Unable to open files from OneDrive personal vault

Anonymous
2024-09-01T20:54:29+00:00

I'm no longer able to open any Office 365 file (pdf files, for example) on Android, *if they are located in the Personal Vault*. Any such attempt fails with a pop up message stating that "We can't open this file. <fileName> might have been moved or deleted, or you might not have permission to edit it".

Here are some of my observations:

  1. That happens despite being already fully authenticated - otherwise we won't even been able to even make the file selection.
  2. My default app in charge to open that file type is part of Microsoft's own and properly installed Office 365 suite. Therefore, it was *supposed* to have been installed with the right permissions already set up for all use cases, including the OneDrive Personal Vault.
  3. I am the administrator on my Android phone. I can open update, delete or read any of my own 365 office files including any of the ones residing in OneDrive - not just on any of my phone's folders, but none that is part of my Personal Vault. By contrast, I don't have such an issue on any of my Widows systems. On Mac, the Personal Drive is not yet supported at all - fair enough. However, on Android, something has changed and it has changed lately.
  4. Never had any problems before, until about a month ago when I have accepted a new 365 Office official update/release from Microsoft. Ever since, this critical issue remained consistent no mater what I 've tried
  5. I have exactly the same issue on Android when trying to use the web app from any browser. Again, this did not happen before that bogus update.

I suspect a fundamental security/permission handling bug introduced in that bogus update pushed out lately.

As a side note, please stop suggesting us to copy of move the files out of the Personal Vault in order to open them. That is *not* an acceptable work around - it simply defies the entire PV purpose, Honestly admitting that the Personal Vault is "Temporary Out of Order" would be a much more desirable approach. That would buy MS some time to meanwhile find a fix to this critical issue. A lot of people that I know are already so upset, that they threat mass quitting OneDrive *just for this particular reason*. That would be such a shame, and a big loss, considering what an outstanding product OneDrive actually is.

Petre Suprovici,

A retired software architect and a Microsoft friend, not a hater

Microsoft 365 and Office | OneDrive | For home | Android

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  1. Anonymous
    2025-06-29T16:25:48+00:00

    I went through Mcsft explorer, found one drive folder, clicked on personal drive. Then had to go through 2 factor id log in. Personal file then open with full access to files.

    Good luck

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  2. Anonymous
    2025-06-30T01:36:10+00:00

    I'm just a low-tech user who depends on this Onedrive stuff for business out in the field...

    On your phone, try uninstalling the app and reinstalling. You won't lose anything in doing that.

    On your PC, try opening your Windows File Explorer (Manilla Folder icon) and open the "Onedrive Personal" folder from the left side of the window.

    You have to be connected to the internet....

    See if you can open the Vault from there.

    I did this and it solved most of my "This folder is empty" messages, when using the Onedrive App on my phone.

    I'm like the guy who started this thread. Microsoft should just tell us what is going on. Instead we are left out here without a clue as to what to do.

    Poor business decision, I think.

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  3. Anonymous
    2025-06-30T01:52:22+00:00

    It took me 2 days and over 3 hours contacting 4 different Microsoft support personnel to find out that there is a "bug" in the system and that Microsoft is working on it. I would be much happier having that time back and patiently waiting for the "bug" to be fixed. I don't work for Microsoft and I feel they are abusing their customers by witholding information about problems in their applications and software.

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  4. Anonymous
    2025-06-30T05:03:04+00:00

    Thank your for the information. It is very much appreciated. Totally agree they should inform us as I spent over a couple hours trying to find out what the issue was as well as trying to get a hold of support.

    Thank you again

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  5. Anonymous
    2025-06-30T08:22:51+00:00

    This has been going on for almost a year now. It's extremely unprofessional that Microsoft support is so unresponsive.

    I have a paid Office Family subscription. For this subscription, I did receive a message from Microsoft informing me that the subscription price would increase from €99 to €129 per year! A 30% increase, without offering any added value in return.

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