OneDrive File Issues

How to Fix OneDrive This Item Can't Be Displayed Error

Ayan Masood Sep 30, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user is unable to view items in the OneDrive app or web browser, receiving a 'This item can't be displayed' error despite reinstalling the application and testing multiple browsers.

How to Fix the OneDrive 'This Item Can't Be Displayed' Error

Product: OneDrive
Device & OS: Windows
Scenario: Attempting to access, view, or manage files and folders stored in Microsoft OneDrive.
Observed behavior: OneDrive continuously displays the message 'This item can't be displayed' across different browsers and the desktop application.

Before you start

Before modifying your network settings, ensure your internet connection is active and check the Microsoft Service Health portal to verify that OneDrive isn't currently experiencing a global server outage.

Solution 1Recommended

Adjust Windows LAN and DNS Settings

Modify your network adapter and Internet Options to ensure local configurations are not blocking OneDrive's connection to Microsoft servers.

Network filtering and improperly configured LAN settings are common culprits for OneDrive rendering issues. Resetting these parameters forces Windows to auto-detect the optimal network path.

Open Internet Options

Press the Windows key, type 'Internet Options' into the search bar, and press Enter to launch the Internet Properties window.

Enable Automatic Settings

Navigate to the 'Connections' tab and click on the 'LAN settings' button. Check the box for 'Automatically detect settings' and click 'OK'.

Review IPv4 DNS Settings

Open the Control Panel, go to 'Network and Sharing Center', and click 'Change adapter settings'. Right-click your active network connection, select 'Properties', double-click 'Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)', and ensure it is set to obtain a DNS server address automatically.

Restart OneDrive

Right-click the OneDrive cloud icon in your system tray, select 'Quit OneDrive', and then reopen the application from your Windows Start menu.

Flush DNS Cache: As an extra step, you can open Command Prompt as an administrator and type 'ipconfig /flushdns' followed by Enter to clear any stale network data.

Solution 2

Test OneDrive on an Alternate Network

Connect to a completely different network connection to rule out router-level filtering, ISP DNS blocking, or local firewall rules.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does OneDrive show the 'This item can't be displayed' error?

This error typically occurs when network filtering, a custom DNS configuration, or local LAN settings block the OneDrive application from communicating properly with Microsoft's servers to retrieve file previews.

Does reinstalling the OneDrive app fix this specific issue?

In most cases, reinstalling the app or clearing your browser cache will not fix this display error. The root cause is usually tied to your system's network adapter settings rather than application corruption.

Could my VPN or antivirus be causing the OneDrive display error?

Yes. Strict firewall rules, active VPN routing, or robust third-party antivirus software can inadvertently block the IP addresses or ports that OneDrive relies on to load your files.

Document & File Issues