'%3e%3cpath%20d='M8%200C12.4183%200%2016%203.58172%2016%208C16%2012.4183%2012.4183%2016%208%2016C3.58172%2016%200%2012.4183%200%208C0%203.58172%203.58172%200%208%200ZM11.6162%204.38379C11.2257%203.99337%2010.5927%203.99338%2010.2021%204.38379L8%206.58594L5.79785%204.38379C5.40732%203.99334%204.77429%203.99329%204.38379%204.38379C3.99331%204.77429%203.99335%205.40733%204.38379%205.79785L6.58594%208L4.38379%2010.2021C3.99348%2010.5927%203.99341%2011.2257%204.38379%2011.6162C4.77426%2012.0066%205.40734%2012.0065%205.79785%2011.6162L8%209.41406L10.2021%2011.6162C10.5927%2012.0066%2011.2257%2012.0067%2011.6162%2011.6162C12.0067%2011.2257%2012.0066%2010.5927%2011.6162%2010.2021L9.41406%208L11.6162%205.79785C12.0066%205.40735%2012.0066%204.77429%2011.6162%204.38379Z'%20fill='%23080E17'%20fill-opacity='0.46'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3cdefs%3e%3cclipPath%20id='clip0_3761_713'%3e%3crect%20width='16'%20height='16'%20fill='white'/%3e%3c/clipPath%3e%3c/defs%3e%3c/svg%3e)
How to Fix Office Cannot Display Online Services When Connecting to OneDrive
Question details
The user is unable to connect their Microsoft Office desktop applications to OneDrive, encountering an error that online services cannot be displayed, despite browser sign-in working properly.
- Product
- Microsoft Office
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Attempting to link a Microsoft OneDrive account to Office applications for seamless cloud saving and syncing.
- Observed behavior
- Office applications fail to connect to OneDrive and display an online services error, even though web browser sign-ins and other Microsoft accounts connect without issue.
Verify the exact Microsoft Office edition you purchased, as features like premium OneDrive cloud integration vary significantly between one-time purchases (like Office 2021) and Microsoft 365 subscriptions.
Remove Conflicting Office Trial Versions
Uninstalling overlapping Microsoft 365 trial versions can resolve authentication conflicts with your primary Office license.
If you have multiple versions of Office installed on your computer, such as a pre-installed Microsoft 365 trial running alongside Office Home and Student 2021, the system may struggle to authenticate online services. Office Home and Student 2021 does not include native OneDrive cloud services in the same way a Microsoft 365 subscription does, and conflicting software can trigger online service errors.
Click the Start menu and select the gear icon to open Windows Settings, then navigate to 'Apps' and select 'Apps & features'.
Scroll down the list of installed applications and look for 'Microsoft 365' or any other Microsoft Office trial version installed alongside your purchased version.
Click on the Microsoft 365 trial version and select 'Uninstall'. Follow the on-screen prompts to remove the software completely.
Restart your computer. Open your main Office application (e.g., Word), go to File > Account, and check if the online services and connected accounts function normally.
Experience Seamless Cloud Storage with WPS Office
If your current Microsoft Office license lacks OneDrive integration or you are frustrated by subscription conflicts, switch to WPS Office. It is a free, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative that offers its own built-in cloud storage for easy cross-device syncing.
- 1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free installation package for your operating system.
- 2. Install the Software: Run the downloaded installer and follow the simple on-screen instructions to complete the setup.
- 3. Sign In and Sync: Open WPS Office, create or sign into your free WPS account, and instantly claim your cloud storage to start saving and syncing your documents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Office Home and Student 2021 not include OneDrive services?
Office Home and Student 2021 is a one-time purchase license designed primarily for offline, local use. It does not include the continuous updates or premium cloud services, such as 1TB of OneDrive storage, that are bundled with a Microsoft 365 subscription.
How can I check which version of Microsoft Office I am using?
Open any Office application, such as Word or Excel. Click on 'File' in the top-left corner, then select 'Account' from the bottom-left menu. Your specific version, such as Office Home and Student 2021 or Microsoft 365, will be displayed under 'Product Information'.
Can I manually add a different OneDrive account to Office?
Yes, if your Office version supports it. Navigate to File > Account within your Office app, look under the 'Connected Services' section, and click 'Add a service'. From there, choose 'Storage' and select 'OneDrive' to sign in with an alternative Microsoft account.
