Microsoft updates Office file opening experience on iOS and Android

Microsoft has introduced updates to the way its mobile applications, including Outlook, OneDrive, and Teams, manage Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files on both iOS and Android platforms. The firm responded to a wave of user feedback highlighting confusion regarding the interaction between the Microsoft 365 app and the individual Office apps.

To clarify this user confusion, Microsoft has implemented adjustments in how files are opened within its mobile Office suite. For users with both the standalone Word, Excel, and PowerPoint applications and the Microsoft 365 app, accessing files from Outlook, OneDrive, or Teams will now trigger the corresponding standalone app instead of the Microsoft 365 app.

For those who have only the Microsoft 365 app installed, the file-opening behavior remains unchanged; files will still open within that application. Additionally, if no Office apps are installed on the device, launching files from Outlook, OneDrive, or Teams will redirect users to the App Store or Google Play Store to download Word, Excel, or PowerPoint instead of the Microsoft 365 app.

Here’s how Microsoft describes these enhancements:

We aim to enhance the predictability of file openings originating from our primary mobile “hub” applications (OneDrive, Outlook, Teams). The standalone versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint will take precedence for file open actions when they are available. This approach provides users the flexibility to manage the opening of multiple Word, Excel, or PowerPoint files simultaneously, leveraging the capabilities of modern tablets and mobile operating systems for better multitasking and windowing.

This refined file handling process is currently being rolled out in OneDrive for both iOS and Android. Updates for Outlook are anticipated in November, with the timeline for Teams still under review. For more insights into how Microsoft’s productivity tools interact with Office files, you can read the official announcement on the Tech Community forums.

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