Compliance Problems

How to Fix OneDrive Event Received Error When Deleting Files

Camila Milosovich Sep 28, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user is unable to delete files or folders in OneDrive due to an error stating that the request was cancelled by an event received.

How to Fix OneDrive Event Received Error When Deleting Files

Product: OneDrive
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to delete files, empty folders, or free up storage space in a OneDrive for Business account.
Observed behavior: OneDrive blocks the deletion and displays the error message: 'The request was cancelled by event received.'

Before you start

Verify whether your OneDrive account is managed by an organization or school, as IT administrators frequently enforce data retention policies that restrict file deletion.

Solution 1Recommended

Delete Individual Files and Contact Your Tenant Administrator

Bypass folder deletion restrictions by deleting files individually, and request your admin to review active preservation holds.

When a preservation-retention policy or eDiscovery hold is applied to a OneDrive for Business site, users cannot delete folders that contain files or subfolders. However, individual documents might still be deletable depending on the specific policy settings applied by your IT department.

Open the affected folder

Navigate into the folder you are trying to delete instead of selecting the folder itself from the parent directory.

Select individual files

Check the boxes next to individual files inside the folder and click 'Delete' from the top menu bar.

Contact IT support

If individual files also fail to delete, contact your organization's IT administrator. Ask them to check the Microsoft Purview compliance portal for active retention policies or eDiscovery holds on your account.

Delete Individual Files and Contact Your Tenant Administrator

Administrator Action Required: Only tenant administrators have the necessary permissions to remove or modify a preservation hold through approved compliance procedures.

Solution 2

Modify Retention Policies (For Administrators Only)

Tenant administrators can exclude specific OneDrive sites from retention policies to allow file deletion.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does OneDrive say 'The request was cancelled by event received'?

This error typically occurs in OneDrive for Business when an organization's IT administrator has applied a preservation hold, retention policy, or eDiscovery hold to prevent data loss or comply with legal requirements.

Can I force delete a folder stuck on a retention hold?

No, you cannot delete a parent folder containing files if a retention hold is active. You must either delete the files individually first (if the policy allows) or ask your IT administrator to temporarily lift the compliance hold.

Does this error happen on personal OneDrive accounts?

Generally, no. This error is specific to enterprise and educational Microsoft 365 environments where centralized administrators manage data compliance and retention policies.

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