Onedrive issue accessing a file

northie66 20 Reputation points
2026-10-14T19:05:12.7533333+00:00

Cannot access a Word document file. (Although i have had this happen with Excel files as well.) I had the file in one folder and moved it to another. Once I move it, I can no longer access it. I've waited 24+ hours and still can't access it.

The icon in front of the filename usually just blinks but sometimes I get the error. Ive tried right clicking and choosing "always keep on this device" which does not help at all.

One thing that will fix it is if I duplicate the file. It recreates it with "copy" added to the end of the filename and then I can open that one.

Microsoft 365 and Office | OneDrive | For business | Windows
Answer accepted by question author
Ruby Nguyen 3,735 Reputation points Independent Advisor
2026-10-14T19:47:07.0166667+00:00

Good day northie66, 

From what you described, the file content appears intact because the copied version opens normally. This points to an issue with how the original file is being synced after it was moved. 

Please try the steps below: 

Make sure your operating system and OneDrive app are fully updated to the latest version.    

Option 1: Check the file in OneDrive on the web 

If the file opens online, the issue is limited to the OneDrive app on this device. If it doesn't open online, please note the exact error message and contact your organization's IT administrator for further investigation. In case you do not know who is your IT admin, kindly refer to this article: How do I find my Microsoft 365 admin? - Microsoft Support  

Option 2: Refresh sync for the file 

  • Close Word, Excel and any apps that may be using the file. 
  • Select the OneDrive icon in the notification area and choose Quit OneDrive. 
  • Move the affected file to a temporary location outside the OneDrive folder, such as the Desktop. 
  • Start OneDrive again from the Start menu. 
  • Wait until OneDrive shows that sync is complete. 
  • Copy the file back to the desired OneDrive folder. 
  • After sync finishes, try opening the file again. 

Option 3: Verify file permissions 

  • Right click the file and select Properties. 
  • Open the Security tab. 
  • Select your Windows account. 
  • Confirm that both Read and Write permissions are allowed. 

User's image

If either permission is missing, please contact your IT administrator before making changes. 

Option 4: Relink OneDrive 

Please follow the steps in the article: Unlink and re-link OneDrive | Microsoft Support 

Option 5: Reset OneDrive 

You can refer to the following article for detailed steps: Reset OneDrive | Microsoft Support 

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out at any time. 

Thank you for your patience and understanding. 

If you have any extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment".            

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  1. AI answer

    2026-10-14T19:05:30.91+00:00

    This behavior matches a OneDrive sync problem after the file move. Since duplicating the file creates a new working copy, the original file is likely stuck in sync or has a local sync conflict.

    Try these steps in order:

    1. Check whether the file is still open somewhere
      • If Word or Excel still has the file open, OneDrive may not sync it correctly.
      • Close the file and fully close the Office app.
      • If needed, restart the PC and try opening the file again.
    2. Restart OneDrive sync
      • Select the OneDrive cloud icon in the notification area.
      • Select More > Pause syncing... and choose 2, 8, or 24 hours.
      • Then select More > Resume syncing.
      • Wait for OneDrive to show Up to date and test the file again.
    3. Move the problem file out of OneDrive and back in
      • Right-click the OneDrive cloud icon.
      • Select Close OneDrive.
      • In File Explorer, move the affected file to a folder outside OneDrive, such as **C:**.
      • Start OneDrive again from Start and open OneDrive.
      • Wait until OneDrive shows Up to date.
      • Copy the file back into the target OneDrive folder.
    4. Check file permissions on the moved file
      • In File Explorer, right-click the file and select Properties.
      • Open the Security tab.
      • Select the current user name and confirm Read and Write are allowed.
      • If not, select Edit and add Read and Write.
    5. Look for hidden sync blockers in that folder
      • In File Explorer, go to View and enable Hidden items.
      • If the folder shows Sync pending but no visible file problem, a hidden file may be blocking sync.
      • If no hidden file is found, create a new folder, copy all files from the affected folder into it, then delete the old folder.
    6. Check for duplicate-name or sync-conflict behavior
      • OneDrive can have sync conflicts if files are changed on another PC or edited offline.
      • Renaming the file to something unique and saving it again can reduce sync conflicts.
      • The fact that a duplicated file opens supports this possibility.
    7. If the issue affects many files, check OneDrive file volume
      • In File Explorer, right-click the OneDrive folder and select Properties.
      • If the Contains count is over 300,000, reduce the number of synced files. Removing shortcut folders or stopping sync for SharePoint libraries can help.

    If the file still cannot be opened locally, check whether it opens from OneDrive on the web. If it does, download a fresh copy. For a work or school account, the next step is to contact the organization IT helpdesk if the problem continues.

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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