Overview

• Word for Windows version 2509 begins auto-saving new documents by default to OneDrive or a user-selected cloud location, assigning date-based filenames.
• Microsoft says Excel and PowerPoint for Windows will adopt the same default later this year, while it has not clarified which non-Microsoft services count as preferred destinations.
• Users who prefer local storage can change settings via File > Options > Save by disabling cloud AutoSave and enabling "Save to Computer by default."
• Microsoft notes that cloud-saved files are accessible to Copilot for customers with eligible licenses, linking default storage to AI features.
• Availability is inconsistent for some Insiders and known edge cases prevent automatic saves in certain configurations, as Nextcloud’s CEO criticizes the shift for reinforcing Microsoft’s cloud and excluding decentralized alternatives.