If you’re using Dropbox or Microsoft OneDrive to sync files on your Mac, you should pay attention to the release notes for today’s macOS 12.3 beta: The update deprecates the kernel extension used by both apps to download files on demand. An extension means that files are available when you need them, but don’t take up disk space when you don’t need them. Apple states that “both service providers have replacements for this feature that are currently in beta.”
Both Microsoft and Dropbox began warning users of this change even before the macOS beta was released. The Dropbox page is relatively sparse. The page notifies users that Dropbox’s file experience will be broken in macOS 12.3 and a beta version of the Dropbox client with a fix will be released in March.
The Microsoft documentation for the OneDrive Files On-Demand feature is more detailed. It explains that Microsoft will use the Apple File Provider extensions for future versions of OneDrive, that the new Files On-Demand feature will be enabled by default, and that Files On-Demand will be supported in macOS 12.1 and later.
In addition to better integration with Finder (also explained by Microsoft here), using Apple’s modern extensions should reduce the number of nasty permission requests generated by each app. Extensions should also reduce the chance that a buggy or compromised kernel extension can expose your data or damage your system. But the move will also make those apps a little less flexible – Microsoft says the new version of Files On-Demand can’t be disabled. This can be confusing if you expect a complete copy of your data to be stored on your drive even when you’re offline.
This isn’t the only time Dropbox and OneDrive fall behind in support for new macOS features. Both companies have only released Apple Silicon-based versions of their clients in the past few months.
The macOS 12.3 and iOS/iPadOS 15.4 betas add a few other noteworthy features from releases earlier this week that focused mostly on security improvements and bug fixes. The macOS 12.3 beta adds support for Universal Control, a feature that lets you seamlessly use multiple Macs or iPads together. Universal Governance was announced back in June 2021 at WWDC, and it had a brief presence in the initial launch of Monterey betas before being almost completely removed from the final version. The iOS and iPadOS 15.4 beta adds support for FaceID, which can be unlocked by masked users without using an Apple Watch. Two years into the pandemic is a little late for this feature to be added, but better late than never.