OneDrive Error Codes

How to Restore Deleted Photos and Fix OneDrive Error 0x8007016A

Kushani Nimanthika Oct 1, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to recover deleted or missing photos from OneDrive and resolve error 0x8007016A, which indicates the cloud file provider is not running.

How to Restore Deleted Photos and Fix OneDrive Error 0x8007016A

Product: Microsoft OneDrive
Device & OS: Windows
Scenario: Experiencing a OneDrive sync failure or storage problem resulting in missing photos and a specific error code.
Observed behavior: Photos are missing from the drive, and the system displays error 0x8007016A indicating the cloud file provider is not running.

Before you start

Verify that your computer is connected to the internet and log into OneDrive online via a web browser to check if your photos are still available in the cloud folders before troubleshooting the local application.

Solution 1Recommended

Restart the OneDrive Process to Fix Error 0x8007016A

Restarting the OneDrive application forces the cloud file provider service to run again, which usually resolves the 0x8007016A error on Windows.

Error 0x8007016A specifically means that the background service responsible for syncing your OneDrive files has stopped. Manually ending the task and restarting it is the fastest way to re-establish the connection.

Open Task Manager

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard simultaneously to open the Windows Task Manager.

End the OneDrive Process

Scroll through the list of active processes in the 'Processes' tab, locate 'Microsoft OneDrive', right-click on it, and select 'End task'.

Restart OneDrive

Click on the Windows Start menu, type 'OneDrive' in the search bar, and launch the application to restart the cloud provider service.

Restart the OneDrive Process to Fix Error 0x8007016A

Alternative Restart Method: If you are unable to locate OneDrive in the Task Manager, simply restarting your entire computer will also restart the cloud file provider service automatically.

Solution 2

Restore Deleted Photos from the OneDrive Recycle Bin

If your photos were accidentally deleted during a sync issue or a faulty copy operation, you can often recover them directly from the OneDrive online Recycle Bin.

Solution 3

Recover Images from Local Backups or Embedded Documents

If the photos are completely missing from OneDrive, you can retrieve them using Windows File History or by extracting them from existing documents where they were inserted.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What causes OneDrive error 0x8007016A?

Error 0x8007016A occurs when the OneDrive cloud file provider service stops running in the background. This is typically caused by a temporary glitch in the OneDrive application, an incomplete Windows update, or system power-saving settings that forcefully turn off background applications.

How long are deleted photos kept in the OneDrive Recycle Bin?

For personal Microsoft OneDrive accounts, deleted files and photos are kept in the Recycle Bin for 30 days before they are permanently deleted. For work or school accounts, the retention period is usually 93 days unless changed by an administrator.

Can I recover photos if they are not in the online OneDrive recycle bin?

Yes, if the photos are not in the OneDrive Recycle Bin, you can check the local Windows Recycle Bin on your desktop, try restoring the folder from the Windows File History backup utility, or extract copies of the images if they were previously inserted into Word or LibreOffice documents.

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