Uninstall & Reinstall Issues

How to Fix OneDrive for Mac Application Not Found Errors

Ayan Masood Oct 23, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is unable to use OneDrive on their Mac, encountering "application not found" and "account already connected" errors when attempting to reinstall the software after it unexpectedly uninstalled itself.

How to Fix OneDrive for Mac Application Not Found Errors

Product: Microsoft OneDrive
Device & OS: macOS
Scenario: Reinstalling OneDrive to synchronize SharePoint libraries after the application disappeared from the system.
Observed behavior: The system displays "The application OneDrive could not be found" and "Account already connected. A different version of the OneDrive app is already connected to this account" errors, blocking synchronization.

Before you start

Ensure you have administrator privileges on your Mac, as you may need to create a new user profile or access system library folders to clear corrupted configuration files.

Solution 1Recommended

Test OneDrive in a New macOS User Profile

Creating a new user profile helps determine if the application error is caused by corrupted local configuration settings in your primary Mac account.

User profile corruption can cause apps to behave as if they are both missing and already installed at the same time. Testing in a fresh profile isolates the issue.

Create a New User

Click the Apple menu, select System Settings (or System Preferences), navigate to Users & Groups, and click 'Add Account' to create a new Administrator profile.

Log into the New Profile

Log out of your current Mac session and log in using the newly created user account credentials.

Install and Test OneDrive

Download the latest version of OneDrive for Mac, install it, and attempt to sign in to see if the SharePoint synchronization works without errors.

Profile Issue Identified: If OneDrive works flawlessly in the new user profile, you will need to migrate your files to the new profile or deeply clean the library caches of your old profile.

Solution 2

Clear Conflicting Installations and Cache

Removing leftover files from the previous installation resolves the 'account already connected' conflict.

Solution 3

Verify SharePoint Settings and Admin Policies

Sometimes synchronization is blocked by organization policies or restrictive SharePoint library configurations.

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1. Download WPS Office for Mac: Visit the official WPS website and download the free macOS installation package.
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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Mac say 'The application OneDrive could not be found'?

This error generally appears if the OneDrive app was unexpectedly uninstalled, moved from the Applications folder, or if corrupted system caches on your Mac are pointing to a missing application package.

How do I fix the 'Account already connected' error on OneDrive for Mac?

This occurs when residual configuration files from a previous installation are left behind. You need to navigate to the '~/Library/Containers/' folder on your Mac and delete the 'com.microsoft.OneDrive' folders before attempting to reinstall.

Can Microsoft 365 administrators block OneDrive synchronization on Macs?

Yes. Microsoft 365 administrators can enforce policies in the SharePoint admin center that restrict OneDrive synchronization to specific Windows domains or block macOS devices from syncing entirely.

Installation & Activation