Error in One Drive for Microsoft Office

Hi!

How did you reach the conclusion that the problem might lie in the Microsoft Office\root\Office16 path?

As the other user mentioned, that path belongs to Office, but OneDrive does use some Microsoft 365 components.

What specific problem are you having with OneDrive?

Are you unable to sign in, is the app not opening, or is a file failing to sync? Please provide more details about the issue so I can help you.

Hi Vicki,

Do not delete the "Office 16" or "root" folders. Those directories contain the core engine files for your entire Microsoft 365 desktop installation (Word, Excel, Outlook, etc.). Deleting them will break your Office applications completely, though it won't affect your cloud subscription status or license.

The path you are seeing (Microsoft Office\root\Office16) appears because the OneDrive sync client relies on a native Office integration module to handle co-authoring and file syncing. When that link experiences a glitch, it throws an error tracking back to the core app folder.

Here is the safest way to clear the error natively:

Step 1: Reset the OneDrive Sync Client

Instead of deleting system files, resetting OneDrive clears corrupt background caches without touching your actual documents or cloud subscription:

1. Press Win + R to open the Run dialog box.

2. Paste the following command exactly and press Enter:

%localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset

3. If it doesn't reopen automatically after a minute, type onedrive into your Windows Start Menu search bar and launch it manually.

Step 2: Clear the Office Upload Cache

If the error persists, it means a local temporary document cache file is stuck:

1. Open any Office application, such as Word.

2. Go to File > Options > Save.

3. Scroll down to Cache Settings and click Delete cached files.

Step 3: Run an Office Repair

If the underlying module inside that Office16 directory is truly damaged, Windows can fix it automatically:

1. Open Windows Settings > Apps > Installed apps (or Apps & features).

2. Locate Microsoft 365 in the list, click the three dots, and select Modify.

3. Select Quick Repair to restore the system configuration safely without affecting your subscription data