check before: 2025-04-15
Product:
eDiscovery, Microsoft 365 admin center, OneDrive, SharePoint, Syntex
Platform:
Online, World tenant
Status:
Change type:
Admin impact, New feature, Updated message
Links:
Details:
Summary:
Microsoft Syntex now supports OCR for OneDrive for Business, allowing admins to enable OCR for selected or all users, making files searchable and aiding compliance. The rollout starts mid-April 2025 and incurs costs. Admins can enable it via the Microsoft 365 admin center. More details are available [here](https://learn.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/syntex/ocr).
Details:
Updated April 16, 2025: We have updated the rollout timeline below. Thank you for your patience.
We are excited to announce a new capability in the Microsoft 365 admin center that allows administrators to enable Optical Character Recognition (OCR) for OneDrive for Business. Admins can now turn on OCR for selected OneDrive groups and users or enable it for all OneDrive users within their organization. This enhancement ensures that all files become searchable, improving discoverability and supporting compliance initiatives such as eDiscovery.
[When this will happen:]
General Availability (Worldwide): We will begin rolling out in mid-April 2025 (previously early April) and expect to complete by late April 2025 (previously mid-April).
Change Category:
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Scope:
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Release Phase:
Created:
2025-03-27
updated:
2025-04-17
Task Type
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Docu to Check
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MS How does it affect me
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MS Preperations
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MS Urgency
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Pictures
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summary for non-techies**
Microsoft Syntex's new OCR feature for OneDrive for Business, launching in April 2025, allows for searchable text within images and scanned files, aiding in document management and eDiscovery, with a pay-as-you-go pricing model and admin-controlled access.
Direct effects for Operations**
Cost Implications of Enabling OCR
Enabling OCR incurs additional costs for the organization, which may not have been budgeted for, leading to financial strain.
- roles: Finance Manager, IT Administrator
- references: https://learn.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/syntex/ocr, https://admin.microsoft.com/Adminportal/Home?source=applauncher#/orgsettings/payasyougo
User Experience with Searchability
Without proper preparation, users may experience confusion or frustration if files are not searchable immediately after the change, impacting productivity.
- roles: End Users, Support Staff
- references: https://learn.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/syntex/ocr, https://admin.microsoft.com/Adminportal/Home?source=applauncher#/orgsettings/payasyougo
Compliance Risks
If OCR is enabled without adequate training or communication, users may not utilize the feature effectively, leading to potential compliance issues during eDiscovery.
- roles: Compliance Officer, IT Administrator
- references: https://learn.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/syntex/ocr, https://admin.microsoft.com/Adminportal/Home?source=applauncher#/orgsettings/payasyougo
Configutation Options**
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Opportunities**
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Potentional Risks**
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Data Protection**
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IT Security**
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Hypothetical Work Council Statement**
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DPIA Draft**
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explanation for non-techies**
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** AI generated content. This information must be reviewed before use.
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change history
| Date | Property | old | new |
| 2025-04-17 | MC prepare | Microsoft 365 admins will need to enable OCR for OneDrive in the Microsoft 365 admin portal: Setup - Microsoft 365 admin center.
For more information, visit Set up and manage optical character recognition in SharePoint - Microsoft Syntex | Microsoft Learn. https://admin.microsoft.com/Adminportal/Home?source=applauncher#/orgsettings/payasyougo https://learn.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/syntex/ocr | Microsoft 365 admins will need to enable OCR for OneDrive in the Microsoft 365 admin portal: Setup - Microsoft 365 admin center.
For more information, visit Set up and manage optical character recognition in SharePoint - Microsoft Syntex | Microsoft Learn. https://admin.microsoft.com/Adminportal/Home?source=applauncher#/orgsettings/payasyougo |
| 2025-04-17 | MC Summary | Microsoft 365 admins can now enable Optical Character Recognition (OCR) for OneDrive for Business, improving file searchability and compliance. This feature will be available globally from early to mid-April 2025 and incurs additional costs. Admins can set it up via the Microsoft 365 admin portal. | Microsoft Syntex now supports OCR for OneDrive for Business, allowing admins to enable OCR for selected or all users, making files searchable and aiding compliance. The rollout starts mid-April 2025 and incurs costs. Admins can enable it via the Microsoft 365 admin center. More details are available [here](https://learn.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/syntex/ocr). |
| 2025-04-17 | MC Last Updated | 03/27/2025 00:30:30 | 2025-04-16T17:05:57Z |
| 2025-04-17 | MC Messages | We are excited to announce a new capability in the Microsoft 365 admin center that allows administrators to enable Optical Character Recognition (OCR) for OneDrive for Business. Admins can now turn on OCR for selected OneDrive groups and users or enable it for all OneDrive users within their organization. This enhancement ensures that all files become searchable, improving discoverability and supporting compliance initiatives such as eDiscovery.
[When this will happen:] General Availability (Worldwide): We will begin rolling out in early April 2025 and expect to complete by mid-April 2025. | Updated April 16, 2025: We have updated the rollout timeline below. Thank you for your patience.
We are excited to announce a new capability in the Microsoft 365 admin center that allows administrators to enable Optical Character Recognition (OCR) for OneDrive for Business. Admins can now turn on OCR for selected OneDrive groups and users or enable it for all OneDrive users within their organization. This enhancement ensures that all files become searchable, improving discoverability and supporting compliance initiatives such as eDiscovery. [When this will happen:] General Availability (Worldwide): We will begin rolling out in mid-April 2025 (previously early April) and expect to complete by late April 2025 (previously mid-April). |
| 2025-04-17 | MC Title | Microsoft Syntex: Optical Character Recognition (OCR) for OneDrive for Business | (Updated) Microsoft Syntex: Optical Character Recognition (OCR) for OneDrive for Business |
| 2025-04-17 | MC MessageTagNames | New feature, Admin impact | Updated message, New feature, Admin impact |
Last updated 5 days ago
