OneDrive does not start after clean Windows 11 25H2 installation – Exit Code -2147023636

The described behavior matches a OneDrive client that is installed but prevented from starting or completing setup by Windows configuration or policy. From the available information, the only directly supported and related guidance in context is:

1. Verify that OneDrive is not blocked by Group Policy

A Group Policy setting can prevent onedrive.exe from starting at all. This is the documented cause when OneDrive won’t start and no sign‑in prompt appears.

On the affected machine:

1. Open Registry Editor.
2. Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\OneDrive
3. Check for the value: DisableFileSyncNGSC = DWORD:1
4. If DisableFileSyncNGSC exists and is set to 1, OneDrive for work or school is disabled. To allow OneDrive to start, this value must be removed or set to 0.
   • If this value is managed by a Group Policy Object (GPO), the GPO must be changed or removed; otherwise the setting will be reapplied at next policy refresh (restart, sign‑in, or periodic update).

After confirming the policy is not blocking OneDrive, restart Windows and try launching OneDrive again from Start → type OneDrive → press Enter.

2. Reinstall the OneDrive sync client cleanly

If OneDrive is still not starting correctly, perform a full reinstall of the sync client:

1. Open Settings → Apps → Installed apps (or Add or remove programs).
2. Locate Microsoft OneDrive and select Uninstall.
3. After uninstall completes, download the current OneDrive sync client from the OneDrive website (the backup and sync app, not the Microsoft Store viewer app) and install it again.
4. Run the installer, then start OneDrive from the Start menu and complete sign‑in.

If only viewing files is required (not sync), the OneDrive by Microsoft Corporation Store app can be installed separately, but it does not provide sync.

3. Ensure the profile supports OneDrive sync

The OneDrive sync app requires a local profile that can write to its application directories and profile folders. It is not supported on:

• Roaming, mandatory, or temporary profiles that do not allow writing to the user profile.
• Certain remote/terminal services scenarios.

Ensure the Windows account is using a normal local profile that can write to %localappdata% and that data written there is stored locally and available offline.

If the current profile is non‑standard or restricted in this way, create a new local user profile that meets these requirements and test OneDrive there.

4. If OneDrive still does not start

If OneDrive continues to exit immediately after confirming no blocking GPO and using a supported local profile, the next step is to:

• Confirm that OneDrive is installed under %localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive as expected.
• Re‑run the installer as described above to repair any damaged installation.

If the issue persists after these steps, further investigation beyond the provided documentation would be required.

References:

• OneDrive won't start
• Reinstall OneDrive
• OneDrive sync app doesn't finish installing, or setup runs every time that you sign in to your Windows profile
• Deploy OneDrive apps using Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager