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How to Fix OneDrive Errors When Downloading Folders as ZIP Files
Question details
Users need to resolve errors that occur when attempting to download or compress OneDrive folders into a ZIP archive.
- Product
- OneDrive
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Downloading or compressing OneDrive folders that contain online-only files or when the local device lacks sufficient storage capacity.
- Observed behavior
- OneDrive fails to create the ZIP archive, skips files, or produces an error message during the folder download process.
Check your local device storage to ensure you have enough free disk space to accommodate both the downloaded files and the resulting ZIP archive.
Make OneDrive Files Available Locally Before Zipping
Ensure all files within the folder are downloaded to your device to prevent archiving errors caused by online-only file status.
When OneDrive uses 'Files On-Demand', files are kept in the cloud to save space. Archiving tools cannot compress these files until they are fully downloaded to your hard drive.
Open File Explorer and navigate to your OneDrive directory to find the folder you want to compress.
Right-click the problematic OneDrive folder and select 'Always keep on this device' from the context menu.
Wait for the sync icons next to the files to turn into solid green circles with a white checkmark, indicating all files are stored locally.
Right-click the fully downloaded folder again, select 'Send to', and click 'Compressed (zipped) folder'.
Download All Files via OneDrive Settings
Modify your OneDrive sync settings to download all files to your local drive at once.
Download the Folder Directly from OneDrive Web
Bypass local sync limitations by downloading the folder as a pre-packaged ZIP file directly from your web browser.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does OneDrive say a file cannot be downloaded when zipping?
This usually happens because the file is marked as 'online-only' (due to the Files On-Demand feature). Your ZIP utility cannot access the actual file contents until it is completely downloaded to your local drive.
What is the maximum size for a ZIP file downloaded from the OneDrive website?
OneDrive on the web has a limit for ZIP downloads, typically capped at 20GB or 10,000 files per download. If your folder exceeds this limit, you must divide the contents and download them in smaller batches.
How do I free up hard drive space after downloading OneDrive files locally?
Once you have successfully created your ZIP file, right-click the original uncompressed folder in File Explorer and select 'Free up space'. This removes the local copies from your hard drive while keeping the online-only versions safe in your cloud.
Can I use third-party archiving tools like WinRAR or 7-Zip with OneDrive folders?
Yes, third-party tools work perfectly with OneDrive folders. However, you must still ensure that all files within the folder have a solid green checkmark (indicating they are downloaded locally) before initiating the compression to prevent missing file errors.
