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Why won't OneDrive files open from Windows File Explorer?

Bill Venne 5 Reputation points
2025-08-29T15:50:05.7633333+00:00

Hello,

First time posting, please excuse the scattered information.

I ran into this issue on two recent computer deployments.

Environment:

  • Currently running Windows 11 24H2 with all available updates and running Microsoft 365.
  • High speed Internet, 85mb download, 91mb upload, on a campus of about 1500 devices. No reported network issues.
  • Both users have an older Windows 11 machine that is being replace as part of a 5 year cycle.
  • Both have signed on to the new/replacement computer for the first time and both I had Sign In to OneDrive first to get the Sync started (one had 200+ GB, the other 100GB, we have a 1TB limit).
  • In each case, after OneDrive is "done syncing", they both opened File Explorer and navigated to a file to open, and it didn't work.
  • Neither of them have experience the issue on their old computers on the same network (tested side by side), the same file always opens via File Explorer on the older setup.

Issue

Here is what pops up after clicking on a file from File Explorer (happens with Excel, Word & PDFs (so far)):

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After a few minutes, with no changes in the status, this window sometimes pops up (but not every time).

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Temporary work around: Open OneDrive via the Web Interface, logging on to Office.com with the same user credentials and navigating to "My Files". Everything opens without fail, or downloads.

The freshly downloaded file can be placed back in their OneDrive location but now they have two files. Attempting to delete the old file caused both computers to lock up to the point a hard shutdown had to take place. I have not attempted to delete the file from the old computer via File Explorer but I am guessing it would work.

Attempted Fixes:

Google searched and came up with this, we have all tried it:

1.     Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.

2.     In the "Open" field, type: %localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset.

3.     Press OK to execute the command. This will reset and clear the OneDrive sync cache.

4.     Once the app is reset, you may need to relaunch OneDrive.

Error with this attempt:
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Signed out of OneDrive and back in on the new computer, no change.

I suspect this has something to do with Windows 11 24H2 and it's updates but I haven't had time to explore this in detail, start of the school year has kept me very busy.

Microsoft 365 and Office | OneDrive | For education | Android
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  1. Greg 0 Reputation points
    2025-10-10T07:30:04.95+00:00

    I have the same problem but with a Windows 10 installation. About a week ago my OneDrive files became slower and slower to open via File Explorer. Now they will not open at all. Just the blue circle of death and I have to restart File explorer. If I use the browser and go on line I can see and open all the files. If I use another windows 11 laptop it works fine so it is something to do with my Windows 10 PC. I have tried the unlink and then resync. I have tried to uninstall OneDrive but is doesn't uninstall? I have reloaded a new copy of OneDrive and it loaded and I signed in again and it did a resync. I have run the windows repair command and it did find some issues but after all these options it has still not fixed the File Explorer to open the OneDrive files. All other files open correctly. OneDrive says it has synced all files and you can open on the left side of Explorer the OneDrive folders and go down several levels but as soon as you click on the last folder and it transfers to the left window then you can not open the file and Explorer hangs. I'm not sure what to do next.

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  2. Bill Venne 5 Reputation points
    2025-09-11T17:29:03.3533333+00:00

    I guess I am not going to get an actual working answer. Sometimes these products are so difficult to work with. 4 out of the last 20 deployments have the issue, all with the same initial Build/Image, Updates and version of O356 & OneDrive.

    What I don't understand is why am I the only one reporting on this, or are there others with different questions that are posted to different areas?

    It's a mystery.

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  3. Kai-L 13,705 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2025-08-29T18:06:21.0933333+00:00

    Dear @Bill Venne,

    Thank you for reaching out to the Microsoft Q&A Community. 

    The OneDrive issue you described, where files won't open from File Explorer and you receive a 0x800701AA error, is a known problem that points to a cloud operation timeout. This often happens with Files On-Demand when the local OneDrive client fails to trigger the download of the file from the cloud. The fact that you see an error saying onedrive.exe can't be found during the reset process suggests that the OneDrive application itself is either corrupted or wasn't installed correctly.

    Since a simple reset failed, the most effective solution for this type of corruption is a clean reinstallation of the OneDrive client.

    1. Unlink the account: Go to OneDrive settings, select the Account tab, and click Unlink this PC.
    2. Uninstall OneDrive: Navigate to Settings > Apps > Installed apps, locate OneDrive, and click Uninstall.
    3. Delete Residual Files: After uninstalling, manually check and delete any leftover files in the following folders to ensure a fresh start:
      • C:\Users<username>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\OneDrive
        • C:\Users<username>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\OneDrive
        1. Restart the PC.
        2. Reinstall OneDrive: Download and install the latest version of OneDrive from the official Microsoft website.

    If these steps don't fix the problem, it might indicate a deeper issue with the user's profile or Windows installation, but a clean reinstall resolves most cases. 

     

    I've noted that you already found a workaround for this issue. I appreciate your effort in finding a solution and for providing such a detailed account of your problem. This case could serve as a valuable reference for many users who may encounter a similar issue.

    I would like to provide a brief summary of this post so that other forum members can easily find the useful information here:

    Issue Description:  

    Users on new Windows 11 24H2 PCs are unable to open files from File Explorer when using OneDrive, receiving a 0x800701AA: The cloud operation was not completed before the time-out period expired error. Files can be opened correctly from the web interface, which confirms the network and cloud services are working.

    Assessment:

    This indicates a corrupted local OneDrive client that is failing to authenticate or communicate with the cloud, likely due to a bug or a flawed installation on the new Windows 11 OS version.

    More Information:

    The user's troubleshooting revealed that the onedrive.exe file could not be found when attempting a reset, a clear sign of a corrupted installation.

    Recommended Fix & Workaround

    The most effective solution for this type of corruption is a clean reinstallation of the OneDrive client. The temporary workaround is to open files directly from the OneDrive web interface.

    As other users will also search information in this community, your valuable vote will definitely also help other users who have similar queries easily to find the correct channel and useful information more quickly. 
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    We are truly impressed by your dedication and ingenuity in finding this solution and sharing it with the community. Thank you for making our community a more valuable resource. Wishing you all the best!

    If the answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it. If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment". 

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