OneDrive File Issues

Fix OneDrive Videos Not Showing on DLNA Server (Roku, VLC)

Huda Qurayshi Oct 1, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to make videos stored in OneDrive accessible to DLNA media servers like Roku or VLC.

How to Fix OneDrive Videos Not Appearing on a DLNA Server

Product: Microsoft OneDrive
Device & OS: Windows
Scenario: Trying to stream downloaded OneDrive videos over a local network to external DLNA devices.
Observed behavior: Videos play perfectly in the local Windows Media Player but remain completely hidden or unavailable to DLNA devices, even when the files are marked as available offline.

Before you start

Ensure your Windows PC and the DLNA device (like Roku or VLC) are connected to the exact same local Wi-Fi or Ethernet network, and verify that the OneDrive videos are fully downloaded to your local drive.

Solution 1

Enable Network Discovery and Media Streaming Options

Verify that Windows is correctly configured to share media files over the local network and that OneDrive files are marked for offline availability.

By default, Windows may block media streaming to external devices for security reasons. Enabling network discovery and confirming the files are kept locally can sometimes resolve DLNA visibility issues.

Make files available offline

Open File Explorer, right-click your OneDrive video folder, and select 'Always keep on this device' to ensure the files are physically stored on your hard drive.

Enable Media Streaming

Search for 'Media streaming options' in the Windows Start menu, open the control panel setting, and click 'Turn on media streaming'.

Restart Network Sharing Service

Press Win + R, type 'services.msc', and press Enter. Scroll down to find 'Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service', right-click it, and select 'Restart'.

Solution 2Recommended

Use mklink to Sync to a Local Folder

Create a directory junction linking a standard local folder to your OneDrive videos, bypassing OneDrive's DLNA restrictions without duplicating your storage footprint.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why doesn't DLNA recognize my OneDrive folder directly?

OneDrive uses special file system reparse points for its Files On-Demand feature. Many external DLNA servers fail to read these points as standard media files, even if the files have been marked as locally available.

Will using the mklink command duplicate my video file sizes?

No. The /J (directory junction) parameter creates a shortcut at the system file level. The files physically exist in only one place, so no extra hard drive space is consumed despite appearing in two folders.

Does my PC need to be turned on to stream videos via DLNA?

Yes. DLNA relies on a local server, which in this case is your Windows PC. If the PC goes to sleep, hibernates, or is turned off, devices like Roku or VLC will lose access to the media library.

How do I fix the Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service if it won't start?

Open the Services app (services.msc), locate the service, right-click it, and open Properties. Ensure its Startup type is set to Automatic. If it still fails, check and start its dependency services, such as the 'UPnP Device Host'.

Document & File Issues