Onedrive read only

Question

I am unable to add any new files on my Onedrive anymore.

Says the Database is Read only. Access denied.

Whom to contact to resolve this situation?

Moderator note: Moved from Microsoft 365 and Office | OneDrive | Others | Windows (user stated that this is Developer account)

Answer 1

Hello user user,

I realize that you've encountered a problem with the “database is read only / access denied” behavior in OneDrive. I truly understand your confusion. Let me assist you further.

For me to provide the most accurate solution, would you please let me know few information about the situation you're experiencing:

1. Is this OneDrive Personal or OneDrive linked to a Microsoft 365 work/school subscription?
2. Does the read‑only issue happen everywhere (OneDrive web + Windows app + phone), or only on one device?
3. Did this start after a subscription change (payment failure, cancellation, renewal, Apple/App Store purchase, or account change)?
4. Can you still view and download files, but not upload or create new ones? (Yes / No)
5. Do you see any license, storage, or account warning when you open OneDrive online?

Once I have this information, I will be able to assist you better. I am looking forward for your respond.

Have a nice day!

Answer 2

The “database is read only / access denied” behavior in OneDrive is typically caused by one of these conditions:

1. The OneDrive account is unlicensed or in read-only mode
   • After 60 days without a valid license, a OneDrive account goes into read-only mode: files can be viewed and downloaded but no new files can be uploaded or edited.
   • After 93 days, the account goes into archive mode and access is blocked.
   • To resolve this, an IT administrator must assign a valid license to the account. Once a license is assigned, full access is restored.
   • Contact: the organization’s Microsoft 365/IT administrator or IT support desk.
2. SharePoint/OneDrive service or site is locked/read-only at tenant level
   • If the OneDrive is associated with a SharePoint Online tenant that has been locked or set to read-only (for example, due to maintenance or policy), all content becomes read-only.
   • This lock can only be removed by a tenant administrator or Microsoft support, depending on the cause.
   • Contact: the Microsoft 365 global admin or SharePoint admin in the organization to check lock status and tenant health; they can then open a support ticket with Microsoft if needed.
3. Local file or library restrictions
   • If the issue occurs only for specific files or folders, check whether:
     • The file is marked read-only at the file system level (right‑click → Properties → clear Read-only).
     • The library has settings such as Checkout Required, Validation columns, or Draft Item Security that cause synchronized items to be read-only.
   • Contact: the site owner or SharePoint administrator to review library settings and permissions.
4. Permissions issues when uploading
   • If OneDrive shows a “Permissions needed” type error when uploading, the account may only have read permission on the underlying SharePoint library, or may be signed in with an account that does not have upload rights.
   • Contact: the SharePoint/OneDrive site owner or Microsoft 365 admin to grant edit permissions or confirm the correct work/school account is being used.

In summary, to resolve the situation, contact the organization’s Microsoft 365/IT administrator or support desk first. They can:

• Verify that the OneDrive license is valid and not in read-only/archive mode.
• Check whether the tenant or site is locked/read-only.
• Confirm that the account has sufficient permissions to upload files.
• If needed, open a support case with Microsoft on behalf of the user.

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References:

• SharePoint files open as read-only
• SharePoint or OneDrive read-only error messages
• Permissions needed to upload files in OneDrive for work or school
• What happens when your OneDrive account becomes unlicensed?

Answer 3

Hi @user user 

Based on the symptoms you’ve described, this does not appear to be a device‑side issue, a OneDrive sync client issue, or something caused by local permissions. What you’re seeing closely matches a known scenario affecting Microsoft 365 Developer Program tenants, where OneDrive for Business and SharePoint Online can be placed into a tenant‑level read‑only state.  

To confirm, please log into the Microsoft 365 Admin Center and check for any warning messages. You may also want to sign in directly to the SharePoint Admin Center, as backend locks or provisioning errors sometimes surface there with more specific error details that don’t appear in the standard Admin Center.  

It’s important to note that moderators and community contributors here don’t have access to internal backend systems, so we can’t check or modify your tenant’s provisioning status. The best next step is to raise a support ticket directly through your Microsoft 365 Admin Center. The internal support team has the necessary tools to investigate server‑level restrictions and, if appropriate, unlock the tenant.  

You can refer to this discussion Acceptable Use Policy violation notice on Microsoft 365 Developer E5 sandbox - SharePoint read-only… 

Thank you for your patience and understanding. 

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