Feature comparison between classic and new
This page gives you a detailed view of the availability of specific features in the classic and the new M-Files Desktop. It can be necessary to upgrade M-Files Server to the latest available version to enable some of the features presented here.
The following video shows you some of the most visible changes there are between the old Desktop and the new Desktop.
Feature comparison with scheduling
Explanations for the terms used on the tables:
Available : The feature is available as long as the classic M-Files Desktop is at least in version 2025.9 and the new Desktop is the latest installed version.Soon* : Features that are not currently available but are planned for Q2/2026.Later* : Features tFeatures that are not currently available but still in plans to be implemented..Evaluating* : Features that are being evaluated for inclusion with the new clients. These items are being validatedNot available* : The item will not be available in the new M-Files Desktop.Deprecated : Items that have already been deprecated
* Items described in the table are not a commitment to deliver any material, code, or functionality, and should not be relied upon in making purchasing decisions.
Accessing Content
Feature Classic Desktop New Desktop Details Workspaces Not available Available Workspaces Browse and access all views Available Available Open object files Available Available View document preview Available Available View metadata Available Available View relationships to and from the selected object in the listing area Available Available View relationships in a dialog Available Soon Configure relationships shown Available Soon Shortcut objects Available Evaluating Details View change history of the selected object Available Available View content and metadata of object Available Available Add and remove object listing columns Available Later Sort views by columns Available Available Grouping levels Available Available Group by first letter(s) Available Evaluating Group objects by object type Available Later Group views and folders Available Later Objects per group Available Later Export view conditions Available Evaluating Hide view Available Evaluating Clean view Available Evaluating Add objects to favorites Not available Not available Details Add objects to Pinned Available Available Follow objects Available Available Open M-Files URLs Available Available Details M-Files URL actions supported with Available Available Open .mflink attachments Available Not available Add shortcuts to views Available Evaluating Create views Available Available Details Create reversed views Available Evaluating Display reversed views Available Evaluating Show sub-objects Available Available Show document collection members Available Available Set a primary file type for multi-file Available Available Show conflict history Available Soon Duplicate content detection Available Available Document comparison Available Available User-specific setting Behavior at file open Available Evaluating Listing item display mode Available Evaluating CSV export Available Available Task area Available Available Details Right-to-left support Available Evaluating Sub-objects dialog Available Later SSRS reporting Available Evaluating Icons in Listing Area Available Later
Creating Content
Feature Classic Desktop New Desktop Details Create new objects Available Available Details Create new non-document objects from templates Available Available Create new document objects (for example, Microsoft Word) from templates Available Available Create document collection Available Available Details Add documents by scanning Available Later Save documents from other apps to M-Files (M-drive) Available Available Save documents through drag and drop from File Explorer Available Available Add to M-Files in File ExplorerAvailable Available Creating sub-objects from the listing Available Later Creating copies of objects Available Available Adding new values to value lists Available Available Show preview and metadata card side by side during object creation Available Soon Drag & drop folders into Available Later Folder Management Available Soon
Editing Content
Feature Classic Desktop New Desktop Details Desktop co-authoring Not available Available Desktop co-authoring View annotations Available Available Annotate documents online Available Available Annotate documents offline Available Evaluating Edit metadata Available Available Edit file content Available Available Office for the web supported Available Available Web Co-authoring Available Available Participate in workflows Available Available Add workflows Available Available Change state (admin) Available Available Add comment in workflow state transition Available Available Add comments Available Available Add electronic signatures Available Available Mark assignments complete Available Available Create assignments Available Available Undo Checkout Available Available Change class of an object Available Available Delete objects Available Available Rename objects in listing Available Available Assign object permissions Available Available Convert to PDF Available Available Create or modify relationships, including drag and drop Available Soon Add and remove document collection members Available Available Undelete Available Available Check-in request Available Available Substitute user actions Available Later Appointing a substitute user Available Later Keyboard shortcuts Available Later Version history rollback (co-authored Available Available
Searching
Feature Classic Desktop New Desktop Details Quick search Available Available Advanced search Available Available Details Search facets/filters Available Available Filter by object type Available Available Limit search to metadata or file contents only Available Available Search within a view Available Available Default/permanent search filters Available Later Search within a preview Available Available Search from multiple vaults Available Available Details Hit highlighting Available Available Details
Metadata card
Feature Classic Desktop New Desktop Details Visual Workflows Not Available Available Details Show metadata card in a new window Available Later Navigate to a website pressing a hyperlink on metadata card Available Available Object title multilanguage support Available Available Support for pseudo-user permissions Available Available Internal hierarchy for a value list on metadata fields Available Available Hierarchical representation of real objects in value list based property value selection Available Available Metadata card configuration (MDCC): Property labels Available Available MDCC: Property descriptions Available Available MDCC: Property tooltips Available Available MDCC: Hiding properties Available Available MDCC: Default property values Available Available MDCC: Property groups Available Available MDCC: Ordering properties and property groups Available Available MDCC: Required and additional properties Available Available MDCC: Setting property values Available Available MDCC: Localized configurations Available Available MDCC: Automatic filling of properties Available Available Theming Available Available Details
Managing Files
Feature Classic Desktop New Desktop Details Download files Not Available Available Replace file Available Available Replace file from scanner Available Later Rename document in multi-file Available Available Add files to multi-file documents and other objects Available Available Drag and drop files to add new objects Available Available Drag and drop files outside of M-Files Available Available Drag and drop files from M-Files to another M-Files vault Available Available Copy and paste Available Later
Repository Connectors
Feature Classic Desktop New Desktop Details Browsing connected external repositories Available Available Searching across connected repositories Available Available Reading and editing files in repositories Available Available Promoting external repository objects Available Available
AI Features
Feature Classic Desktop New Desktop Details Aino Chat Available Available Metadata suggestions for new objects Available Available Metadata suggestions for M-Files vault objects Available Available Metadata suggestions for external repository objects Available Available
Sharing Content
Feature Classic Desktop New Desktop Details Send as PDF by email Available Later Share files as email attachments Deprecated Deprecated Share objects and files as M-Files link attachments Available Deprecated Share links to M-Files users Available Available Details Share a visitor link for anyone Available Replaced Details Create a dedicated visitor link Available Replaced Details Share view by e-mail Available Later
Security
Feature Classic Desktop New Desktop Details Encrypted connections to M-Files Server Available Available Active Directory integration Available Available Support for OAuth 2.0 Available Available Support for Windows authentication Available Available Support for Windows single sign-on Available Available Changing the password of an M-Files login Available Available Configuration possibility to use same vault Not Available Later Common login account support Not Available Later Support for pre-shared key authentication Available Evaluating Automatic log out from vault after the session Not Available Available Advanced event logging Available Available User Action Log Available Available Citrix Available Evaluating
Offline Content
Feature Classic Desktop New Desktop Details Read files and metadata in offline mode Available Evaluating Create objects in offline mode Available Evaluating Edit object metadata in offline mode Available Evaluating Mark objects for offline availability Available Evaluating Mark views for offline availability Available Evaluating Delete offline content Available Evaluating
Management
Feature Classic Desktop New Desktop Details Manage email notifications Available Available In-app assignment notifications Not Available Available Manage multiple vault connections Available Available Add vault connections with M-Files URLs Deprecated Deprecated Alt-menus Available Not Available Details Change vault language Available Available Client language setting Not Available Available Details Date format setting Not Available Available Details Refresh external objects Available Evaluating
Add-ons
Feature Classic Desktop New Desktop Details DocuSign Integration Available Available Details Adobe Sign integration Available Available Visma Sign integration Available Available GANTT Chart view Available Evaluating Compliance Kit Available Available Details Version Control Available Available Version Control Lite Available Available Utilities Available Available User Synchronization Available Available Unique Object Enforcement Available Available Training Available Available Periodic Task Available Available PDF Processor Available Available Details Object Creator Available Available Managed Properties Available Available Log Exporter: Export Logs Available Available Log Exporter: View Logs within Client Available Not Available Hierarchy Manager Available Available Controlled Printing Available Available Change Request Available Available Advanced Notifications Available Available Calendar View Available Not Available Electronic Signatures Available Available Print and Download Prevention Available Available UI Extensibility Framework Available Available Details OCR (apply OCR when adding new document) Available Available View Extensions Available Replaced Details AutoCAD add-in Available Available COM-based Office add-in Available Available
