OneDrive download not working can be frustrating. This guide offers solutions for common issues like slow speeds, download errors, and connection problems.
OneDrive is an online storage tool provided by Microsoft for consumers and businesses. It allows you to store files, photos, videos, and collaborate with other users on work tasks in OneDrive. However, many OneDrive users have recently reported that they are unable to download files from OneDrive. What is going on?
Research has found "OneDrive download stuck or failure" may be related to network connections, server congestion, or lack of download permissions. Fortunately, there are ways to solve these problems. Therefore, in this article, we have compiled the following 9 effective methods for you, so you can refer to the given solutions in the following part and try them one by one until the problem is solved.
All 9 of these solutions for fixing "OneDrive cannot download files" have proven to be effective. Feel free to try them out to quickly resolve the issue and successfully download your files.
Sometimes, devices can experience performance issues due to aging components after prolonged use, leading to system lags or malfunctions. To troubleshoot this, try downloading the OneDrive file on a newer device or use a different web browser such as Chrome or Firefox.
Since OneDrive is a cloud storage service, it heavily relies on a stable internet connection. If your network is unstable or slow, OneDrive may fail to download files or even access your files. Therefore, you should check if the device you're using is connected to a stable network.
Checking Your Network Connection
System Tray Icon: Look at the bottom right corner of your screen for the network connection icon. If it shows a red X or no signal, your computer is not connected to the internet.
Network and Internet Settings: Go to Windows Settings and find the "Network & Internet" section to check your connection status.
Ethernet: Ensure the Ethernet cable is securely connected to your computer and router.
Wi-Fi: Verify that you're connected to the correct Wi-Fi network and have entered the correct password.
Checking Your Internet Speed
If the previous methods haven't resolved the issue, reconnecting OneDrive to your computer might be an effective solution. This will refresh OneDrive's settings and re-establish the connection to the cloud service.
OneDrive download failures can sometimes be attributed to temporary glitches in either OneDrive or your computer's operating system. Restarting these applications can often resolve these issues. To restart OneDrive:
Note for laptop users: If your laptop is in power saving mode, it may prevent OneDrive from functioning correctly. Ensure your laptop is connected to a power source to disable power saving features.
A common workaround for OneDrive download failures is to re-upload the affected file. This process can help resolve issues caused by file corruption or incomplete uploads. To do this:
To troubleshoot download issues, ensure that you possess the appropriate permissions to access the file. If you are not the original creator of the file, contact the file owner or administrator to verify your access rights. It's possible that your permissions have been restricted or revoked, preventing you from downloading the file.
If OneDrive is unresponsive, you can try resetting it. This can sometimes resolve download issues.
Reset command: %localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset
Start command: %localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\onedrive.exe
If the previous troubleshooting steps have been unsuccessful, a complete reinstallation of OneDrive is recommended. To do this:
As the last resort, you can contact the OneDrive Support team for assistance.
Apart from downloading files from OneDrive to local in the official site or application, you can turn to the professional cloud manager named MultCloud. It is a versatile cloud management platform that simplifies the process of managing multiple cloud storage accounts. By utilizing MultCloud, users can seamlessly download files from OneDrive to their local devices, bypassing any potential download issues that may arise within the OneDrive platform itself.
It supports over 30 popular cloud storage services, such as OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox, SharePoint and iCloud Drive, allowing users to consolidate their cloud files into a unified interface. A standout feature of MultCloud is its ability to facilitate file transfers and synchronization between different cloud storage accounts without the need for manual downloads and uploads, ensuring data integrity and efficiency.