OneDrive File Issues

How to Fix OneDrive ZIP Download Error Creating TXT Files

Tauseeq Magsi Sep 25, 2026 869 views

Question details

Users are unable to successfully download multiple files at once, as the resulting ZIP archive contains TXT error files instead of the actual requested files.

How to Fix OneDrive ZIP Download Error Creating TXT Files

Product: Microsoft OneDrive
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Downloading multiple files or folders simultaneously from the OneDrive web interface.
Observed behavior: Instead of downloading the selected files (such as MP4s or documents), OneDrive generates a ZIP archive filled with TXT files and a download-error text file. Some users also notice a 'failed to fetch' error or blank squares in the mobile app, though downloading individual files still works.

Before you start

Before troubleshooting, verify your internet connection stability and confirm that you can still download the files individually one by one to ensure the original files are not corrupted on the server.

Solution 1Recommended

Use a Different Web Browser or Incognito Mode

Browser cache, extensions, or account synchronization conflicts can often interfere with OneDrive's backend zipping process. Trying a clean browser session can bypass these issues.

OneDrive relies on browser requests to compile and fetch multiple files into a single ZIP archive. If your browser has cached outdated authentication tokens or is running restrictive extensions, the fetch request fails, resulting in TXT error logs.

Open a Private Window

Launch your current web browser and open an Incognito or Private Browsing window (e.g., press Ctrl+Shift+N in Chrome or Ctrl+Shift+P in Firefox or Edge).

Sign In to OneDrive

Navigate to the OneDrive web portal and sign in with your Microsoft account credentials.

Select Files

Check the circular boxes in the top-right corner of the multiple files or the folder you wish to download.

Initiate Download

Click the 'Download' button on the top command bar and wait for the ZIP file to be generated. Extract the folder to check if the correct files were downloaded.

Use a Different Web Browser or Incognito Mode

Session Conflict Avoided: Using a browser where you are not actively signed into multiple Microsoft accounts prevents authentication-based download errors.

Solution 2

Test Downloading a New Folder with Standard Files

This helps isolate whether the problem is caused by specific file types (like large MP4 media files) timing out, or if it is a general account issue.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does OneDrive give me a 'failed to fetch' TXT error instead of my files?

This usually happens when the OneDrive server times out or fails to retrieve specific files (especially large media files like MP4s) while trying to compress them into a ZIP archive. Instead of failing the entire download, it places an error log in the ZIP indicating which files could not be fetched.

Can I download multiple files from OneDrive without them being zipped?

Through the web browser, OneDrive automatically compresses multiple files or folders into a ZIP file to save bandwidth. To download files in their native format without zipping, you must install and use the OneDrive desktop sync application on Windows or Mac.

What should I do if the OneDrive mobile app stops loading media files and shows blank squares?

If the mobile app displays blank white squares or fails to load media, try clearing the app's cache in your phone's settings, signing out and back into your account, or reinstalling the OneDrive application to refresh its connection to the server.

Is there a file size limit for downloading ZIP files from OneDrive?

Yes, OneDrive imposes limits on ZIP downloads. You can download a maximum of 250 GB at a time, or a maximum of 10,000 files in a single ZIP operation. Exceeding these limits can cause the compression process to fail and generate error files.

Document & File Issues