New iOS Widgets for Word, Excel & PowerPoint Files

Key insights

• New Recent Files widgets for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint introduced for iOS, enabling users to access their files directly from the home screen.
• Users can add these widgets by pressing and holding an empty space on their home screen and then selecting the desired widget size and app.
• The widgets provide three different sizes for iPhone (small, medium, large) and multiple sizes, including extra-large, for iPad.
• Microsoft 365 Insiders with iOS Version 2.85 or later can access this feature, with a gradual rollout to ensure functionality.
• Microsoft encourages feedback on the new widgets through the Help & Feedback section under one’s profile in any Microsoft 365 app.

About Microsoft's Recent Files Widgets

New Recent Files widgets for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint for iOS --- Hi, Microsoft 365 Insiders! I’m Jessica Hu, a Product Manager on the Apple Ecosystems team. I’m excited to share that you are now able to quickly access your recently used files straight from your home screen with Recent Files widgets for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint for iOS.

You can add Recent Files widgets for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint directly to your iPhone or iPad home screen. The widgets allow you to both view and open your most recently accessed files in that app from the home screen on your device.

How it works:
1. On the device home screen, press and hold an empty space and notice the + icon that appears at the top left corner of the screen.
2. Tap the + icon, scroll through or search the list of widgets, and tap to select the app widget you want.
3. A Recents screen will appear. Scroll through the icons and pick the size of the widget you want, then tap Add Widget.
4. Tap the widget to open it and then select the file card that you want; the file will open in the application.

The Recent Files widget offers sizes to choose from on the iPad, ranging from small to extra-large. There are three sizes to choose from on the iPhone: small, medium, and large. If you would like to open the app’s home page instead of a recent file, tap anywhere on the cat outside of the file cards.

This feature is rolling out to Microsoft 365 Insiders running iOS Version 2.85 (Build 24042818) or later. Don’t have it yet? It’s probably us, not you. Features are released over some time to ensure things are working smoothly. We highlight features that you may not have because they’re slowly releasing to larger numbers of Insiders. Sometimes Microsoft removes elements to further improve them based on your feedback. Though this is rare, they also reserve the option to pull a feature entirely out of the product, even if you, as an Insider, have had the opportunity to try it.

If you have any feedback or suggestions, tap your profile photo, tap Help & Feedback, and then tap Tell Us What You Like or Tell Us What Can Be Better. Be sure to include “Widget” in the title of your feedback. You can also let us know about any other widgets you’d like to see for your Microsoft 365 apps!

More About Microsoft 365 Recent Files Widget

New enhancements in the Microsoft 365 productivity suite are aimed to boost convenience and efficiency for iOS users, particularly for those frequently using Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. The introduction of Recent Files widgets directly on the home screen illustrates a deeper integration with iOS devices, ensuring that documents, presentations, and worksheets are immediately accessible. This integration exemplifies Microsoft's ongoing commitment to enhance user interaction and streamline productivity workflows, emphasizing ease of access and time-saving techniques.

Read the full article New Recent Files widgets for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint for iOS

 

 

 

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