🚀 WorkDrive 5.0: Evolving from a file sharing app to an intelligent content management platform: Phase 2

🚀 WorkDrive 5.0: Evolving from a file sharing app to an intelligent content management platform: Phase 2

Hello everyone,

WorkDrive's primary focus has always been to provide an intelligent and secure content management platform, simplify collaboration, and be the central repository of files for all Zoho apps.

In our previous announcement, we unveiled the first set of WorkDrive 5.0 features, including watermarking, bulk version deletion, image annotation, Outlook add-in, and more. Today, we’re excited to introduce the next set of WorkDrive 5.0 feature updates, packed with new features to boost collaboration, strengthen security, and optimize data management.

With 5.0 Phase 2, we’ve now added some of the most-requested tools, including Workflows, Data Loss Prevention (DLP) policies, custom folder permissions, AI features, and advanced sharing options.

Let’s dive into what’s new!

Protect Sensitive Data with DLP Policies (Beta)


Worried about data security? 
WorkDrive’s Data Loss Prevention (DLP) policies automatically classify files containing sensitive information and control what actions can be taken with these files – whether it’s sharing, downloading, copying, or printing.

Automatic Classification
Admins can leverage the following methods to enable automatic classification through DLP policies:
  • Built-in Sensitive Content Identifiers: Choose from 149 pre-defined types spanning 47 countries/regions, such as National ID cards, Bank account details, Social Security numbers, and more. View the full list of supported sensitive information types 

  • Custom Rules: Use keywords, file names, or file extensions to create tailored rules for classification.
Disclaimer: Automatic classification enhances security by identifying and labeling sensitive data automatically, but it may not always be 100% accurate. To ensure full protection, WorkDrive provides manual classification, allowing users to manually label files that may be missed.

Manual Classification
Admins can create custom classification labels and enable team members to apply these labels to sensitive files. This allows warnings to be displayed or specific actions—such as external sharing, downloading, copying, or printing—to be blocked.

InfoImportant: In automatic classification, newly created DLP policies will not be applied to existing files. Only new, modified, or uploaded files after the policy is created will be scanned and enforced if they meet the policy criteria.

Supported plans: Business plan and Zoho One bundle.

Automate and optimize processes with Workflows (Beta)

Workflows automate routine, content-specific tasks, helping your team save time, reduce manual effort, and maintain consistency. WorkDrive supports both automatic workflows (triggered by specific events) and manual workflows (initiated manually by right-clicking a file or folder).

To help you get started quickly, we've enabled three ready-to-use manual workflows (Review, Approval, Review and Approval). You can also use the no-code workflow builder to design and deploy custom workflows tailored to your team’s unique needs.
  • Managing and Tracking Workflows: The Workflows tab in the left panel helps you manage workflows effortlessly. It provides two sections: Waiting for my action and Started by me, ensuring you can keep track of workflows assigned to you and those you’ve initiated.

  • Centralized Workflow Management for Admins: Team admins can access all team workflows from the Admin Console > Workflows, where they can view, edit, delete, or clone workflows, toggle them on or off, and track their activity—all from one place.
Feature Rollout Plan
  • Enabled for new users: The Workflows feature will be automatically activated for all new signups. It will be gradually rolled out to organizations with existing accounts that have not yet used Zoho Writer workflows.

  • Seamless migration for existing users: For organizations that are already utilizing Zoho Writer workflows, our team is working to migrate existing workflows to Zoho WorkDrive Workflows. This ensures a smooth transition to your ongoing processes.

Supported plans
  • Default Workflows (Review, Approval, Review and Approval): Available for all plans except the WorkDrive Individual plan.
  • Custom Workflows: Available only for WorkDrive Business plan and Zoho One users.

Full Folder Customization: Manage Access and Permissions with Ease


WorkDrive’s Team Folders let you collaborate effectively by assigning specific roles to members, such as Admin, Organizer, Editor, Commenter, and Viewer. By default, all Team Folder members can access every file and folder within it. However, with folder customization, you can:
  • Restrict a member’s access to certain folders.
  • Hide specific folders entirely from other members or collaborators.
You can customize folder permissions while creating the folder or after the folder is created. Only users with the Admin/Organizer role or Organize-level access can customize folder permissions.

Once a folder is customized:
  • New members added to the Team Folder or parent folder won’t automatically have access. You’ll need to manually share the folder if needed.
  • Team Folder roles and parent folder permissions won’t apply.
  • Team folder admin roles cannot be restricted or modified with folder customization.
If folder customization is removed:
  • Team Folder members regain access based on their roles.
  • Individual collaborators who had access to the customized folder will lose it.
Notes:
  • Folder customization is only available for Team Folders.
  • It is not supported in My Folders. While you can grant higher permissions to a child folder, you cannot restrict access or lower permissions if the parent folder has higher-level permissions.

Supported plans: All WorkDrive plans (Starter, Team, & Business), Zoho Workplace and Zoho One bundles.

AI-Powered Transcription: Making Audio and Video Content More Accessible (Beta)


WorkDrive now supports generating transcripts (text-version) for audio and video files using our native Zoho AI service. Transcripts are widely used in various fields such as media, education, healthcare, research, and business for documentation, accessibility, and analysis.

Click on a timestamp to jump straight to that part of the file, saving you time on reviews.
  • Supported language: English
  • Supported video formats: mp4, mpeg, mpg, mov, avi, flv, webm, wmv, swf, mkv 
  • Supported audio formats: wav, flac, mp3, opus, m4a

Supported plans: All WorkDrive plans (Starter, Team, & Business), Zoho Workplace and Zoho One bundles.


Boost Productivity with our in-house AI service - Zoho AI (Beta)


We’re excited to unveil Zoho AI, our very own in-house AI service powered by open-source large language models. Until now, Zia has leveraged OpenAI services for AI-powered content creation, image generation, and comment refinement.

Highlights of Zoho AI:
  • With Zoho AI, you get intelligent AI capabilities—completely free and with no third-party configuration!
  • Secure and private as your data stays within Zoho.
Flexible AI selection: Team admins can now enable both supported AI services (Zoho AI and OpenAI) and set a preferred AI service for each feature.

Smarter AI features to improve your workflow:
We’ve already made content creation, image generation, and comment refinement easier with Zia. Now, we’re adding even more intelligent AI features to help you get more done with less effort!

Comment translation
Break language barriers with seamless comment translation. Zia helps you understand and respond in your preferred language or share comments in a language others understand. We currently provide comment translation support for about 74 languages. Learn more about translating comments using Zia 

File Summarization
No more sifting through lengthy documents! With Zia’s AI-powered summarization, you can instantly extract key highlights from your files, helping you focus on essential insights. Plus, you can save these summaries directly to WorkDrive in .zdoc format for easy access and future reference. Learn more about summarizing files using Zia 

Note: Image and cover image generation features are only available through OpenAI services and are not yet supported by Zoho AI.

Supported plans: All WorkDrive plans (Starter, Team, & Business), WorkDrive Individual Free Plan, Zoho Workplace, and Zoho One bundles


File Version Settings: Manage Storage with Smart Retention Controls


One of WorkDrive’s key benefits is its unlimited file versioning, allowing users to effortlessly access and manage different versions of a file. However, for large files like videos and designs, storing multiple versions can quickly consume your team’s storage.

To help you optimize space while maintaining control over file history, we’ve introduced Version Retention Settings. With this feature, team admins can define how many versions to retain, ensuring efficient storage management without compromising accessibility.
  • Need to hold onto only the latest updates? Choose your version limit and free up storage automatically!
  • And for quick clean-ups from individual files, you can use Bulk Version Deletion to clear old versions and keep your projects organized.
Notes: 
  • You can mark a version as "Keep Forever" to prevent them from being deleted automatically based on the team's version settings.
  • Version retention settings currently do not apply to office suite files (Writer, Sheet, and Show) where storage is completely free.

Supported plans: All WorkDrive plans (Starter, Team, & Business), Zoho Workplace and Zoho One bundles

Take Complete Control Over External Sharing


WorkDrive’s advanced sharing settings provide precise control over who can access your files and how they are shared, tailored to meet your organization’s needs. Whether you’re sharing directly via email, creating a custom link, or embedding a file, you will now have the flexibility to enable or disable sharing options individually.
  • Whitelist domains and email addresses for secure sharing
    For an extra layer of security, you can whitelist specific email addresses and domains to ensure files only go to trusted collaborators while sharing externally via email address.

    Supported plans: All WorkDrive plans (Starter, Team, & Business), Zoho Workplace and Zoho One bundle

  • View and remove share permissions in bulk
    From the Shared Items section in Data Administration, you can view all the shared items based on their share types. You can now easily remove access or links from multiple files and folders in bulk.

    Supported plans: Business plan and Zoho One bundle


Link: A smarter way to keep your important links handy


WorkDrive now offers the Link feature, allowing you to manually store and organize URLs, just like files, creating a personal hub for quick and easy access. Whether it’s an important contract, a frequently referenced spreadsheet, or a key website, Links help you keep everything you need at your fingertips.

Here's how Link feature help you work smarter:
  • Save web URLs: The Link feature allows you to store important web links directly within WorkDrive, ensuring quick access to essential webpages without the need to search for them repeatedly.

  • Organize WorkDrive files & folders: No need to duplicate files across multiple locations. With the Link feature, you can organize frequently accessed WorkDrive documents from various folders into one central location for easy access.
Supported plans: All WorkDrive plans (Starter, Team, & Business), Zoho Workplace and Zoho One bundles


Index View: Simplified Navigation for your folders


An Index view is an effective way to present users with a summary of what's available in a folder, sparing them the effort of opening each item manually. It serves as a dynamic guide, allowing users to quickly locate frequently accessed or critical files and folders.

For instance, in a project folder, you can create a Writer document with organized links to key resources such as Getting Started guides, essential steps, and troubleshooting tips. By setting this file as the Index for the folder, team members can instantly access important documents and navigate to relevant sections with ease.

Notes:
  • Supported file types for Index view: Zoho Writer files only
  • Only users with Edit access or higher can add or remove Index for a folder.

Supported plans: All WorkDrive plans (Starter, Team, & Business), Zoho Workplace and Zoho One bundles


Sync desktop folders instantly with WorkDrive TrueSync (Beta)


Tired of manually backing up your important desktop files and folders?

With WorkDrive TrueSync, you can now select specific desktop folders to sync automatically to WorkDrive web. Any changes or new files added to these folders via desktop or via the WorkDrive web app will be instantly backed up, ensuring seamless two-way synchronization.

Feature availability:
  • Currently, this feature is supported only on Windows OS.  Mac support will be available soon.
  • You need to manually download and install the beta version of WorkDrive TrueSync to utilize this functionality.


Explore and share feedback: With WorkDrive 5.0 Phase 2, you’re equipped with a powerhouse of tools to manage files, protect data, and keep collaboration running smoothly. Whether it’s fine-tuning permissions, enhancing security, or streamlining your business processes, these new features have got you covered.

Try out WorkDrive 5.0, and let us know what you think!

Happy collaborating!



      Zoho Campaigns Resources


        • Desk Community Learning Series


        • Digest


        • Functions


        • Meetups


        • Kbase


        • Resources


        • Glossary


        • Desk Marketplace


        • MVP Corner


        • Word of the Day


        • Ask the Experts


          • Sticky Posts

          • Support for auto-upgrade in TrueSync (for Windows)

            WorkDrive TrueSync app now supports auto-upgrading to the latest version for Windows OS. You must manually download and install the TrueSync app version 3.4.0 to avail this feature. Download the latest TrueSync app for Windows (version 3.4.0) Supported
          • WorkDrive API Documentation

            WorkDrive provides users and developers an extensive set of APIs to help integrate functionalities of Zoho WorkDrive with other Zoho applications and third-party tools. We have published the official WorkDrive API Documentation page for all external users.
          • March 15, 2023: Zoho Docs is discontinued

            As of today (March 15, 2023) Zoho Docs is discontinued for all users. We would like to thank our customers for trusting us for so many years! Going forward, we're confident you'll enjoy using Zoho WorkDrive for all your advanced file management and collaboration
          • Introducing WorkDrive 4.0: Enhanced productivity. Advanced data administration. (Phase 1)

            Hello All, We're excited to share the release of WorkDrive 4.0, which includes important new features and enhancements focused primarily on productivity, secure collaboration, data administration, integrations, and user experience. Read the official announcement
          • Ask the Experts: Five-hour live Q&A session with Zoho WorkDrive product experts

            Have questions about WorkDrive 5.0? Let’s talk! We recently launched Zoho WorkDrive 5.0, packed with powerful updates to help your team work smarter, stay secure, and get more value from your business content. From content-centric workflows and AI-powered

          Zoho CRM Plus Resources

            Zoho Books Resources


              Zoho Subscriptions Resources

                Zoho Projects Resources


                  Zoho Sprints Resources


                    Zoho Orchestly Resources


                      Zoho Creator Resources


                        Zoho WorkDrive Resources



                          Zoho CRM Resources

                          • CRM Community Learning Series

                            CRM Community Learning Series


                          • Tips

                            Tips

                          • Functions

                            Functions

                          • Meetups

                            Meetups

                          • Kbase

                            Kbase

                          • Resources

                            Resources

                          • Digest

                            Digest

                          • CRM Marketplace

                            CRM Marketplace

                          • MVP Corner

                            MVP Corner




                            Zoho Writer Writer

                            Get Started. Write Away!

                            Writer is a powerful online word processor, designed for collaborative work.

                              Zoho CRM コンテンツ






                                ご検討中の方

                                  • Recent Topics

                                  • Invoice Copy 2005116990189

                                    Please provide the invoice for the trancaction 2005116990189
                                  • Darshan Hiranandani About

                                    Hi, I’m Darshan Hiranandani, a dedicated software developer with a strong passion for creating efficient and user-friendly applications. With a degree in Computer Science and several years of experience in the tech industry, I specialize in full-stack
                                  • Latest update in Zoho Meeting | On-demand webinars

                                    Hello everyone, We’re excited to introduce our new on-demand webinar feature, you can now provide pre-recorded sessions that your audience can access immediately, no need to wait for scheduled sessions. Benefits of On-demand webinars : Scheduling flexibility
                                  • Zoho Meeting iOS app update - Join breakout rooms, access polls, paste links and join sessions, in session host controls

                                    Hello, everyone! In the latest iOS version(v1.7) of the Zoho Meeting app, we have brought in support for the following features: Polls in meeting session Join Breakout rooms Paste link in join meeting screen Foreign time zone in the meeting details screen.
                                  • Zoho Meeting app update.

                                    Hello, everyone! In the latest Android (v2.3.7) and iOS (v1.7.1) versions of the Zoho Meeting app, we have brought in support for the following features: Report Abuse option. WorkDrive integration. Report Abuse option You can now report to us any deceptive
                                  • Zoho Meeting Android app update - v2.4.0

                                    Hello everyone! We are excited to announce that we have brought in support for the following features in the latest version of the Zoho Meeting Android app(v2.4.0): 1. Start Personal Meeting Rooms 2. Revamp of the schedule meeting screen and meeting details
                                  • Introducing Zoho Desk integration and a few minor enhancements

                                    Zoho Desk Integration We've now introduced an integration between Zoho Meeting and Zoho Desk to efficiently manage meeting-related customer inquiries. With this integration, you can track, respond to, and resolve meeting-related tickets directly from
                                  • Zoho Meeting iOS app update: Hearing aid, bluetooth car audio and AirPlay audio support.

                                    Hello everyone! We are excited to announce the below new features in the latest iOS update(v1.7.4) of the Zoho Meeting app: 1. Hearing aid support: Hearing aid support has been integrated into the application. 2. Bluetooth car Audio, AirPlay audio support:
                                  • Zoho Meeting Android app update: Breakout rooms, noise cancellation

                                    Hello everyone! In the latest version(v2.6.1) of the Zoho Meeting app update, we have brought in support for the following features: 1. Join Breakout rooms. 2. Noise cancellation Join Breakout rooms. Breakout Rooms are virtual rooms created within a meeting
                                  • iOS 12 update: Introducing autofill passwords and Siri Shortcuts in Zoho Vault

                                    With this iOS 12 release, Zoho Vault users can now autofill usernames and passwords on Safari and other third-party apps. Users can enjoy a seamless login experience to their everyday apps without compromising security and also access passwords stored in Zoho vault with Siri Shortcuts by adding personalized phrases. How to enable autofill password on your iOS device? First, you need to update your device to iOS 12.  Apple recommends you to take a backup before you update your device to the latest
                                  • Zoho Vault: A look at what's new for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS

                                    Hi everyone, At Zoho Vault, we constantly aim to improve your security experience. Based on both internal and external feedback, we have recently rolled out updates across our iOS, iPadOS, and support for macOS platforms. Introducing the desktop app for
                                  • Biometric Access Support on Zoho Vault Desktop App

                                    Is there any plans to add biometric authentication (fingerprint, face recognition) for Vault desktop apps (Windows/macOS) to enhance security and ease of access. I would love to hear other members view on this
                                  • Free webinar: Learn the benefits of migrating to Zoho Vault's new interface

                                    With remote work becoming more and more common across the globe, productivity and time management are now pivotal concerns for every organization. With the number of business applications employed by companies constantly increasing, a password manager like Zoho Vault saves a lot of productive hours for your team. Vault's new interface has been carefully designed to address these pressing needs, helping users increase their productivity while improving their overall online experience.  This July,
                                  • Free Webinar: An exclusive live Q&A session with the Zoho Vault team

                                    As 2020 draws to an end, we're closing out a year that has seen drastic changes all around the world. Many businesses have adopted cloud solutions and a remote work culture for the first time, and this has given rise to newer cyber risks and threats that
                                  • Why passwordless authentication should be your top security project for 2021

                                    Hello users! We know that nobody likes to remember passwords, yet they form an indispensable part of our lives. Many of us working with any kind of technology today manage numerous passwords for personal and business accounts. With the widespread adoption
                                  • Free Webinar: See why Zoho Vault is the best alternative to LastPass

                                    When LastPass was acquired by LogMeIn in Oct 2015, we expressed our genuine concern about how this would change the LastPass business model and how customer trust would transfer from one company to another. As we suspected, LastPass doubled their pricing
                                  • Managing cyber threats when working remotely | A Customer Survey Report

                                    The nearly universal adoption of remote work has changed the way businesses function. Globally, enterprises continue to work to find new ways to make life easier for employees working remotely. However, a commonly cited concern has been the lack of cybersecurity
                                  • World Password Day: 5 interesting facts about passwords

                                    It's World Password Day: that time of the year when we talk about password hygiene and the importance of safe password management. World Password Day is observed on the first Thursday of every May, and this year, we'd like to talk about some of the most
                                  • Free Webinar: Go passwordless in 2022 with Zoho Vault

                                    Passwords have long been the preferred authentication method, largely due to their universal appeal. While they're easy for people to use and implement, they're also convenient for hackers to exploit. Reports from 2021 state that weak and stolen passwords
                                  • Myki has announced EOL for its services | Learn why Zoho Vault password manager is the best alternative

                                    Hello Myki users,   Myki has announced end-of-life for its Teams, MSP, and GUARD services, after being acquired by JumpCloud. In their recent announcement, Myki stated that they will be removing their apps and extensions from the respective stores, turning
                                  • Join our exclusive meetup with Zoho's Real Estate community

                                    Hey there, The Zoho Vault team is conducting a meetup for all real-estate users from Zoho. During this session, we will be discussing the need for secure password management and how Vault can help you and your clients safely protect passwords and other
                                  • Free webinar: A quick walkthrough of Zoho Vault and major updates in 2023

                                    Managing passwords is crucial for all businesses. You can securely store, share, and manage passwords effectively from anywhere with Zoho Vault. We have introduced several new features in 2023 to offer the best online experience for our users. Join our
                                  • Free webinar: Why a password manager is a “must-have” for everyone in 2024

                                    In the past decade, we've witnessed numerous cybersecurity breaches globally, with a significant portion resulting from the "it won't happen to me" mindset. Shockingly, in 2023, 86% of breaches involved weak and stolen passwords. Password hygiene is crucial
                                  • Zoho Vault - Webinars 2023 - Video Recordings and Slide Decks

                                    Hello, We wanted to offer a consolidated list of Zoho Vault webinar resources from 2023. Therefore, we're putting together a list that includes links to our webinar recordings and slide decks for easy access. Webinar Video recording Slide deck Getting
                                  • Free webinar: ‌Focal point: Building a financial ecosystem with Zoho Vault and Zoho Workplace

                                    Hi everyone! Cyber threats against the financial sector are escalating. In the last two decades, nearly one-fifth of reported incidents targeted financial institutions, causing $12 billion in direct losses. Cybercriminals are becoming more sophisticated,
                                  • New features in Zoho Vault

                                    We’re thrilled to introduce a wave of powerful updates in Zoho Vault, designed to enhance security, streamline workflows, and improve your overall experience. Let’s dive into what’s new! Folder creation restrictions Limit who can create folders in your
                                  • Join our World Password and Passkey Day expert Q&A 2025

                                    Hey everyone! World Password and Passkey Day is almost here, and there's no better time to talk about something we all rely on daily—secure authentication. Did you know that a staggering 60% of hacking-related breaches are tied to weak or stolen passwords?
                                  • Dashlane discontinued its free plan: Here's why Zoho Vault's free plan is worth the switch

                                    Hey everyone, Dashlane password manager has officially announced that its free plan will be discontinued starting September 16, 2025. This change means that current free users will need to either upgrade to a paid subscription or export their data and
                                  • Introducing SecureForms in Zoho Vault

                                    Hey everyone, Let’s face it—asking someone to send over a password or other sensitive data is rarely straightforward. You wait. You nudge. You follow up once, twice—maybe more. And when the information finally arrives, it shows up in the worst possible
                                  • Clickjacking: Zoho Vault's Response

                                    Issue: Password manager browser extensions are found to be vulnerable to clickjacking security vulnerabilities that could allow attackers to steal account credentials, TFA codes, and card details under certain conditions. Reported by: Marek Toth, Independent
                                  • Free webinar: Security that works: Building resilience for the AI-powered workforce

                                    Hello there, Did you know that more than 51% of organizations worldwide have experienced one or more security breaches, each costing over $1 million in losses or incident response? In today’s threat landscape, simply playing defense is no longer enough.
                                  • Free webinar—Redefining workforce security with Zoho Vault: Passwords, passkeys, and multi-factor authentication

                                    Hi everyone! Did you know that in Q2 alone, 94 million data records were leaked globally? Behind every breach is a combination of poor password habits, phishing attacks, privilege misuse, and simple human error. The fallout—including reputational damage,
                                  • In arattai received message can't be deleted

                                    The issue has been noticed in following: arattai app (Android) arattai app (Window) arattai web While the message posted by me may be deleted, the ones received from others can't be. The item <Delete> change to <Report> when the message is a received
                                  • Fill Colors

                                    Hello, Just curious, is it possible to manage the Used and standard colors in the fill drop down menu ? I would like to change/edit them is possible to colors I frequently use. Thanks for you reply, Bruce
                                  • Is there a way to generate a virtual meeting for a group service in Zoho Bookings?

                                    Are virtual meetings not supported for group services/meetings? I have integrated Zoom with one-on-one services, but I need a way to create an online group meeting. Thanks
                                  • Items Below Reorder Point Report?

                                    Is there a way to run a report of Items that are below the Reorder Point? I don't see this as a specific report, nor can I figure out how to customize any of the other stock reports to give me this information. Please tell me I'm missing something s
                                  • Markdown for Desk?

                                    Hi, my company wants to use markdown for formatting text in Desk (in all modules there, especially Tickets and Helpcenter). Zoho already offers use of markdown in several products (see https://help.zoho.com/portal/en/kb/backstage/microsite-guide/formatting-with-markdown/articles/formatting-with-markdo)
                                  • Client scripts for Zoho Books ?

                                    Good day everyone, I am looking for a way to be able to interact with the Quotes and Invoices as they are being created. Think of it like Zoho client script in Zoho CRM. But for the life of me I dont see a way to do this. The issue with having function
                                  • Fillable template with dynamic tables?

                                    Is there a way to build a fillable template so that users can add rows to a table? To describe what I'm trying to accomplish the table has 3 sections; a header row, some number of rows with custom information, and a summary row with totals. I can't figure
                                  • Documents don't sync properly

                                    Hello, My team recently moved to Zoho workDrive, some of my team, work remotely so we believed Zoho would be the best way to share and edit files as well as access files withing the team. However we are experiencing sync issues, when a file is uploaded in the file explorer and shows sync complete, same file can be seen on the Zoho web app but other team members can't see the said file because it is not syncing properly. i figured out that if i were to go to preferences in settings and resync the
                                  • Next Page