OneDrive for Mac failed to launch after update

Tom 115 Reputation points
2026-05-20T16:49:50.1933333+00:00

Hi,

My OneDrive failed to launch after the latest App Store update (version 26.078.0426). It said 'OneDrive can't start - there's an error with this application, please download the application on this computer and try again'.

Any idea?

Thanks.

Microsoft 365 and Office | OneDrive | For home | MacOS

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Answer recommended by moderator
Edgar Adamyan 15 Reputation points
2026-05-21T12:38:24.4466667+00:00

I tried reinstalling OneDrive several times, but nothing worked. The solution is quite simple: download the app from the Microsoft website instead of the App Store: OneDrive

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  1. AI answer

    2026-05-20T16:50:24.5933333+00:00

    OneDrive for Mac not launching after an update is commonly resolved by restarting the app, updating to the latest standalone sync client, or resetting OneDrive.

    Try these steps in order:

    1. Confirm OneDrive is running
      • Look for the OneDrive cloud icon on the right side of the macOS menu bar.
      • If it is not there, use Spotlight (Cmd+Space) and search for OneDrive, then open it.
    2. Restart OneDrive
      • If the icon is visible, select the OneDrive icon on the menu bar and choose Quit OneDrive.
      • Use Spotlight to search for OneDrive and reopen it.
    3. Update to the latest OneDrive sync app
      • OneDrive and macOS are frequently updated; installing the latest sync app can fix launch and sync issues.
      • If you installed from the Mac App Store, consider installing the standalone sync app instead by downloading the latest version from the official OneDrive download page referenced in the documentation.
      • If the latest version is already installed, the installer will exit automatically.
    4. Reset OneDrive (if it still will not start)
      • Open Finder and go to the Applications folder.
      • Right-click OneDrive and select Show Package Contents.
      • Navigate to Contents > Resources.
      • Double-click ResetOneDriveApp.command (or ResetOneDriveAppStandalone.command if using the standalone app).
      • After the reset completes, start OneDrive again from Applications and complete the setup.
      • Note: Resetting removes local OneDrive cache and forces a full resync; any files not yet synced to the cloud may be lost.
    5. If upgrading from macOS 12.1 or later with Files On-Demand
      • If OneDrive shows errors like “OneDrive couldn't start” or mentions a required system component, restart the Mac and try launching OneDrive again.
      • Ensure macOS is updated to the latest version.
      • If you see “A required system component is unavailable on this version of macOS,” perform the reset procedure above to clear the Files On-Demand migration state and then set up OneDrive again.

    If OneDrive still fails to launch after these steps, reinstalling the latest OneDrive sync app (standalone) after fully quitting and resetting the current installation is the next supported action.

    References:

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