Microsoft is launching version expiration policies in SharePoint Online for audio and video files. The approach is the same as used for intelligent versioning of Office files stored in SharePoint Online and OneDrive for Business and can be configured at the tenant, site, and document library level. If your tenant uses Clipchamp, this could be a way to save expensive SharePoint storage.
Paul Robichaux and I led a session about Microsoft 365 Compliance at the European SharePoint Conference in Dublin on December 2, 2025. During the session, we discussed how intelligent versioning works and its value in saving storage, priority cleanup and its ability to delete files even if the files are under retention hold, and the recent revamp of the Purview eDiscovery solution. We were thrilled at the attendance. Here’s what happened.
SharePoint Online intelligent versioning uses algorithms to decide what file versions must be kept for file recoverability. Unwanted versions are discarded (trimmed). A notional 500 version limit applies when intelligent versioning is in force but if data lifecycle management (retention) is used, SharePoint cannot trim versions to keep within the 500 version threshold. Some change is needed to resolve the conflict.
Intelligent versioning means that SharePoint Online manages file versions automatically and only keeps what’s needed. The feature works for OneDrive too, if only you can figure out how to enable it. Intelligent versioning can be enabled for a OneDrive account manually. PowerShell is the best option to enable intelligent versioning across a tenant. But how? We explain all here.
Intelligent versioning recently appeared in SharePoint Online. The purpose is to save storage by removing unnecessary versions. But retention policies and labels can stop the removal of versions. This article explains what happens when SharePoint Online attempts to trim (remove) unwanted versions of files under the control of retention policies and labels.