Fix problems uploading files on the onedrive website

In this article, you'll find solutions for some of the error messages you might see when you're uploading files on the OneDrive website.

Notes: If you have a problem that isn't about uploading, you might find help in these articles:

• Fix OneDrive sync problems

• How to cancel or stop sync in OneDrive

• What do the OneDrive error codes mean?

• Fixes or workarounds for recent issues in OneDrive

• Invalid file names and file types in OneDrive and SharePoint

Expand a section below to see general issues or error messages you might receive when you try to upload files from the OneDrive website, along with possible solutions.

If automatic camera upload isn't working, or if only some pictures are uploaded, follow these steps:

1. Turn off camera upload in OneDrive app settings (you can find the steps in the guides on how to use OneDrive on iOS or OneDrive for Android).

2. Go to the OneDrive website and rename your Camera Roll folder. 

3. Make sure you have a good Wi-Fi or mobile network connection.

4. Turn on camera upload to restart the upload of camera roll pictures from your mobile device into the cloud.

   Tip:  OneDrive cannot upload photos optimized for iCloud. To turn off optimization, tap Settings > iCloud > Photos and clear Optimize Storage.

You might get this message for one of these reasons:

• There was a problem with OneDrive. Try to upload the file again.

• The connection to OneDrive was lost during the file transfer, or you weren't signed in to OneDrive. Sign in to OneDrive with your Microsoft account, and then try to upload the file again.

• You don't have permission to access the file (for work or school accounts only). If the file is on a server, make sure you can open the file, and then try to upload it again. For more info about getting permission to access the file, contact your network administrator.

• You don't have permission to upload the file to the folder that you selected. Select a folder that you have permission to edit, and then try to upload the file again.

• The file type is not supported.

  • Photos can be in these common formats: JPEG, JPG, TIF, TIFF, GIF, PNG, RAW.
    Or they can be in these less common formats: BMP, DIB, JFIF, JPE, JXR, EDP, PANO, ARW, CR2, CRW, ERF, KDC, MRW, NEF, NRW, ORF, PEF, RAF, RW2, RWL, SR2, SRW.

    Tip:  OneDrive cannot upload photos optimized for iCloud. To turn off optimization, tap Settings > iCloud > Photos and clear Optimize Storage.

  • Videos can be in these common formats: AVI, MOV, WMV, ASF, MP4.
    Or they can be in these less common formats: 3G2, 3GP, 3GP2, 3GPP, M2T, M2TS, M4V, MP4V, MTS, WM, LRV. Learn more about Video formats you can play on the OneDrive website.

To upload files to a new folder in OneDrive, first create the folder, and then upload the files to it. Files that are 0 bytes in size can't be uploaded from the OneDrive website.

Tip: With the OneDrive app you can upload entire folders to OneDrive without even having to go to the OneDrive website.

The full path (including the file name) is too long. The path must contain fewer than 442 characters. Shorten the name of your file or the name of subfolders in OneDrive, or select a subfolder that's closer to the top-level folder, and then try to upload the file again.

To upload to a specific folder, browse to the destination folder, then select Upload.

Make sure your Personal Vault is unlocked before trying to upload files to it.

If you don't have a Microsoft 365 subscription, you can only add up to three files in your Personal Vault. If you do have a subscription, you can add as many files as you want (up to your storage limit).

Select Replace to replace the existing file, or select Keep both to rename the file you're uploading.

Note: If a file doesn't have an extension, it can't be uploaded to a location that has a folder with the same name.

Close the file you are trying to replace. In some cases, it may be faster to save or download the file with a new file name, delete the original file, and rename the new file to the original file name.

If you use Microsoft Edge or a recent version of other popular web browsers, you can upload files to OneDrive that are up to 250GB in size. If you use an older web browser, the maximum file size is 300 MB.

OneNote notebooks saved in OneDrive are limited to 2GB.

Tips: 

• You can upload files up to 250GB in size if you use the OneDrive app.

• For transferring large files or lots of files, we recommend adding the files to the OneDrive desktop app rather than using the Upload button on the website.

A file won't upload if it doesn't fit in your available storage space. To see how much space you have remaining or to get more storage, go to the Storage page.

The file name contains characters that aren't allowed. Change its name so that it doesn't begin or end with a space, end with a period, or include any of these characters: / \ < > : * " ? |

These names aren't allowed for files or folders: AUX, PRN, NUL, CON, COM0, COM1, COM2, COM3, COM4, COM5, COM6, COM7, COM8, COM9, LPT0, LPT1, LPT2, LPT3, LPT4, LPT5, LPT6, LPT7, LPT8, LPT9.

To rename a file or folder before saving or uploading, select the file or folder and press F2. Mac users should rename a file or folder by selecting it and then selecting the return key.

The file might have been moved, renamed, or deleted before you tried to upload it. Locate the file, and then try to upload it again.

The file might be open in another program. Save any changes to the file, close the program, and then try to upload the file again.

If the file is on a removable media device, such as a CD or a USB flash drive, the file might not be available. Make sure that the removable media device is correctly connected to the computer, and then try to upload the file again.

If you're trying to open a file from an older version of Excel, you can try opening Excel first, then opening the file from there.

Or you might need to set an older Excel version as the default:

1. In the search box on the taskbar, type Control panel, and then select it from the list of results, or select Enter.

2. Select Programs > Default programs > Set your default programs.

3. Select the older version of Excel (for example, Excel 2016), select Set this program as default, then select OK.

Need more help?

	Get online help See more support pages for OneDrive and OneDrive for work or school. For the OneDrive mobile app, see Troubleshoot OneDrive mobile app problems. OneDrive Admins can also view the OneDrive Tech Community, Help for OneDrive for Admins.
	Contact Support If you still need help, contact support through your browser or shake your mobile device while you're in the OneDrive app. OneDrive Admins can contact Microsoft 365 for business support.
	Tips Letting us know your location may help us resolve your issue more quickly. All fixed? If you contacted us and OneDrive starts working again, please let us know by replying to the email we sent you.