Nextcloud announced that the Euro-Office suite will launch dedicated desktop clients for Windows, Linux, and macOS within the coming weeks. This update aims to transition the platform from a browser-based experience to a traditional local application model, allowing users to edit documents directly on their computers while maintaining synchronization with Nextcloud servers.
The new desktop version supports text processing, spreadsheets, and presentations. It includes offline capabilities, enabling users to work on files without an active internet connection and automatically sync changes once back online. Nextcloud has also optimized the platform's performance, specifically improving file filtering and thumbnail generation for faster access.
Euro-Office was launched earlier this year as a collaborative project by European organizations including Nextcloud, IONOS, Open-Xchange, and Office.eu. Built on the OnlyOffice codebase, the suite focuses on digital sovereignty and reducing reliance on non-European software providers. The project has recently expanded its alliance with new contributors, such as the email service provider Tuta.
The project has faced criticism regarding its focus on Microsoft OOXML format compatibility over Open Document Format (ODF) standards. However, the development team maintains that supporting formats like DOCX, XLSX, and PPTX is essential for encouraging public institutions and businesses to migrate from existing Microsoft-centric environments to European alternatives.
