The seamless integration of Microsoft OneDrive with your Windows PC makes it easy to access the files synced to your cloud storage. However, occasionally, when you try to open, copy, or delete your OneDrive files, you might come across the “cloud file provider is not running” message along with the 0x8007016a error code.
Fortunately, there are a few things you may do to resolve the underlying issue and make the error go away.
1. Turn Off the “Files On-Demand” Feature
The “Files On-Demand” feature allows you to access your OneDrive files and folders without having to download them to your computer. However,if OneDrive fails to synca file correctly, you may receive the error code 0x8007016a when accessing, copying, or modifying it.
To avoid this, you can temporarily disable OneDrive’s File On-Demand feature on your PC. Several users on aMicrosoft community postreported fixing this error with this trick. You can also give it a try.
To disable the Files On-Demand feature in OneDrive, use these steps:
If this fixes the “cloud file provider is not running” error message, you can re-enable the Files On-Demand feature after some time.
2. Install Windows Updates
OneDrive errors like 0x8007016a could also appear due to a buggy or outdated Windows build. Hence, it’s a good idea toinstall any pending Windows updatesbefore moving on to any advanced troubleshooting tips.
To apply pending Windows updates, pressWin + Ito open the Settings app. Head to theWindows Updatetab and click theCheck for updatesbutton. Download and install any pending updates, and then see if OneDrive still shows the “cloud file provider is not running” error on your PC.
3. Resume OneDrive File Syncing
Another reason why OneDrive may display the error 0x8007016a is if you have disabled file sync on your Windows computer. You need to access yourOneDrive sync controlsand ensure syncing isn’t paused.
Click theOneDrive iconon the taskbar. Click thegear-shaped iconand selectResume syncingfrom the resulting menu. After that, try to access your OneDrive files and see if you get any errors.
4. Switch to the High Performance Power Plan
Enabling OneDrive sync may prove ineffective if you have configured Windows to conserve battery power. This can cause OneDrive to pause sync operations on Windows and trigger errors like the one discussed here.
To avoid this, you need to set Windows to its “high performance” power plan. To do so, use these steps:
Can’t find any additional power plans? Refer to our guide for tips onrestoring the missing high performance power plan on Windows.
5. Use PowerShell to Delete the Problematic Folder
Do you see the “cloud file provider is not running” error only while copying or modifying a specific folder on OneDrive? If so, you can trydeleting the folder using PowerShell. This will force OneDrive to sync the problematic folder again and resolve any issues.
To delete a OneDrive folder using PowerShell, use these steps:
After completing the above steps, wait for OneDrive to re-sync the removed folder and see if you get any errors.
6. Reset OneDrive
If deleting the problematic OneDrive folder does not resolve the issue, or if you receive the error code 0x8007016a for every file and folder, you can reset OneDrive. This will remove all of your files from the OneDrive folder on your computer, but they will still be available in the cloud. So, you will not lose any of your data.
Here’s how you can reset OneDrive on your Windows PC.
After you reset OneDrive, open it and sign in with your account if required. Then, give OneDrive time to sync everything and check if the error is resolved.
7. Uninstall and Reinstall OneDrive
If resetting OneDrive does not resolve the issue, some of the core app files may be corrupted. In this case, your best option is to uninstall the OneDrive app from your Windows computer and reinstall it. This will give the app a fresh start on your PC and resolve any errors.
To uninstall OneDrive from your PC, follow these steps:
Once removed, head over toMicrosoft’s websiteto download the OneDrive app and then install it. After that, set up OneDrive on your PC and try using it.
Fixing OneDrive’s “Cloud File Provider Is Not Running” Error on Windows
It can be annoying to see error messages like “The cloud file provider is not running”, especially when you need to access a OneDrive file or folder urgently. Hopefully, the solutions listed above have helped you fix the error, and you are now able to access your OneDrive files and folders again.
