Microsoft OneDrive and Microsoft SharePoint: New setting to disable presence in the file viewer

Microsoft OneDrive and SharePoint now come with a new feature that allows administrators to disable the user presence function in the file viewer. This can be done per-site collection using the SharePoint Online Management Shell. No action is required before the rollout, which is expected to happen between late October to late November of 2024. By default, users can see the presence of other users who have the file open when previewing a file in the OneDrive and SharePoint file viewer. This behavior will not change by default, but after the rollout, admins can toggle the presence feature for a given site collection.

SharePoint admins can use the latest version of the SharePoint Online Management Shell and run Set-SPOSite -HidePeoplePreviewingFiles $true along with a list of valid site identifiers to disable the presence feature for specific site collections. The feature is available for administrators to configure. The rollout will happen automatically by the specified date, and no admin action is required before it happens. However, you may want to review your current configuration to determine the impact for your organization and update any relevant documentation if you choose to enable this feature.

The post Microsoft OneDrive and Microsoft SharePoint: New setting to disable presence in the file viewer was first published on M365 Admin.