OneDrive File Issues

How to Fix OneDrive Cannot Download Shared Folders as ZIP

Olivia Miller Oct 8, 2026 870 views

Question details

Users are unable to download shared folders or multiple files as a ZIP archive from OneDrive, receiving error text files instead.

How to Fix OneDrive Cannot Download Shared Folders or Multiple Files as a ZIP

Product: Microsoft OneDrive
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to download a shared folder or multiple selected files from a OneDrive web link while signed out.
Observed behavior: Instead of downloading a ZIP archive containing the selected files, OneDrive downloads 'OneDrive_1.txt' and 'Download errors.txt'. Individual files download correctly.

Before you start

Verify that your internet connection is stable and check the Microsoft 365 Service Status page to see if there are any ongoing active outages for OneDrive.

Solution 1Recommended

Sign in to a Microsoft Account

Signing into a Microsoft account often resolves anonymous download restrictions and allows the ZIP creation process to complete correctly.

This bug primarily affects users who are viewing and downloading shared folders anonymously (signed out). Logging into any free or premium Microsoft account usually bypasses the server-side glitch preventing the ZIP compilation.

Sign in

Click the 'Sign in' button located at the top right corner of the shared OneDrive page.

Enter credentials

Retry download

Once signed in, select the folder or multiple files again and click the 'Download' button on the top toolbar.

Quick Fix: For most users, simply being authenticated forces OneDrive to correctly route the request and generate the ZIP file.

Solution 2

Request a Pre-Zipped File from the Owner

Since the issue lies in OneDrive's on-the-fly ZIP creation, having the owner compress the files beforehand bypasses the error.

Solution 3

Download Files Individually

If you only need a few files, downloading them one by one avoids the ZIP compilation error entirely.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why am I getting 'Download errors.txt' from OneDrive?

This happens when OneDrive's servers fail to compress multiple files or folders into a single ZIP archive on the fly. It is a known Microsoft server-side glitch that frequently affects users who are attempting to download files anonymously while signed out.

Can I download a shared OneDrive folder without signing in?

Usually, yes. However, if you encounter the ZIP download error, signing in with a free Microsoft account is one of the most effective workarounds to restore bulk download functionality.

What is the maximum ZIP file size OneDrive can download?

OneDrive can typically download a ZIP file up to 20 GB in size or containing up to 10,000 files. If your selection exceeds this limit, the download will fail or automatically split into multiple smaller ZIP files.

How can I share multiple files in OneDrive to avoid this error for others?

To ensure your recipients don't face download errors, compress the files into a single ZIP archive on your computer first. Upload that ZIP file to OneDrive, and share the link to the single file rather than sharing the uncompressed folder.

Document & File Issues