The user typically faces problems when attempting to open a file from the OneDrive folder on their PC, regardless of file type, and receives the following message: Can’t open this file. Make sure OneDrive is running on your PC, then try again. Before attempting the solutions to get OneDrive operational on your PC, it’s crucial to back up the essential data in your PC’s OneDrive folder as a precaution. Also, make sure that your network connection is not set as metered in the system’s Settings. To exclude the possibility of a server outage, verify that OneDrive web is functioning correctly. Additionally, investigate whether a startup script deployed by your organization or an application such as Decrapifier could be the source of the problem. Furthermore, ensure that your PC user account is password-protected and that there is ample storage space available on your system drive.
Solution 1: Enable the OneDrive Sync
If OneDrive syncing is paused, it may cause files to be unavailable, thus triggering the issue. In this case, enabling OneDrive sync may resolve the problem. If the issue is on a laptop, ensure that it is not in any battery-saving mode, which could hinder syncing. Additionally, in OneDrive settings, ensure that the option ‘Automatically Pause Sync When This Device is in Battery Saver Mode’ is disabled.
Solution 2: Re-launch OneDrive
A temporary glitch in OneDrive’s communication or application modules could be causing the issue. Relaunching the application may clear the glitch.
Solution 3: Enable OneDrive at System’s Startup
If OneDrive is disabled at boot or fails to load with the system’s startup, you may face the issue in question. Enabling OneDrive to launch at system startup may help.
Solution 4: Disable the ‘Files on Demand’ Feature and Enable ‘Always Keep on This Device’
The ‘Files on Demand’ feature saves bandwidth and hard drive space but may cause unavailability of local files, which can lead to errors if a network glitch occurs. Disabling this feature may solve the problem.
Solution 5: Disable the VPN Client and Revert the Latest Network Change
Your access to OneDrive might be restricted by Microsoft as a security measure due to a recent network change or the use of a VPN client (especially if connecting from a foreign country). Disabling the VPN client or reverting the recent network change may resolve this issue.
Solution 6: Remove Conflicting Applications
OneDrive may display an error if any installed applications are interfering with its operations (examples being iCloud). Removing these conflicting applications may solve the issue. You can identify the conflicting application by performing a clean boot. Here, we’ll address the removal process for iCloud, but ensure you back up essential data first.
Solution 7: Relink the PC and Revert the OneDrive Folder to Its Default Location
If you have moved the OneDrive folder to a different location on your PC (perhaps leading to permission issues), setting the folder back to its default location may fix the file error.
Solution 8: Reset the OneDrive Application to Defaults
If the OneDrive folder or application is corrupt, resetting OneDrive to its default settings may resolve issues. Remember to back up your essential data first.
Solution 9: Reinstall OneDrive
If the issue has not been resolved, it’s likely due to a corrupt installation of OneDrive. Reinstalling the OneDrive application may solve the problem. Ensure you have a backup of essential data before proceeding. If the problem still persists after trying all these solutions, you might need to continue using OneDrive files online until the issue is resolved.
