If OneDrive won’t let you sign in on Windows 11, start with the quick fixes: check your internet connection and the PC’s date and time, make sure you’re using the right account type (personal Microsoft account vs. work or school), and restart OneDrive. If that doesn’t work, clear saved OneDrive credentials in Credential Manager, then reset OneDrive by pressing Windows + R and running %localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset. As a last step, unlink the PC in OneDrive settings and sign in again.
Work through the fixes below in order. Your files in the cloud are safe during all of them.
Fix 1: Check the basics
- Internet: Open a website to confirm you’re online. Disconnect from VPNs or proxies temporarily.
- Date and time: Go to Settings > Time & language > Date & time and turn on Set time automatically. A wrong clock breaks secure sign-ins.
- Account: Sign in at onedrive.live.com (personal) or office.com (work or school) in a browser to confirm your password works.
Fix 2: Restart OneDrive
- Click the OneDrive cloud icon in the taskbar notification area.
- Click the gear icon > Pause syncing or Quit OneDrive.
- Open OneDrive from the Start menu and sign in again.
Fix 3: Clear saved credentials
- Click Start, type Credential Manager, and open it.
- Click Windows Credentials.
- Find entries starting with OneDrive Cached Credential or containing MicrosoftOffice, expand them, and click Remove.
- Restart OneDrive and sign in.
Fix 4: Reset OneDrive
- Press Windows + R.
- Paste %localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset and press Enter. If you see “Windows cannot find…,” try C:\Program Files\Microsoft OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset.
- Wait a few minutes. If OneDrive doesn’t reopen, start it from the Start menu.
Resetting doesn’t delete your files. OneDrive resyncs afterward, which can take a while for large libraries.
Fix 5: Unlink and sign in again
- Click the OneDrive icon > gear > Settings.
- Click Account > Unlink this PC, and confirm.
- Follow the setup to sign in again and choose your OneDrive folder location.
Fix 6: Update or reinstall OneDrive
Install Windows updates in Settings > Windows Update. If problems continue, uninstall OneDrive in Settings > Apps > Installed apps, then download the latest version from Microsoft and reinstall.
Common error messages
| Message | What to try |
|---|---|
| “There was a problem connecting to OneDrive” (0x8004de40) | Check internet, VPN, proxy, and TLS settings; reset OneDrive |
| “You’re already syncing this account” | Unlink the PC and sign in again |
| Sign-in window is blank | Update Windows and Microsoft Edge WebView2, then reset OneDrive |
| Work account won’t sign in | Your organization may require device registration or have policies. Contact IT. |
Related: Install OneDrive on Windows 10.
Frequently asked questions
Will resetting OneDrive delete my files?
No. Files stay in the cloud and on your PC. OneDrive reconnects and resyncs.
Why does OneDrive keep asking me to sign in?
Saved credentials may be corrupted. Clear them in Credential Manager, then sign in again.
How do I sign in to OneDrive for the first time?
See how to sign in to OneDrive on Windows and how to sync OneDrive on Windows 11.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.