One Drive files locked when accessed via file explorer that are not locked when accessed through One Drive

Question

One Drive files locked when accessed via file explorer that are not locked when accessed through One Drive

Sue Phillips 5

Why are some of my files on One Drive locked when I access through file explorer but not when accessed through One Drive. Unable to upload to Sharepoint or attach to an email.

Coey Lin 0 Reputation points

2026-11-03T19:32:41.77+00:00

Hi We are having the same issue. From the Sharepoint online version, everything is working fine, and we have the edit permission. But on the synced file explorer, we have a small lock icon next to every file in that library document, and cannot save/edit/add/move things through the file explorer. We have tried log out of OneDrive, un-synced and synced, unlink our laptop, nothing works.

Context: It's only one Sharepoint site has this issue(we are members of this site), other Sharepoint sites in our company are working fine. Even the owner of the Sharepoint site cannot edit through the file explorer.
Alina Le 5,805 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-11-04T14:45:24.17+00:00

Hi

To keep this thread focused on the original poster’s scenario and ensure you can be tracked and resolved your issue efficiently, could you please create a new Q&A thread for your case?

Even when symptoms look similar, the root cause often differs by environment, account type, add-ins, and recent changes. A dedicated thread helps to avoid cross‑signals and accelerate troubleshooting.

To create your thread: go to Microsoft Q&A, click “Ask a question”, select the product/tag, and paste the above details.

3 answers

Your answer

Coey Lin 0 Reputation points

2026-11-03T19:32:41.77+00:00

Hi We are having the same issue. From the Sharepoint online version, everything is working fine, and we have the edit permission. But on the synced file explorer, we have a small lock icon next to every file in that library document, and cannot save/edit/add/move things through the file explorer. We have tried log out of OneDrive, un-synced and synced, unlink our laptop, nothing works.

Context: It's only one Sharepoint site has this issue(we are members of this site), other Sharepoint sites in our company are working fine. Even the owner of the Sharepoint site cannot edit through the file explorer.
Alina Le 5,805 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-11-04T14:45:24.17+00:00

Hi

To keep this thread focused on the original poster’s scenario and ensure you can be tracked and resolved your issue efficiently, could you please create a new Q&A thread for your case?

Even when symptoms look similar, the root cause often differs by environment, account type, add-ins, and recent changes. A dedicated thread helps to avoid cross‑signals and accelerate troubleshooting.

To create your thread: go to Microsoft Q&A, click “Ask a question”, select the product/tag, and paste the above details.

Answer 1

Right-click each affected file in File Explorer and select Always keep on this device; after its icon becomes a solid green circle with a white check mark, retry the SharePoint upload or email attachment.

A blue-cloud file is only a placeholder in File Explorer until OneDrive downloads it. Marking it Always keep on this device creates a complete local copy, which can resolve failures when another application needs to upload or attach the physical file ^1^ ^2^.

Check the icon and use the matching action

Blue cloud: Right-click → Always keep on this device. Wait for the solid green circle.
Circular arrows or “Sync pending”: Select the blue OneDrive cloud in the taskbar and wait for synchronization to finish. If it remains stuck, select Help & Settings → Pause syncing, then Resume syncing ^3^.
Red circle with a white X: Select the taskbar OneDrive icon and open the displayed error. This indicates that the item cannot sync ^4^.
Gray circle with a horizontal bar: Your organization has blocked synchronization of that file type. Contact the Microsoft 365 administrator; downloading it repeatedly will not remove the policy ^4^.
Chain/link on a folder: This identifies a shortcut to a shared folder, not a file lock ^4^.

If it is an actual padlock

If the affected files belong to a synced SharePoint document library, determine whether that library requires checkout. A library configured with Require Check Out, content approval, or restrictive draft-item settings can present synced files as read-only or locked in File Explorer.

Open the document library in SharePoint in a browser.
Select the file and choose Check out.
Edit the file, then Check in when finished.
If checkout should not be required, ask the site owner to review Library settings → More library settings → Versioning settings → Require Check Out and disable it only if organizational policy permits ^5^.

Do not change Windows permissions or the local read-only attribute for a SharePoint-enforced lock; those changes do not override library policy.

If OneDrive reports a local permission error

Use this branch only when the OneDrive activity center specifically says that OneDrive lacks permission to access the file:

Right-click the file → Properties → Security.
Select your Windows account.
Verify Read and Write are allowed.
If permitted by your organization, select Edit and grant those rights.

If the message instead says the file is in use, save and close the application holding it. OneDrive synchronizes it after the application releases the file ^6^.

Repair a confirmed sync-client problem

If the file is locally available, no checkout policy applies, and OneDrive still reports a synchronization error:

Close OneDrive from its taskbar menu.
Move the affected file temporarily outside the OneDrive folder.
Start OneDrive and wait until it reports Up to date.
Copy the file back into OneDrive.

Also check for unsupported characters and ensure the complete path is under 400 characters. If the problem affects many otherwise valid files, unlink/relink the work account or reset OneDrive as later repair options ^3^.

Immediate email workaround

In new Outlook, use Attach File → OneDrive or SharePoint, select the cloud file, and choose Send a copy if a traditional attachment is required. Alternatively, after downloading the file, use Attach File → Browse This Computer ^7^.

References

Answer 2

Sue Phillips 5

User's image

I have no warning or errors on one drive showing.

0 comments

Answer 3

Alina Le 5,805 Independent Advisor

Hello Sue Phillips

Since the files can be accessed through OneDrive on the web but appear locked when accessed through File Explorer, the issue may be related to the local OneDrive sync client, Files On-Demand status, or a SharePoint library setting rather than the files themselves.

To narrow it down, could you please confirm the following:

1/ What icon is displayed on the affected files in File Explorer (blue cloud, green checkmark, sync arrows, red X, or a padlock)?

-> This will help determine whether the files are in a sync-related state or actually locked.

What do the OneDrive icons mean? | Microsoft Support

User's image

2/ Are the affected files stored in personal OneDrive or in a SharePoint document library that is synced to File Explorer?

-> Different storage locations can point to different issues.

3/ What is the exact error message you receive when trying to upload the file to SharePoint or attach it to an email?

-> The specific error can help identify whether the issue is related to file access, permissions, or synchronization.

4/ Do you see the issue with all files in the synced location or only specific files?

-> This will help determine whether the problem is related to the sync location itself or the individual files.

Looking forward to hearing from you for further discussion.

Alina Le 5,805 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-10-28T15:47:15.37+00:00

Hi

Would you like me to continue working through this with you?

You can come back at any time if you'd like to continue discussing this issue.

Have a great day!
Sue Phillips 5 Reputation points

2026-10-28T17:27:45.4+00:00

The icon is a padlock. Files are stored on Sharepoint document library. I don't get a message when trying to attach as I am not able to attach since the file is locked.

I believe it to be a synch issue but I do not know how to resolve
Alina Le 5,805 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-10-29T15:59:34.9466667+00:00
Hi

Based on your description, this sounds more likely to be a local sync or File Explorer issue rather than the file being locked in SharePoint itself.

You could try:

1/ Select the OneDrive cloud icon and check whether any sync errors or warnings are reported.

2/ Reset OneDrive by running:

Press Windows + R.

Type: %localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\OneDrive.exe /reset

Press Enter.

Wait for OneDrive to restart automatically. If it does not, start OneDrive manually from the Start menu.

If possible, could you share a screenshot of the padlock icon as it appears in File Explorer (with any sensitive information removed)? The appearance of the icon may help identify
Sue Phillips 5 Reputation points

2026-10-29T16:12:14.1966667+00:00

No error or warning messages. This is on my work one drive; personal one drive ok.
Alina Le 5,805 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-11-02T16:13:49.9+00:00

Hi

Thank you for your update. May I confirm whether you have reset your OneDrive?
Sue Phillips 5 Reputation points

2026-11-02T21:38:54.9633333+00:00

Yes but I think all it reset was my personal and not the work one drive. Lock icon still on files in that one drive
Alina Le 5,805 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-11-04T06:26:43.6433333+00:00
Based on the screenshot, the padlock overlay in File Explorer is often associated with either a permissions issue or a OneDrive sync-related problem rather than the file being actively open.

You could check the following:

1/ OneDrive Sync Status

Click the OneDrive icon in the system tray and check whether there are any sync errors or warnings.

Right-click the affected file and choose "Always keep on this device", then wait for the file to finish downloading and syncing.

2/ File/Folder Permissions

Right-click the affected file (or its parent folder) -> Properties -> Security.

Confirm that your account has at least Modify permissions.

3/ Test with a Copy

Open the file and use Save As to create a copy with a different name in another OneDrive folder.

Try attaching or uploading the copied file. This can help determine whether the issue is specific to the original file.