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Resolve file upload errors in Microsoft Forms

  • Applies to: Microsoft Forms

Files that are uploaded through Microsoft Forms are stored in Microsoft SharePoint or in OneDrive for work or school, as follows:

  • Files that are uploaded to group forms are stored in the document library on the Microsoft 365 group's SharePoint site.
  • Files that are uploaded to individual forms are stored in the form author's personal OneDrive folder.

When you use the file upload functionality in Forms, you might receive an error message in the following scenarios:

These errors might occur if file uploads to SharePoint or OneDrive are blocked. This article lists some common error messages and the methods to fix the errors.

Error: We weren't able to create an upload file folder in OneDrive for Business

This error can occur for the following reasons:

  • The Limited-access user permission lockdown mode site collection feature is enabled. This feature restricts sharing and access to files and folders.
  • The People in your organization sharing links are disabled.
  • Sharing files and folders is limited to site owners.

Resolution

To fix this error for an individual form that you create, sign in to your OneDrive for work or school website, and then follow these steps:

  1. Disable the Limited-access user permission lockdown mode site collection feature, if it's enabled.

    1. Select the Settings icon in the upper-right corner of the screen.
    2. Select OneDrive settings > More Settings.
    3. Under Features and storage, select Site collection features.
    4. Locate Limited-access user permission lockdown mode. If its Status value is Active, select Deactivate, and then select Deactivate this feature on the confirmation page.

  2. Enable the People in your organization sharing links if they're disabled.

    Note: You must be a SharePoint Online administrator and a site collection administrator to run the following PowerShell commands in SharePoint Online Management Shell.

    To check whether link sharing is disabled in your OneDrive site, run the following PowerShell command:

    (Get-SPOSite <your OneDrive site URL>).DisableCompanyWideSharingLinks

    If link sharing is disabled, run the following PowerShell command to enable company-wide link sharing for your OneDrive site:

    Set-SPOSite -Identity <your OneDrive site URL> -DisableCompanyWideSharingLinks NotDisabled

    Typically, the URL for a personal OneDrive site is in the following format:

    https://<tenant name>-my.sharepoint.com/personal/<user principal name>

To fix this error for a group form, sign in to the Microsoft 365 group's SharePoint site, and then follow these steps:

  1. Follow the steps in Enable or disable site collection features to disable the Limited-access user permission lockdown mode site collection feature, if it's enabled.

  2. Enable the People in your organization sharing links if they're disabled.

    Note: You must be a SharePoint Online administrator and a site collection administrator to run the following PowerShell commands in SharePoint Online Management Shell.

    To check whether link sharing is disabled in the SharePoint site, run the following PowerShell command:

    (Get-SPOSite <Group SharePoint site URL>).DisableCompanyWideSharingLinks

    If link sharing is disabled, run the following PowerShell command to enable company-wide link sharing for the group's SharePoint site:

    Set-SPOSite -Identity <Group SharePoint site URL> -DisableCompanyWideSharingLinks NotDisabled

    Typically, the URL for a Microsoft 365 group's SharePoint site is in the following format:

    https://<tenant-name>.sharepoint.com/sites/<group-name>

    Note

    If information barriers are enabled in your SharePoint site, company-wide link sharing is disabled if the mode is set to Owner Moderated, Implicit, or Explicit. In this case, change the information barriers mode to Open. To check the information barriers mode of your site, run the Get-SPOSite <Group SharePoint site URL> | Select InformationBarriersMode PowerShell command.

  3. Check whether site members can share files and folders. If they can't, follow these steps to update the sharing permission:

    1. Sign in to the group's SharePoint site as a site owner.

    2. Select Settings > Site permissions.

    3. Under Site Sharing, select Change how members can share.

    4. Under Sharing permissions, select one of the following options:

      • Site owners and members can share files, folders, and the site. People with Edit permissions can share files and folders.
      • Site owners and members, and people with Edit permissions can share files and folders, but only site owners can share the site.

    5. Select Save.

Error: Failed to upload your file

This error might occur for either of the following reasons:

Resolution

To fix this error, use the appropriate method.

  • If the People in your organization sharing links are disabled

    Enable the links by using the Set-SPOSite PowerShell command in SharePoint Online Management Shell.

    Note: You must be a SharePoint Online administrator and a site collection administrator to run the following PowerShell commands.

    • For an individual form that you create, run the following PowerShell command:

      Set-SPOSite -Identity <your OneDrive site URL> -DisableCompanyWideSharingLinks NotDisabled

      To verify the status of link sharing, run the following PowerShell command:

      (Get-SPOSite <your OneDrive site URL>).DisableCompanyWideSharingLinks

      Typically, the URL for a personal OneDrive site is in the following format:

      https://<tenant name>-my.sharepoint.com/personal/<user principal name>

    • For a group form, run the following PowerShell command:

      Set-SPOSite -Identity <Group SharePoint site URL> -DisableCompanyWideSharingLinks NotDisabled

      To verify the status of link sharing, run the following PowerShell command:

      (Get-SPOSite <Group SharePoint site URL>).DisableCompanyWideSharingLinks

      Typically, the URL for a group SharePoint site is in the following format:

      https://<tenant-name>.sharepoint.com/sites/<group-name>

      Note

      If information barriers are enabled in your SharePoint site, company-wide link sharing is disabled if the mode is set to Owner Moderated, Implicit, or Explicit. In this case, change the information barriers mode to Open. To check the information barriers mode of your site, run the Get-SPOSite <Group SharePoint site URL> | Select InformationBarriersMode PowerShell command.

  • If an individual form is moved to a Microsoft 365 group

    Delete the file upload questions, and then re-create them. The previously uploaded files remain on the previous form owner's OneDrive site.

    After you re-create the file upload questions, the new questions will be linked to the group's SharePoint site, and all files will be uploaded to the SharePoint site.

Error: Access denied. You do not have permissions to perform this action or access this resource

This error might occur for either of the following reasons:

  • You try to access the form by using an unmanaged device while SharePoint access is blocked for unmanaged devices.
  • You try to access the form by using a new account that shares the user principal name (UPN) with a previously deleted account.

Resolution

To fix this error, use the appropriate method.

  • If you're using an unmanaged device while SharePoint access is blocked for unmanaged devices

    Follow these steps as a SharePoint administrator:

    1. In the SharePoint admin center, select Policies > Access control.

    2. Select Unmanaged devices, and then select one of the following settings:

      • Allow full access from desktop apps, mobile apps, and the web
      • Allow limited, web-only access

  • If you're using a new account that shares the UPN with a previous account

    Fix site user ID mismatch in SharePoint or OneDrive.

Error: Uploaded file(s) is expired or broken, please upload your files again

This error occurs if the Require documents to be checked out before they can be edited setting is enabled in the OneDrive or SharePoint site.

Resolution

To fix this error for an individual form that you create, sign in to your OneDrive for work or school site, and then follow these steps:

  1. Select the Settings icon in the upper-right corner of the screen.
  2. Select OneDrive settings > More settings.
  3. Under Can't find what you are look for, select Return to the old Site settings page.
  4. Under Site Administration, select Site libraries and lists.
  5. Locate the library that stores the personal form, and then select Customize "<library name>".
  6. Under General Settings, select Versioning settings.
  7. Under Require Check Out > Require documents to be checked out before they can be edited?, select No.
  8. Select OK.

To fix this error for a group form, sign in to the Microsoft 365 group's SharePoint site, and then follow these steps:

  1. Select the library that stores the group form.
  2. Select the Settings icon in the upper-right corner of the screen.
  3. Select Library settings > More library settings.
  4. Under General Settings, select Versioning settings.
  5. Under Require Check Out > Require documents to be checked out before they can be edited?, select No.
  6. Select OK.

Error: You do not have access to create this folder or you do not have a valid license

This issue occurs if the New Folder command is disabled in the site settings. This situation would prevent you from creating folders in the document library where the form is stored.

Resolution

To fix this error for an individual form that you create, sign in to your OneDrive for work or school site, and then follow these steps:

  1. Select the Settings icon in the upper-right corner of the screen.
  2. Select OneDrive settings > More settings.
  3. Under Can't find what you are look for, select Return to the old Site settings page.
  4. Under Site Administration, select Site libraries and lists.
  5. Locate the library that stores the personal form, and then select Customize "<library name>".
  6. Under General Settings, select Advanced settings.
  7. Under Folders > Make "New Folder" command available, select Yes.
  8. Select OK.

To fix this error for a group form, sign in to the Microsoft 365 group's SharePoint site, and then follow these steps:

  1. Select the library that stores the group form.
  2. Select the Settings icon in the upper-right corner of the screen.
  3. Select Library settings > More library settings.
  4. Under General Settings, select Advanced settings.
  5. Under Folders > Make "New Folder" command available, select Yes.
  6. Select OK.