OneDrive won't reinstall. Windows says a newer version is installed, but the app is missing.

Question

OneDrive won't reinstall. Windows says a newer version is installed, but the app is missing.

Eliane Bisio 20

OneDrive Personal Vault stopped working on my Windows 11 PC. I tried reinstalling OneDrive, but the installation fails because Windows says a newer version is already installed, even though OneDrive no longer appears in Installed Apps. I need help repairing the installation without losing my files.

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Answer 1

Ramesh Srinivasan 90,210 Independent Advisor

Hi Eliane,

Residual OneDrive registry entries or files may cause this error. Please open a Command Prompt window and run these commands to query the OneDrive settings.

reg query HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\OneDrive /s

reg query HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\OneDrive /s

dir "C:\Program Files\Microsoft OneDrive"

Copy the output and post it in your reply.

Eliane Bisio 20 Reputation points

2026-11-12T17:36:36.29+00:00

Hi Ramesh,

Thank you for your help.

I've run all three commands. Both registry locations still show version 26.204.1019.0006.

The folder C:\Program Files\Microsoft OneDrive\26.204.1019.0006 still exists, along with several OneDrive components, but OneDrive.exe was not found in that folder.

OneDrive also no longer appears in Installed Apps, and reinstalling it still produces the message that a newer version is already installed.

Could you please advise on the safest way to repair this incomplete installation without affecting my files?

Many thanks.
Ramesh Srinivasan 90,210 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-11-12T17:41:34.8633333+00:00
OneDrive.exe usually exists at "C:\Program Files\Microsoft OneDrive\OneDrive.exe".

Please check if the following file exists?

C:\Program Files\Microsoft OneDrive\26.204.1019.0006\OneDriveSetup.exe

If so, please run it. It will reinstall OneDrive.
Eliane Bisio 20 Reputation points

2026-11-12T18:14:52.66+00:00

Hi Ramesh

It worked! Thank you so much for your help!

I've spent the whole afternoon trying to sort this out, and your guidance really made a difference.

I genuinely appreciate you taking the time to help me. Thank you again!
Ramesh Srinivasan 90,210 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-11-12T19:39:58.8433333+00:00

Hi Eliane,

You're most welcome. I'm glad to hear that the issue is sorted. 👍