OneDrive files suddenly have a brown box icon on the lower left-hand corner. What does this mean?

Anonymous
2021-10-25T10:24:49+00:00

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.

Microsoft 365 and Office | OneDrive | For education | Windows

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.

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Anonymous
2021-12-10T19:36:54+00:00

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

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Anonymous
2021-12-08T19:12:16+00:00

Okay, so i did fix it myself, just one question, are is your onedrive connected? Because that was my problem

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  1. Anonymous
    2022-09-28T11:32:30+00:00

    This isn't to do with the question in this thread, but it's the only method for contacting you, since there's (apparently) no direct messaging system on this site.

    I am actually replying with a solution to your other thread, in which the useless mod locked before it was able to get a proper answer.

    You actually can flip (orientation) one duplicated screen in windows 11(confirmed; as I just managed it now myself).

    You need to first set the displays to extended, then flip the orientation of one or both of the screens, then set it back to duplicated. I ended up flipping both of my screens for it to work, but I was merely experimenting with the method, So I suggest to just play around with it, and go back and forth until it works.

    Sadly though, this is windows, run by M$, and that means that we get constant updates choked down our throats (whether we want them or not..). That said, I imagine they will 'fix' this workaround at some point, since they love to fully control how we use OUR PCs.

    If it wasn't for planned obsolescence, I'd still be using windows XP, Vista, or 7. Anything after 7 has been garbage pretty much. Just more loss of control over how you want to use your PC, and more added bloatware and spyware..

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  2. Anonymous
    2022-09-15T14:06:54+00:00

    Ok I got it. you have open Onedrive by rightclicking on the onedrive app and select run as admin

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  3. Anonymous
    2022-09-15T14:01:44+00:00

    Hi I see a shortcut for the personal vault thing, doubl click/right click nothing seems to work . How do I open it ?

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