diff --git a/files/classes/external/get/unused_draft.php b/files/classes/external/get/unused_draft.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..9bb952286babf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/files/classes/external/get/unused_draft.php
@@ -0,0 +1,100 @@
+<?php
+// This file is part of Moodle - http://moodle.org/
+//
+// Moodle is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+// it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+// the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+// (at your option) any later version.
+//
+// Moodle is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+// but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+// MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+// GNU General Public License for more details.
+//
+// You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+// along with Moodle.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+/**
+ * Generate a new draft itemid for the current user.
+ *
+ * @package    core_files
+ * @since      Moodle 3.11
+ * @copyright  2020 Juan Leyva <juan@moodle.com>
+ * @license    http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html GNU GPL v3 or later
+ */
+
+namespace core_files\external\get;
+
+defined('MOODLE_INTERNAL') || die();
+
+global $CFG;
+require_once($CFG->libdir . '/externallib.php');
+require_once($CFG->libdir . '/filelib.php');
+
+use external_api;
+use external_function_parameters;
+use external_multiple_structure;
+use external_single_structure;
+use external_value;
+use external_warnings;
+use context_user;
+
+/**
+ * Generate a new draft itemid for the current user.
+ *
+ * @copyright  2020 Juan Leyva <juan@moodle.com>
+ * @license    http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html GNU GPL v3 or later
+ */
+class unused_draft extends external_api {
+
+    /**
+     * Describes the parameters for execute.
+     *
+     * @return external_function_parameters
+     * @since Moodle 3.11
+     */
+    public static function execute_parameters() : external_function_parameters {
+        return new external_function_parameters ([]);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Generate a new draft itemid for the current user.
+     *
+     * @return array of information containing the draft item area and possible warnings.
+     * @since Moodle 3.11
+     */
+    public static function execute() : array {
+        global $USER;
+
+        $usercontext = context_user::instance($USER->id);
+        self::validate_context($usercontext);
+
+        return [
+            'component' => 'user',
+            'contextid' => $usercontext->id,
+            'userid' => $USER->id,
+            'filearea' => 'draft',
+            'itemid' => file_get_unused_draft_itemid(),
+            'warnings' => [],
+        ];
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Describes the execute return value.
+     *
+     * @return external_single_structure
+     * @since Moodle 3.11
+     */
+    public static function execute_returns() : external_single_structure {
+        return new external_single_structure(
+            [
+                'component' => new external_value(PARAM_COMPONENT, 'File area component.'),
+                'contextid' => new external_value(PARAM_INT, 'File area context.'),
+                'userid' => new external_value(PARAM_INT, 'File area user id.'),
+                'filearea' => new external_value(PARAM_ALPHA, 'File area name.'),
+                'itemid' => new external_value(PARAM_INT, 'File are item id.'),
+                'warnings' => new external_warnings(),
+            ]
+        );
+    }
+}
diff --git a/files/tests/externallib_test.php b/files/tests/externallib_test.php
index 91a9e1396c31e..3e951d7d91844 100644
--- a/files/tests/externallib_test.php
+++ b/files/tests/externallib_test.php
@@ -346,4 +346,41 @@ public function test_delete_draft_files() {
         $files = external_api::clean_returnvalue(core_files_external::get_files_returns(), $files);
         $this->assertCount(0, $files['files']);
     }
+
+    /**
+     * Test get_unused_draft_itemid.
+     */
+    public function test_get_unused_draft_itemid() {
+        global $USER;
+
+        $this->resetAfterTest();
+        $this->setAdminUser();
+
+        // Add files to user draft area.
+        $result = core_files\external\get\unused_draft::execute();
+        $result = external_api::clean_returnvalue(core_files\external\get\unused_draft::execute_returns(), $result);
+
+        $filerecordinline = [
+            'contextid' => $result['contextid'],
+            'component' => $result['component'],
+            'filearea'  => $result['filearea'],
+            'itemid'    => $result['itemid'],
+            'filepath'  => '/',
+            'filename'  => 'faketxt.txt',
+        ];
+        $fs = get_file_storage();
+        $fs->create_file_from_string($filerecordinline, 'fake txt contents 1.');
+
+        // Now create a folder with a file inside.
+        $fs->create_directory($result['contextid'], $result['component'], $result['filearea'], $result['itemid'], '/fakefolder/');
+        $filerecordinline['filepath'] = '/fakefolder/';
+        $filerecordinline['filename'] = 'fakeimage.png';
+        $fs->create_file_from_string($filerecordinline, 'img...');
+
+        $context = context_user::instance($USER->id);
+        // Check two files were created (one file and one directory).
+        $files = core_files_external::get_files($context->id, 'user', 'draft', $result['itemid'], '/', '');
+        $files = external_api::clean_returnvalue(core_files_external::get_files_returns(), $files);
+        $this->assertCount(2, $files['files']);
+    }
 }
diff --git a/lib/db/services.php b/lib/db/services.php
index 815404feace1a..17b2443d55859 100644
--- a/lib/db/services.php
+++ b/lib/db/services.php
@@ -821,6 +821,13 @@
         'type'        => 'write',
         'services' => array(MOODLE_OFFICIAL_MOBILE_SERVICE),
     ),
+    'core_files_get_unused_draft_itemid' => array(
+        'classname' => 'core_files\external\get\unused_draft',
+        'methodname' => 'execute',
+        'description' => 'Generate a new draft itemid for the current user.',
+        'type'        => 'write',
+        'services' => array(MOODLE_OFFICIAL_MOBILE_SERVICE),
+    ),
     'core_form_get_filetypes_browser_data' => array(
         'classname' => 'core_form\external',
         'methodname' => 'get_filetypes_browser_data',
diff --git a/version.php b/version.php
index e7a8e5183192e..8a7b8abfe780f 100644
--- a/version.php
+++ b/version.php
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@
 
 defined('MOODLE_INTERNAL') || die();
 
-$version  = 2021052500.50;              // YYYYMMDD      = weekly release date of this DEV branch.
+$version  = 2021052500.51;              // YYYYMMDD      = weekly release date of this DEV branch.
                                         //         RR    = release increments - 00 in DEV branches.
                                         //           .XX = incremental changes.
 $release  = '4.0dev (Build: 20210108)'; // Human-friendly version name