We can’t Open this File right now OneDrive (Fix)

You may fail to open a file in OneDrive if any application on your system is hindering the operation of OneDrive. Moreover, using a VPN client or corrupt OneDrive installation may also result in the error at hand.

The user encounters the issue when he tries to open a file from the OneDrive folder on his PC but fails to do so (the issue is not limited to a particular type of file) and faces the following message:

Can’t open this file. Make sure OneDrive is running on your PC, then try again

Before moving on with the solutions to get OneDrive running on your PC, do not forget to back-up the essential data in your PC’s OneDrive folder (just in case). Also, make sure that your connection is not set as metered in the system’s Settings. Moreover, to rule out any server-outage, check if OneDrive web is working fine. Furthermore, check if any of the startup script (deployed by your organization) or application (like Decrapifier) is causing the issue. Additionally, make sure the user account of your PC is password protected and there is enough storage space available on your system drive.

Solution 1: Enable the OneDrive Sync

Your OneDrive may show the current behavior if the OneDrive syncing is paused as it can cause the unavailability of the file and thus cause the issue. In this case, enabling the OneDrive sync may solve the problem.

1. Right-click on the OneDrive icon in the system’s tray (you may have to expand the hidden icons of the system tray) and select Help & Settings.
2. Now, in the menu shown, choose Resume Syncing and then let the sync complete.
3. Now reboot your PC and check if it is clear of the OneDrive error.

   

If you are encountering the issue on a laptop, then make sure your system is not in any type of battery saving mode as it can create sync issues between the client and server. Also, check if ‘Automatically Pause Sync When This Device is in Battery Saver Mode’ in the OneDrive Settings is disabled.

Solution 2: Re-launch OneDrive

The issue at hand could be a result of a temporary glitch in the communication/application modules of OneDrive. Then glitch can be cleared by relaunching the application. You may try to launch the OneDrive from different locations (as discussed below) till your issue is resolved.

Launch from the Startup Menu

1. In the system’s tray, right-click on the OneDrive icon and select Close OneDrive. Then confirm by clicking on the Close OneDrive button.

   

2. Now click on the Windows button and in the search bar, type OneDrive. Then, in the results shown, choose OneDrive.

   

3. Then check if the OneDrive issue is resolved.

Launch from the Pinned Taskbar Icon

1. Hit the Windows key and type OneDrive (in the search bar). Then, right-click OneDrive and select Pin to Taskbar.

   

2. Then right-click on the pinned OneDrive icon on the Taskbar and select OneDrive.

   

3. Now check if the system is clear of the OneDrive error.

Launch Through a Web Browser

1. Launch a web browser and navigate to the download page of the OneDrive.
2. Now, click on the Start OneDrive button, and then in the dialogue box shown, click on the Open Microsoft OneDrive button.

   

3. Then check if the OneDrive is working fine.

Solution 3: Enable OneDrive at System’s Startup

You may encounter the issue at hand if the OneDrive application is disabled at boot or fails to load with the system’s startup. In this case, enabling OneDrive to launch at the system’s startup may solve the problem.

1. Expand the system’s tray icon and right-click on the OneDrive icon.
2. Now open Help & Settings and then on Settings.

   

3. Then checkmark the option of Start OneDrive Automatically When Sign In to Windows and click Apply/OK.

   

4. Now right-click on the Windows button (to launch the Power User menu) and select the Task Manager.

   

5. Then navigate to the Startup tab and right-click on Microsoft OneDrive.
6. Now select Enable and then reboot your PC.

   

7. Upon reboot, check if the OneDrive issue is resolved.

Solution 4: Disable the ‘Files on Demand Feature’ and Enable ‘Always Keep on This Device’

Files on Demand feature helps users in saving the network’s bandwidth and space on their hard drives. But this feature may cause the issue at hand because the files are not available locally and a network glitch may stop the file from loading. In this case, disabling the ‘Files on Demand Feature’ may solve the problem.

1. Right-click on the OneDrive’s icon in the system’s tray (you may have to open the system’s tray’s hidden icons) and then select Help & Settings. Now open Settings.
2. Now, in the Settings tab, uncheck the option of “Save Space and Download Files as You Use Them” and click on Apply/OK.

   

3. Then reboot your PC and check if the OneDrive is working fine.
4. If not, double-click on the OneDrive icon in the system’s tray and then select the problematic file/files.
5. Now right-click on the files and choose Always Keep on This Device.

   

6. Then reboot your PC and check if the OneDrive issue is resolved.

Solution 5: Disable the VPN Client and Revert the Latest Network Change

Microsoft may have restricted your OneDrive access (as a security measure) due to any latest network change, especially if you are using a VPN client (or accessing OneDrive from a foreign country) to connect to the Internet. In this scenario, disabling the VPN client or reverting the latest network change may solve the problem.

1. Disable the VPN client (right-click the VPN client icon in the system’s tray and select Disable) of your system and then check if the OneDrive issue is resolved. If you are not using a VPN, then check if reverting the latest network change (e.g., reverting your network from the metered state) resolves the issue.

   

2. If not, then check if removing or re-adding your account to the OneDrive resolves the issue.

Solution 6: Remove the Conflicting Applications

The OneDrive may show the error under discussion if any application on your system is hindering the operation of OneDrive (one such application reported by users is iCloud). In this context, removing the conflicting applications may solve the problem. To find out the conflicting application, you may clean boot your system. For elucidation, we will discuss the process for iCloud (make sure to back up the essential data).

1. Right-click on the Windows button and in the Power User menu, choose Apps & Features.

   

2. Now expand iCloud and then click on Uninstall.

   

3. Then follow the prompts to complete the iCloud uninstallation and then reboot your PC.
4. Upon reboot, check if the OneDrive issue is resolved.

Solution 7: Relink the PC and Revert the OneDrive Folder to its Default Location

The OneDrive might show the file error if you have (unintentionally) moved its folder to another location on the PC (where it is encountering some permissions issues). In this scenario, setting the OneDrive folder to its default location may solve the problem.

1. Right-click on the OneDrive icon in the system’s tray and select Help & Settings.
2. Then open Settings and steer to the Account Tab.
3. Now click on the Unlink This PC option and then confirm to unlink the PC.

   

4. Then reboot your PC and upon reboot, launch OneDrive and sign-in using your Microsoft credentials.
5. Now, under the option of Your OneDrive Folder is Here, click on Change Location and set it to the default path.

   \Users\%Username%\

   (you may copy and paste this path in the address bar of the OneDrive window)

   

6. Make sure to create a new folder, if asked for, otherwise, you may see folders/files conflicts and then follow the prompts to set up the OneDrive.

   

7. Then reboot your PC and check if the OneDrive is working fine.

Solution 8: Reset the OneDrive Application to the Defaults

You may encounter the issue at hand if the contents of the OneDrive folder or OneDrive’s installation itself is corrupt. In this context, resetting the OneDrive application to its defaults may solve the problem (do not forget to back-up the essential data).

1. Right-click on the Windows key to launch the Power User menu and then choose Run.

   

2. Now navigate to the following:

   %LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\OneDrive\Update

   

3. Now launch the OneDrive.exe file and follow the prompts to complete the process of setting up OneDrive for the first use. If there is no OneDrive.exe file at this location, then execute the OneDrive.exe file in the following directory:

   %localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\

   

4. Then check if the OneDrive issue is resolved.
5. If not, then execute the following in the Run command box:

   %localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset

   

6. If the OneDrive icon does not appear in the system tray, then (after waiting for 5 minutes) execute the following in the Run Command box:

   %localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\onedrive.exe

7. Now sign in to the OneDrive and then check if it is working fine.

Solution 9: Reinstall OneDrive

If the issue is still there, then (most probably) a corrupt installation of the OneDrive is causing the issue. In this context, reinstalling the OneDrive application may solve the problem. Make sure to back-up the essential data.

1. Right-click on the Windows button to launch the Power User menu and then choose Apps & Features.
2. Now expand OneDrive and click on the Uninstall button.

   

3. Then confirm to start uninstallation by clicking on the Uninstall button and follow the prompts to uninstall the OneDrive.
4. Now reboot your PC and upon reboot, download/install the latest version of OneDrive.
5. Then launch OneDrive and sign-in using your Microsoft credentials.
6. Now wait for the completion of the sync process and hopefully, the OneDrive will be functioning properly.

If the issue persists, then you may have to use the OneDrive files online till the issue is resolved.