How to fix "Sorry something is preventing us from uploading your document" in Word

Question

I can use word to edit documents that are already on my onedrive, and I can open local word documents, however I cannot upload these local documents to my one drive or have auto save. I reinstalled all of microsoft office, restarted my computer, updated office and my pc, repaired office, signed in and out, but still doesn't work.

Whenever I try, I select my onedrive account, then it asks me to save as to my computer and select a location in file explorer. Whether I select a location or not, it then gives me the error message "Sorry something is preventing us from uploading your document". I've tested with multiple word docs, created new ones etc.
However, if I have a local ppt file, I can upload it to Onedrive just fine with ppt and enable autosave, no issues. word version 2512, windows 25H2

Answer 1

Hi Alex,

Whenever I try to add my account, I get this error message:

Thank you!

Answer 2

Dear @LR,
Thank you for the update. I understand the situation clearly now. You can upload files to OneDrive on the web, and you can open online files normally in Word and Excel. However, when you start a new document on your PC, AutoSave cannot be turned on, and Word/Excel show the message: “Sorry, something is preventing us from uploading your document.” PowerPoint works fine, and you also cannot add your school account to Windows Settings > Accounts.

From everything you tested, this behavior usually happens when the school account cannot be registered on Windows. Word and Excel need the account to be added to Windows so they can create a secure connection (token) for AutoSave and cloud uploads. Because the account cannot be added to Windows, Word and Excel cannot complete the upload process. PowerPoint uses a different upload method, which is why it still works.

To move forward, could you please help confirm one more thing: What error message do you see when you try to add your school account under: Settings > Accounts > Access work or school > Connect?

This message will help us understand whether the school is blocking personal devices or if Windows is failing to register the account.

In the meantime, since uploading on the web works, you can continue opening files from OneDrive after uploading them online.I'm looking forward to hearing from you. Thank you for your cooperation.

Answer 3

Dear @LR,

Thank you for posting your question in the Microsoft Q&A forum. From your description, I understand that you can open and edit Word files that are already on OneDrive. You can also open Word files saved locally on your PC. However, when you try to save a local Word file to OneDrive or turn on AutoSave, Word shows: “Sorry something is preventing us from uploading your document.” but PowerPoint can upload to OneDrive and AutoSave works.

To help us narrow down the cause, could you please confirm the following:

• Is your OneDrive account Personal, or Work/School (Education)?
• Does the same issue happen in Excel, or only in Word?
• In Word > File > Account, what account(s) are signed in under User Information and Connected Services?
• Does the issue still happen if you start Word in Safe Mode (Win+R > type: winword /safe)?
• Are you able to upload the same .docx file to OneDrive using File Explorer (or the OneDrive folder), and then open it from OneDrive in Word?
• What is the OneDrive app version (OneDrive cloud icon > Settings > About)?
• Are you using VPN/proxy or any security software that may control cloud uploads?

In the meantime, please try steps below:

• Upload the document to OneDrive using File Explorer (or move it into your OneDrive folder).
• Then open the file from OneDrive in Word. Once the file is already stored online, AutoSave should be available.

Please understand that our initial response does not always resolve the issue immediately. However, with your help and more detailed information, we can work together to find a solution.

I truly appreciate your patience and understanding. If you have any further questions or need further clarification, please feel free to reach out. I'm looking forward to hearing from you. 

Thank you for your cooperation.

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Answer 4

To resolve the error "Sorry something is preventing us from uploading your document" in Word, you can try the following steps:

1. Check Account Permissions: Ensure that you are signed in to the Microsoft 365 app with the same account that has permission to upload files to OneDrive. If you are using different accounts, this can cause issues.
2. Remove and Re-add Accounts: In the affected Microsoft 365 app, go to File > Account and sign out of all accounts. Then, sign back in with the correct account that has OneDrive access.
3. Clear Credentials: Open the Credential Manager in Windows, navigate to Windows Credentials, and remove any credentials related to OneDrive and Microsoft Office. This can help reset any problematic authentication issues.
4. Restart OneDrive: After making changes, restart OneDrive and try to upload the document again. Ensure that OneDrive is running properly in the background.
5. Check for Updates: Make sure that both Windows and Microsoft Office are fully updated, as updates can fix bugs and improve functionality.
6. Repair Office: If the issue persists, consider performing an online repair of Microsoft Office through the Apps & Features settings in Windows.

If these steps do not resolve the issue, you may want to check for any specific settings or restrictions in your OneDrive account that could be affecting uploads.

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References:

• UPLOAD BLOCKED error when you save OneDrive-synced files in Microsoft 365 apps