Restrict new file creation in Office desktop apps to Cloud Locations

IT Administrators can restrict new file creation in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint on Windows to Cloud Locations only, enhancing security and compliance. This policy, deployable via Group Policy from August 2025, limits saving new files to OneDrive, SharePoint, or third-party Clouds, promoting cloud usage and protection. Introduction IT Administrators will be able to set up Word, Excel, and PowerPoint Windows applications to limit the creation of new files to only Cloud Locations (OneDrive, SharePoint, or third-party Clouds). This configuration is called enablecloudonlysaveasmode is available only to IT Administrators and deployed using Group Policies. This policy is available now in the Administrative Template files for Microsoft Office (version 5516.1000 or newer). For the policy to apply, users should be using a Windows version of Word, Excel and PowerPoints Version 2506 (Build 19029.20000) or newer. This new Policy is part of a new set of tools for IT Administrators to move their organizations towards higher Cloud usage and Increase security and compliance: Files in the Cloud are automatically protected by your company’s security rules and labeling, so you don’t have to take extra steps to keep them safe and compliant. This policy setting controls whether Word, Excel, and PowerPoint users can use non-Cloud locations (local and network) to create new files. If you enable this policy setting, users will only have Cloud Locations available to perform Save As and Save new files. If you disable or don’t configure this policy setting, users can use any location (Cloud, Local, and Network) to perform Save As and Save new files. Note: This policy setting only applies to subscription versions of Office, such as Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise. When this will happen Public Preview: We will begin rolling out late August 2025 and expect to complete by mid-September 2025. General Availability (Worldwide, GCC, GCC High, and DoD): We will begin rolling out mid-September 2025 and expect to complete by late September 2025. How this will affect your organization If you do nothing, this change will have no impact on your organization. If you enable the new Policy, Office will limit the creation of new […]

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