OneDrive Error 0x8007016A? Here’s How to Resolve the Cloud File Provider Issue

OneDrive Error 0x8007016A? Here’s How to Resolve the Cloud File Provider Issue

The OneDrive error “0x8007016A: The Cloud File Provider is not running” can interrupt your ability to access or sync files, especially those stored only in the cloud. It’s a frustrating problem that usually appears when you try to open or move files within your OneDrive folder. Fortunately, there are several effective methods you can use to resolve this issue.

In this guide, we’ll explain what causes the 0x8007016A error and provide detailed solutions to fix it in Windows 10 and Windows 11.

What Causes OneDrive Error 0x8007016A?

The error 0x8007016A typically indicates that the Cloud File Provider service is not active or has been disabled. This service is responsible for syncing cloud-only files between your device and Microsoft OneDrive.

Common causes include:

• OneDrive sync is paused or disabled.

• Windows is not updated or has bugs.

• Corrupt OneDrive installation or configuration.

• Power saving settings are preventing sync.

• Files are only available online and not downloaded.

• Conflicts with Windows Registry or background services.

Now let’s go step-by-step to fix it.

Solution 1: Restart Your Computer

Before diving into advanced fixes, simply restarting your computer might resolve the issue.

• Click Start > Power > Restart.

• After rebooting, check if OneDrive is working properly.

Sometimes background services fail to start correctly and can be reset with a reboot.

Solution 2: Resume OneDrive Syncing

If OneDrive syncing is paused, cloud files won’t be accessible.

To resume syncing:

1. Click the OneDrive cloud icon in the taskbar.

2. Click Help & Settings.

3. Choose Resume syncing.

Try accessing the problematic file again. If the sync starts, the error should be resolved.

Solution 3: Update Windows to the Latest Version

An outdated or bug-ridden Windows version can cause compatibility issues with OneDrive services.

To check for updates:

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.

2. Go to Update & Security > Windows Update.

3. Click Check for updates.

4. Install any available updates and restart your system.

Updating your OS ensures compatibility with OneDrive’s latest features and services.

Solution 4: Disable Files On-Demand Feature

Files On-Demand allows you to save space by only downloading files when needed. Disabling it will make all files available locally, which can resolve the error.

To disable Files On-Demand:

1. Click the OneDrive cloud icon.

2. Select Help & Settings > Settings.

3. Under the Settings tab, uncheck Save space and download files as you use them.

4. Click OK.

Once disabled, OneDrive will start downloading all files to your computer. Wait for sync to finish before trying to open the affected file.

Solution 5: Reset OneDrive

Resetting OneDrive will reinstall its background services without deleting your files.

Steps:

1. Press Windows + R to open Run.

2. Type the following and press Enter:

   shell

   %localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset


3. OneDrive should disappear and then reappear in the taskbar. If not, restart your PC.

This process often fixes corrupt configurations or broken sync settings.

Solution 6: Disable Power Saving for OneDrive

Windows sometimes disables background apps during battery saver mode or when using a metered connection.

Steps to ensure OneDrive isn’t affected:

1. Go to Settings > System > Power & sleep > Additional power settings.

2. Click on Change plan settings next to your active power plan.

3. Click Change advanced power settings.

4. Expand Battery > Turn off hard disk after and set it to Never.

5. Also check that OneDrive is not limited in Background apps:

   • Go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps > OneDrive > Advanced Options.

   • Ensure Background apps permission is set to Always.

Solution 7: Manually Download the Cloud File

If the file is still not available, you can try manually forcing OneDrive to download it.

Steps:

1. Right-click the file or folder in question.

2. Select Always keep on this device.

This will force OneDrive to download the file locally and ensure it’s not a cloud-only placeholder.

Solution 8: Unlink and Relink OneDrive

Unlinking and signing back in to OneDrive refreshes your session and can fix persistent sync problems.

Steps:

1. Click the OneDrive icon in the system tray.

2. Go to Help & Settings > Settings.

3. Under the Account tab, click Unlink this PC.

4. Sign back in with your Microsoft account.

After relinking, your files will re-sync. Wait for OneDrive to fully reload before opening files.

Solution 9: Reinstall OneDrive

If none of the above steps worked, reinstalling OneDrive can help resolve deep-level issues.

To reinstall OneDrive:

1. Press Windows + R and enter:

   appwiz.cpl


2. Locate Microsoft OneDrive, right-click, and select Uninstall.

3. After uninstalling, download the latest version from the official Microsoft site.

4. Install and sign in again.

This will give you a fresh, clean instance of OneDrive without affecting your stored files in the cloud.

Final Thoughts

The “0x8007016A: Cloud File Provider is not running” error may seem daunting at first, but it’s often caused by a misconfigured setting or temporary glitch. By following the methods above—from restarting sync to disabling Files On-Demand or resetting OneDrive—you can get your files syncing and accessible once again.

If you continue to see the error after trying all these steps, it might be worth checking for user permission issues, corrupted user profiles, or performing a system restore to a point before the error appeared.