OneDrive is ideal for backing up and sharing information across numerous devices in the cloud. However, there are times when it malfunctions and prevents you from accessing your shared files. We can assist you if OneDrive issues prevent you from opening files sent via email. Follow through for more information on how to open OneDrive files shared via email.
How to troubleshoot users being unable to open OneDrive files shared via email:
- Check sharing permissions for the OneDrive file
- Reset the OneDrive application
- Make your OneDrive files Online Only
Please continue reading for a visual step-by-step guide for each solution.
How to troubleshoot users being unable to open OneDrive files shared via email:
Solution 1: Check sharing permissions for the OneDrive file
Make sure you still have access to the file before moving on to additional OneDrive repairs. Although the originator of the file or folder may have withdrawn permission for your account, the file or folder still appears in OneDrive. This is a very common problem and it means your access was removed without being informed by the file owner.
- Firstly, open Office 365.
- Click the
app launcher icon in the top left. (1) - Then select “OneDrive” from the menu. (2)
We will share a file with a member of our organization to test if they can access the file.
- Right-click any file that does not contain sensitive information.
- Then click “Share” in the popup menu.
- Type in the name or email address of the user you want to share with. (1)
- Click the name or email address in the dropdown box. (2)
- Then click “Send.” (3)
The user should receive an email containing the share link. However, if they do not receive a link via email, right-click the file in OneDrive again and this time select “Copy link” from the popup menu. You can then send the link directly to the user by email or Microsoft Teams.
To check if the the recipient has access, either the recipient or sender can right-click the file in OneDrive and select “Manage access.” The recipient can find the shared file by clicking “Shared” in the left menu.
- The Manage Access dialog box will open.
- Click or hover over the user icons to see who has access.
If the user does not have access, the sharing process was completed incorrectly or access was removed. Please try and share the file again or ask the file owner to re-share the file. Otherwise, continue to the next steps to find a solution.
Solution 2: Reset the OneDrive application
This section of the guide covers OneDrive for personal as well as OneDrive for school or business. There’s no need to be concerned because resetting OneDrive does not delete the shared data.
The error “There was a problem connecting to OneDrive” may be resolved by resetting your OneDrive. There are no files lost when you reinstall the application on your PC. Is OneDrive up and running now? If the problem persists, we recommend following the instructions below.
- Firstly, press the
Windows + R keys, which will open the Run app. - Type %localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset into the text box.
- Then click the “OK” button.
If you see the “”Windows cannot find…” error, try the following paths instead:
- C:\Program Files\Microsoft OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset
- C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset
You can now reopen your OneDrive desktop application to see if resetting the app has fixed the problem of being unable to open shared files.
Solution 3: Make your OneDrive files Online Only
The OneDrive Files On-Demand function, available on both desktop and mobile, allows you to save storage space on your device. OneDrive displays the files you have access to on your computer or mobile device, but the files are not downloaded until you open them. The difficulty with Files On-Demand is that you must have an active internet connection in order to open the file.
Right-click a file or folder and select Always retain on this device to make it available offline. The download time is dependent on your internet connection and the size of your files, but with a little forethought, you can ensure that your most critical files or folders are always accessible.
That’s it for this Blog thank you for taking time out to read our content, please feel free to email our team about how it went if you followed the steps or if you need more help with the questions we answered in this Blog.