"OneDrive cannot connect to Windows" error when accessing files in OneDrive

Last Updated: 17 November 2021

ISSUE

After enabling Files on Demand in OneDrive, some customers may see the following error when trying to access items in your OneDrive folder.

• OneDrive cannot connect to Windows. Files On-Demand requires a connection to Windows in order to show your files without taking up space on this device. OneDrive can keep trying to connect to Windows or you can choose to download all your files. You won't be able to use online-only files until this is fixed.

All your OneDrive files and folders are safe, and you can access them through the OneDrive website or the OneDrive mobile app.

RESOLUTION

Please ensure that Windows and OneDrive are up to date.

1. Open Windows Update and download and install all available updates.

   Open Windows Update

2. Download and install the latest version of OneDrive.

   Get OneDrive

3. Restart your computer.