Although there are many alternatives on the market—including free and open-source suites like LibreOffice—Microsoft Word remains the most widely used text editor worldwide. Microsoft continues to improve Word to ensure it stays ahead, and the latest update adds a feature that makes working with documents even more seamless.
According to The Verge, Microsoft has introduced an important change in the Insider version of Word: documents stored in the cloud will now be saved automatically.
This update eliminates the need for users to manually hit Save, ensuring that edits are preserved in real time. The improvement not only streamlines the writing experience but also reduces the risk of losing progress, making Word more practical and user-friendly.
While the feature is currently limited to Insider builds, it’s expected to roll out to all users in the coming months.
Word will automatically save the cloud documents
One of the biggest changes Microsoft has been working on recently affects its most popular text editor: Word. From now on, new documents will be saved automatically in the cloud, removing the need for users to manually activate autosave features. Everything will happen seamlessly, without human intervention.
In a post on the official Microsoft blog, Raúl Muñoz, Product Manager on the Office Shared Experiences and Services team, explained that the goal is to modernize the way files are created and stored. With this update, users will no longer have to worry about pressing “Save”, since every new Word file will be stored automatically in OneDrive or any other connected cloud destination.
Currently, this functionality is being tested in the Microsoft 365 Insider builds. Microsoft says the change ensures that users will never again risk losing work due to an app crash or system failure. At the same time, the integration makes it easier to access documents from any device or platform.
By default, files will be saved with a timestamp in the existing folder, with an additional number added to the document name if needed. Users can, however, change the default save location to another cloud service of their choice, not just OneDrive.
Previously, autosave had to be manually enabled, leaving many people vulnerable to data loss. With this improvement, Microsoft is eliminating that worry altogether.
