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I use OneDrive's File-on-demand feature.
Somehow out of nowhere, my online-only files (files marked with cloud icon) in my OneDrive folder are marked with this brown box symbol in the lower left-hand corner of each file icons. What does this icon mean?
Many options in the right-click menu are also missing from all files in the OneDrive folder (both with and without brown box icon), notably the option to control OneDrive file-on-demand like "Free up space" and "Always keep file on this device".
The "Status" column that shows the file-on-demand icons like Cloud & green checkmark in Details view is also missing.
I have just encountered this today for the first time. What does this icon brown box icon mean? I've tried searching and can't find any explanation.
A Microsoft file hosting and synchronization service.
Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.
Hi,
I am not sure if everyone has this app, but I had the One Drive App, pre-installed for my new windows 11 device. On the app, just hit sync. Doing this resolved the brown box icon issue for me.
Hope this helps,
Cheers
Okay, so i did fix it myself, just one question, are is your onedrive connected? Because that was my problem
When you click or double click on the file with the brown box in the corner, it doesn't open at all. If you right click, it mentions open, open with, compress to zip file, copy as path, properties, more options.
You'll be familiar with that dialogue box.
In other words, you can't open your file at all and see it as it was originally.
This has happened as a result of uninstalling and reinstalling one drive as advised by yourselves in order to get it to sync better.
One is not amused.
This solution is not helpful at all, and did not pertain to the problem. I need a solution quickly so that I can continue to work. I cannot access any file that has a brown file box icon. I need a fix ASAP please.
Hi, I have the same issue.
when i click on those files, nothing happens. Infact in same folder there are some other PDf files without that brown box icon and i can open them.
as far as i remember, did not make any changes to the settings which could make this happen.
Also if you can help, most of my pictures are not opening as well, i get a message- you dont have permission to open this file, check settings and try again.
TIA
Sumit