microsoft 365 Apps. Open file operation.

Timeline for this change

We are providing guidance on when these changes will take effect from October 2024.

• OneDrive iOS and Android – Changes are already live.
• Outlook iOS and Android – Available October through November
• Teams iOS and Android – Timing is being confirmed.

We value your feedback.

Your feedback is very important to us. Microsoft is committed to continuously improving the user experience for the Microsoft 365 family. If you have any questions or need assistance, don’t hesitate to contact our support team.

Thank you for being a valued Microsoft customer. We look forward to providing more updates and improvements in the future.