My understanding is that Box, Google, and Microsoft have migrated their Mac users to the File Provider approach, whereas Dropbox-probably the most popular among everyday Mac users-has only recently started to encourage those outside its beta program to switch (while others are still being asked to join the beta). That hasn’t happened yet, but Apple often gives developers several years to get with the program. The cloud storage companies undoubtedly felt they had little choice about adopting the File Provider extension because Apple said it would be deprecating kernel extensions at some point. (Everything I say below I’ve tested in macOS 13.2.1 Ventura-it’s possible, even likely, that some details are different in Monterey.) The cloud storage services will likely pull support for older systems at some point, but there’s no telling when that will happen. Earlier versions of macOS don’t support it, so nothing changes for those running older systems for now. The File Provider extension first appeared in macOS 12.1 Monterey, though Apple’s Developer site suggests that it may have subsequently been made available in macOS 10.15 Catalina.

I touched on this move a year ago in “ Cloud Storage Forecast Unsettled, with Possible Storms” (4 February 2022). It provides an Apple-approved framework for integrating remote files into macOS and displaying them in the Finder.

Over the last year, cloud storage services Box, Dropbox, Google Drive, and Microsoft OneDrive-and probably others-have migrated from custom kernel extensions to Apple’s new-ish File Provider extension.

1646: Security-focused OS updates, Photos Workbench review, Mastodon client wishlist, Apple-related conferencesĪpple’s File Provider Forces Mac Cloud Storage Changes.

1647: Focus-caused notification issues, site-specific browser examples, virtualizing Windows on M-series Macs.

#1648: iPhone passcode thefts, Center Cam improves webcam eye contact, APFS Uncertainty Principle.#1649: More LastPass breach details and 1Password switch, macOS screen saver problem, tvOS 16.3.3 fixes Siri Remote bug.#1650: Cloud storage changes for Box, Dropbox, Google Drive, and OneDrive quirky printing problem.

Microsoft cloud storage