"Access to the cloud file is denied" when copy from OneDrive (Files On-Demand)

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mhaecki
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Joined: 2008-08-06, 22:11 UTC

"Access to the cloud file is denied" when copy from OneDrive (Files On-Demand)

Post by *mhaecki »

Copy from the folder C:\User\...\OneDrive - Company\... to a local folder pops up the message "Access to the cloud file is denied".

Solution number 2 from below helps, but then its additional 2 steps for "Always on device" and then after "Free up space". The 2nd step is required when it should stay permanently but disappear managed.

Opening a non-available file with "Enter" works.

Proposals
- Could this "Always on device" then "Free up space" be automatic? This would be first set, then it might need to wait, copy, then unset?
or
- Can the copy command be transferred to a Windows command similar to "Copy/Delete - Use copy+paste via Explorer"?
or
- Is there another way, which then might be documented in the FAQs https://www.ghisler.com/efaqfile.htm

Total Commander 11.57 on Windows 11 Enterprise 24H2 with OndeDrive Build 26.063.0405.0002 (64-bit)


(Google AI summary from the search)

The error "Access to the cloud file is denied" in Total Commander usually occurs when dealing with cloud-synchronized files (such as OneDrive or Dropbox) that are set to "Files On-Demand".
In this state, the file is only a placeholder ("virtual") on your local drive and not fully downloaded. When Total Commander tries to read it, the Windows cloud driver refuses to materialize it on demand, causing the error.

Here are the solutions to resolve this:

1. Disable Files On-Demand (OneDrive)
This forces all files to download to your local machine, allowing Total Commander to read them immediately.
1. Right-click the OneDrive icon (blue or white cloud) in the system tray.
2. Click the menu icon -> Settings -> Sync and backup.
3. Expand the "Files-On-Demand" section.
4. Click "Download all files" and confirm.

2. Force Download Individual Files/Folders
If you don't want to disable the feature entirely, you can force the specific file or folder to download.
1. Locate the file in Windows File Explorer.
2. Right-click the file or folder.
3. Select "Always keep on this device".

3. Check for File Locks or Permissions
If the file is not a cloud placeholder, the issue might be a permission conflict.
1. Right-click the file in Total Commander and select Properties.
2. Go to the Security tab to ensure your user account has read/write permissions.
3. Ensure the file is not encrypted (check Advanced button in Properties).

4. Run Total Commander as Administrator
Occasionally, special permissions are needed to force a file to download.
• Right-click the Total Commander icon and select "Run as administrator".

Summary of Causes
• OneDrive Placeholder: File is not locally available.
• Network/NAS Issues: If accessing a Synology or similar NAS, the connection might be timing out.
• Backup Conflicts: If you are running RMM/Backup software, it might lock files
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