WebException and UnauthorizedAccessException Errors When Downloading

Question

I'm losing access to my university OneDrive account in two days, and so I've been spending the past week or so trying to download everything from it. I've been trying to just download it by selecting everything in the web version and then downloading, which zips it all up, but then loads of files end up getting UnauthorizedAccessException or WebException errors. The files are all mine, so the UnauthorizedAccessException errors are puzzling, and my connection wasn't interrupted during the download, so I don't know what's causing the WebException errors either. Things have fared better when I've tried to download smaller subfolders, one at a time, but it's quite tedious to do so, and that has also given me a few errors. I could keep going like this, downloading subfolder by subfolder, and going another layer deep each time there's an error, but that's a rather tedious process that I'd prefer to avoid if possible.

I'm currently trying to just sync all the files via the OneDrive client, but because the download is uncompressed (unlike downloading via the web version) it's taking forever, and I don't think it'll be done in two days.

Is there any way to fix these UnauthorizedAcessException and WebException errors, or is there some alternative to the two ways I've been doing things?

Answer 1

Dear RDC,

Good day!!

I understand your concern and to my knowledge, the error message you are encountered could be caused due to the download the large number of the files and folders from your OneDrive for Business and I can understand the inconvenience or trouble causes for downloading the content in the OneDrive in the batch wise.

Since you are having the large data where you won’t be able to use the OneDrive sync client feature to copy the data from your OneDrive sync folder to the local folder, I would like to recommend you try to migrate the data of your OneDrive for Business to the personal OneDrive with the help of the Mover Transfer Wizard: Transfer files to your personal OneDrive with the Mover Transfer Wizard - Microsoft Support

Note: Please make sure you have the enough space in the OneDrive where you are transferring the content of your university OneDrive for Business.

If not, I would like to request you to connect with the IT admin of your university (How do I find my Microsoft 365 admin? - Microsoft Support) and ask them to help you on the backing up the data in your university OneDrive for Business as they can have some migration tool for transferring the data.

If there is no success from your university IT admin, then I am sorry to convey that you need to proceed with the batch wise to download for backing up the data before you leave your university.

In addition, I will keep this thread open so that users in this community can share their ideas on this concern.

Appreciate your patience and understanding. Have a great day!!

Best Regards,

Sophia