It's official: Microsoft's OneDrive cloud storage to support up to 10 GB files

After hints that Microsoft soon planned to remove the 2 GB file-size sync limit in OneDrive, the company has made that move official.

Microsoft's OneDrive cloud storage service -- both the consumer and business versions -- are moving to support files up to 10 GB in size.

From a September 10 blog post on the OneDrive blog:

"We’re excited to announce that you can now upload files up to 10 GB using the desktop apps for Windows and Mac, all of the mobile apps, and the OneDrive website! We recognized that people not only have more files than they did before, but they have bigger files as well. This is a top feature request we’ve received and we’re excited to deliver it!"

Microsoft execs wouldn't say exactly when OneDrive for Business users will get the new 10 GB limit. My guess is their reticence is due to the fact that OneDrive for Business is reliant on SharePoint Online/Office 365, and there is a test version of the next version of SharePoint coming soon. When I asked if that was the case, a spokesperson said the company had nothing more to share.

Microsoft also has increased the number of files that can be downloaded or uploaded at a given time on PCs and Macs, according to today's post. The underlying parallel syncing technology "netted an approximately threefold increase in syncing speed," officials said.

The improved syncing speed improvements also will be rolling out worldwide "in the coming weeks" for both consumer OneDrive and OneDrive for Business users.

Microsoft also is making it easier for OneDrive users to share links straight from Windows Explorer in Windows 7 and Windows 8. Users will be able to righ-click on item/items they want to share without having to go to the Web first. This feature also will be coming worldwide "within a few weeks," officials said, and will be extended to support Windows 8.1 and Mac in the future, as well.