difficulty downloading files from One Drive

Make the affected OneDrive file local with Always keep on this device, wait for its green check mark, and then attach it from Browse This Computer/PC in Outlook. ^1^

Download the file to Windows

1. Open File Explorer → OneDrive – Personal.
2. Right-click the affected file or folder and select Always keep on this device.
3. Wait for a green circle with a white check mark. This indicates that the item has downloaded and is available offline. A blue cloud means it remains online-only. ^2^
4. Open the file directly from File Explorer to verify that the download completed.

Ensure the PC has enough free disk space before downloading a large folder.

Attach the downloaded file in Outlook

For new Outlook:

1. Create or reply to a message.
2. Select Message → Insert → Attach File.
3. Select Browse This Computer.
4. Open OneDrive – Personal, select the file showing the green check mark, and attach it.
5. If Outlook asks, choose either:
   • Send a copy to include a conventional attachment, or
   • Send a link to keep the message smaller and share the OneDrive file.

For classic Outlook:

1. Select Message → Include → Attach File.
2. Choose Browse This PC and select the downloaded file, or choose Browse Web Locations → OneDrive to attach it directly from the cloud. ^3^

If File Explorer still cannot download it

Test the same file through the OneDrive website:

1. Open OneDrive in a browser and sign in.
2. Select the circle beside the file or folder.
3. Select Download on the top toolbar, or right-click the item and select Download.
4. Save it somewhere outside the OneDrive folder, such as Downloads, and attach that local copy.

The Download button appears only after selecting an item. If it disappears, go up one folder and return, or close and reopen the browser tab. Multiple selected items are downloaded as a ZIP file. Files cannot be downloaded directly from the Shared view; open the shared item first and save or download it from there. ^4^

This browser test also separates the two problems:

• Website download works: the files are present, and the issue is with the Windows OneDrive synchronization client.
• Website download also fails: note the exact browser message and whether it affects one file, one folder, or every item.

Conditional fixes

• If Windows displays “OneDrive cannot connect to Windows,” install all available Windows Update updates, install the latest OneDrive version, and restart the PC. Microsoft identifies this procedure specifically for Files On-Demand connection failures. ^5^
• If the OneDrive cloud icon is absent, start OneDrive from the Windows Start menu. If synchronization still fails, use Microsoft’s guided sync troubleshooting or unlink and relink the account. ^6^
• If attaching a copy remains unsuccessful, send a OneDrive link instead: in Outlook select Attach → OneDrive, choose the item, and select Share link. For Outlook.com, the complete email—including attachments—has a 25 MB limit, while a OneDrive link does not count toward that email-size limit. ^7^

If further diagnosis is needed, provide the exact error message, whether the file has a blue cloud or green check, whether downloading works in the browser, and whether the attachment problem occurs in new Outlook, classic Outlook, or Outlook.com.

References

1. Save disk space with OneDrive Files On-Demand for Windows | Microsoft Support
2. [File Explorer/Finder](https://support.microsoft.com/onedrive/what-do-the-onedrive-icons-mean)
3. [New Outlook](https://support.microsoft.com/outlook/mail/add-pictures-or-attach-files-to-emails-in-outlook)
4. Download files and folders from OneDrive or SharePoint | Microsoft Support
5. "OneDrive cannot connect to Windows" error when accessing files in OneDrive | Microsoft Support
6. [Personal accounts](https://support.microsoft.com/onedrive/fix-onedrive-sync-problems)
7. Unable to attach files in Outlook.com | Microsoft Support