Fix Issues: OneDrive Not Working on Windows 10Updated 2 months ago

OneDrive, Microsoft's cloud storage service, offers users a seamless experience for storing and syncing files across multiple devices. It's integrated with Windows 10, meaning that files saved to OneDrive automatically sync to the cloud and other connected devices, such as laptops, desktops, and smartphones. However, just like any other software, OneDrive can occasionally run into issues that prevent it from functioning properly.

If you are experiencing problems with OneDrive on Windows 10, it can be frustrating, especially if you rely on it for syncing your files or backing up important documents. Whether OneDrive isn’t syncing your files, fails to open, or is giving you an error message, there are several troubleshooting steps you can take to resolve the issue.

In this guide, we will explore the common causes of OneDrive issues and provide detailed step-by-step instructions to fix the problem when OneDrive isn’t working on your Windows 10 PC.

1. Check Your Internet Connection

Before diving into more complex troubleshooting, the first thing to check is your internet connection. OneDrive relies on an active internet connection to upload, download, and sync files to the cloud. Without a stable connection, OneDrive may not function correctly, leading to syncing issues or even the failure to open the app.

How to Check Your Internet Connection:

1. Ensure Wi-Fi or Ethernet Connectivity: In the bottom-right corner of your taskbar, click on the network icon (Wi-Fi symbol or Ethernet connection icon) to ensure you are connected to the internet. If you're using Wi-Fi, check if the signal is strong or weak. If you're on a wired connection, ensure the Ethernet cable is properly connected to both your PC and router.
2. Test Web Access: Open a web browser (such as Microsoft Edge, Chrome, or Firefox) and navigate to a website to verify that your internet connection is active. If the page loads slowly or fails to load, you may have connectivity issues.
3. Test with Another Device: If you’re unsure about your internet connection, try connecting to the internet with another device (such as a smartphone or another computer). This can help you determine whether the issue lies with your PC or the network.

If your internet connection is slow or unstable, OneDrive will have trouble syncing your files. In this case, try restarting your router or switching to a more stable network. If your connection is fine, continue with the troubleshooting steps.

2. Check OneDrive’s Service Status

Sometimes, OneDrive issues occur because Microsoft’s cloud services are experiencing disruptions or outages. These issues are typically out of your control and affect users worldwide.

How to Check OneDrive’s Service Status:

1. Visit Microsoft’s Service Health Page: Microsoft maintains an online service status page where they list current issues with OneDrive and other Microsoft services. If OneDrive is experiencing a known problem, you will see a notification about it here.
2. Check Social Media: Microsoft often updates users about service disruptions on their official social media accounts. You can check Twitter, Facebook, or the Microsoft support forums for any official announcements regarding outages.

If there is a service outage, there is nothing you can do but wait for Microsoft to resolve the issue. However, in most cases, the issue will be fixed quickly, and OneDrive will start working again once the service is restored.

3. Sign Out and Sign Back In

If you’re experiencing syncing issues, corrupted files, or login problems, it may help to sign out of your OneDrive account and then sign back in. This can resolve issues caused by expired credentials or account-related problems.

How to Sign Out and Sign Back In to OneDrive:

1. Open OneDrive Settings: Right-click on the OneDrive cloud icon located in the system tray at the bottom-right corner of your screen. In the dropdown menu that appears, click on Settings.
2. Unlink Account: In the OneDrive settings window, go to the Account tab and click on Unlink this PC. This will sign you out of OneDrive on your computer.
3. Sign In Again: After unlinking the account, OneDrive will prompt you to sign in again. Enter your Microsoft account credentials (email address and password) to log back into OneDrive.
4. Restart OneDrive: Once you've signed in again, OneDrive should begin syncing your files to the cloud.

Signing out and back in can often resolve account-related issues, such as problems with syncing, accessing files, or error messages about authentication.

4. Check Your Storage Space

OneDrive offers free and paid plans with different storage limits. A common reason OneDrive stops syncing or working properly is because your account has run out of storage space. When your OneDrive storage is full, it cannot upload or sync new files, causing the app to malfunction.

How to Check OneDrive’s Storage Usage:

1. Open OneDrive Settings: Right-click on the OneDrive icon in the taskbar and select Settings.
2. Go to the Account Tab: In the OneDrive settings window, click on the Account tab. Here, you will see a graph that indicates how much space you’ve used and how much storage is available on your OneDrive account.
3. Check Storage Space: If your OneDrive is full, you won’t be able to upload new files or sync existing ones until you free up some space.

What to Do If Your OneDrive Storage is Full:

1. Delete Files: Review your OneDrive and delete files you no longer need. You can do this from the OneDrive website or by navigating to the OneDrive folder on your PC.
2. Move Files to Another Location: If you don’t want to delete files but need to free up space, consider moving some files to your local computer storage or an external hard drive.
3. Upgrade Your Storage: If you’re using the free OneDrive plan (5GB of space), you can upgrade to a paid plan that offers more storage. If you have an Office 365 subscription, you may already have 1TB of OneDrive storage included with your plan.

Once you’ve freed up space, restart OneDrive, and it should resume syncing your files.

5. Update OneDrive

Like any application, OneDrive is regularly updated to improve functionality, fix bugs, and add new features. If you haven’t updated OneDrive in a while, an outdated version could be causing issues.

How to Update OneDrive:

1. Open OneDrive Settings: Right-click on the OneDrive icon in the taskbar and select Settings.
2. Go to the About Tab: Click on the About tab in the settings window. Here, you will see your current version of OneDrive. If updates are available, you will be prompted to update.
3. Check for Updates: You can also check for updates by going to the Microsoft Store and searching for OneDrive. If an update is available, the Store will allow you to install it.
4. Windows Update: OneDrive updates are sometimes included with Windows updates. You can open Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update, and check for updates that may include OneDrive fixes.

Updating OneDrive ensures that you have the latest bug fixes and features, which can resolve performance and syncing issues.

6. Reset OneDrive

If OneDrive is still not working properly, resetting it may help. Resetting OneDrive clears its cache, which can resolve sync issues and other errors caused by corrupted files or settings.

How to Reset OneDrive:

1. Close OneDrive: Right-click on the OneDrive icon in the system tray and select Close OneDrive.
2. Open the Run Dialog: Press Windows + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.
3. Enter Reset Command: Type the following command and press Enter:

1. Wait for OneDrive to Restart: OneDrive should automatically restart after resetting. If it doesn’t, you can manually launch OneDrive by searching for it in the Start menu and clicking the OneDrive app.

Resetting OneDrive will clear out any temporary files and settings that may be causing problems. Once the reset is complete, OneDrive will start syncing files from scratch, which can often resolve many issues.

7. Reinstall OneDrive

If resetting OneDrive does not resolve the issue, reinstalling OneDrive can help fix any corrupted files or installation problems.

How to Reinstall OneDrive:

1. Uninstall OneDrive: Open Settings > Apps > Apps & Features. Find OneDrive in the list of installed apps, click on it, and then click Uninstall.
2. Download OneDrive: Once OneDrive is uninstalled, you can download the latest version from the Microsoft website or use the Microsoft Store.
3. Reinstall OneDrive: After downloading the installer, run it and follow the on-screen instructions to reinstall OneDrive.
4. Sign In: After the installation is complete, sign in to OneDrive using your Microsoft account credentials. OneDrive will then start syncing your files.

Reinstalling OneDrive ensures you have a clean installation, which can resolve deeper issues that resetting or updating the app could not fix.

8. Check System Permissions

If OneDrive isn't syncing your files, it might be because the app doesn't have the correct permissions to access the necessary folders or files on your PC. Ensure OneDrive has the proper permissions to sync data.

How to Check OneDrive Permissions:

1. Open Settings: Press Windows + I to open Settings.
2. Go to Privacy Settings: In the Privacy section, select File System.
3. Allow OneDrive Access: Make sure OneDrive is allowed to access your files and folders. If it is not listed or permissions are disabled, adjust the settings to allow OneDrive access.

Additionally, check if any third-party antivirus software or firewalls are blocking OneDrive. If so, you may need to adjust your security settings to allow OneDrive to function properly.

9. Contact Microsoft Support

If you have tried all of the above solutions and OneDrive is still not working, it might be time to contact Microsoft Support. There could be a more complex issue that requires expert assistance.

Conclusion

OneDrive is a valuable tool for syncing files and storing documents in the cloud. However, it can experience issues on Windows 10, ranging from syncing problems to app crashes. Fortunately, most of these problems can be fixed with a few simple troubleshooting steps.

In this article, we’ve covered a range of potential fixes for OneDrive not working on Windows 10, including checking your internet connection, signing out and back in, ensuring enough storage space, updating the app, resetting OneDrive, and reinstalling the program.