UPLOAD BLOCKED

Question

UPLOAD BLOCKED

Vera Paine 0

I keep getting UPLOAD BLOCKED after saving and re-opening a spreadsheet. There's no information on how to fix this issued.

Hendrix-V 20,385 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-10-22T07:24:35.97+00:00
Hi Vera Paine,

Since the existing troubleshooting already covers the common OneDrive account, credentials, permissions, and sync reset steps, I’d first narrow down whether this follows the workbook or its storage location.

Please try:

Open the affected workbook.

Go to File > Save As > Browse.

Save a new copy to a local folder outside OneDrive, such as Documents.

Close Excel, reopen that local copy, make a small change, and save it.

If the local copy works normally, please let us know. If it also shows UPLOAD BLOCKED, please share the complete error message and where the workbook is stored. That will help narrow down the next troubleshooting step.

I hope this helps isolate the cause.

1 answer

Your answer

Hendrix-V 20,385 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-10-22T07:24:35.97+00:00

Hi Vera Paine,

Since the existing troubleshooting already covers the common OneDrive account, credentials, permissions, and sync reset steps, I’d first narrow down whether this follows the workbook or its storage location.

Please try:

Open the affected workbook.

Go to File > Save As > Browse.

Save a new copy to a local folder outside OneDrive, such as Documents.

Close Excel, reopen that local copy, make a small change, and save it.

If the local copy works normally, please let us know. If it also shows UPLOAD BLOCKED, please share the complete error message and where the workbook is stored. That will help narrow down the next troubleshooting step.

I hope this helps isolate the cause.

Answer 1

For a workbook stored in a OneDrive-synced folder, sign in to Excel with the same Microsoft account used by OneDrive, then restart both applications.

1. Protect any unsaved changes

Before changing accounts, select File > Save As > Browse and save a temporary copy outside the OneDrive folder, such as in Documents. Continue with the original cloud file after the upload issue is resolved.

2. Match the Excel and OneDrive accounts

Microsoft documents this exact message when Excel is signed in with an account that lacks permission to upload to the OneDrive location.^1^

Select the OneDrive cloud icon in the Windows taskbar.
Select Help & Settings > Settings > Account and note the account shown.
In Excel, select File > Account.
Under Connected Services, remove every account except the OneDrive account noted above.
If that account is missing, select Add a service > Storage > OneDrive, then sign in with it.^2^
From the OneDrive taskbar menu, select Help & Settings > Pause syncing, and then Help & Settings > Quit OneDrive.
Close Excel and all other Microsoft 365 applications.
Restart OneDrive, reopen Excel, and save the workbook again.

3. If the accounts already match

Clear stale Office and OneDrive credentials:

In Excel, open File > Account and sign out of every account.
Close all Microsoft 365 applications.
Open Start, search for Credential Manager, and select it.
Select Windows Credentials.
Under Generic Credentials, remove entries related to:
- OneDrive
- MicrosoftOffice16
- MicrosoftOffice15
Restart OneDrive and Excel.
Sign in to both with the same account, reopen the workbook, and test saving.^1^

Removing these credentials signs Microsoft applications out; it does not delete the workbook.

4. If uploading remains blocked

Unlink and reconnect OneDrive:

Select the OneDrive cloud icon > Help & Settings > Settings.
Open Account and select Unlink this PC > Unlink account.
Sign in again and, when prompted that the OneDrive folder already exists, select Use this folder.
Wait for synchronization to finish, reopen the workbook from that synced folder, and save it.

Unlinking temporarily disconnects local folders but does not delete their data.^3^

If this is a shared OneDrive or SharePoint workbook and the message specifically says permission is required, confirm that the account shown under Excel > File > Account has Edit permission. Read-only access cannot upload changes; for a work or school location, its owner or administrator must grant edit permission.^4^

If the workbook is not stored in OneDrive or SharePoint, the exact full message and the location shown under File > Save As are needed to distinguish this upload error from a file-lock or local workbook problem.

References