How to fix "This file has been archived in OneDrive" error

Applies To
Excel 2024 Word 2024 PowerPoint 2024 Excel 2024 for Mac Word 2024 for Mac PowerPoint 2024 for Mac Excel 2021 Word 2021 PowerPoint 2021 Excel 2021 for Mac Word 2021 for Mac PowerPoint 2021 for Mac Excel 2019 Word 2019 PowerPoint 2019 Excel 2019 for Mac Word 2019 for Mac PowerPoint 2019 for Mac

If you see a message in Microsoft Word, Excel, or PowerPoint saying that a file has been archived in OneDrive and can't be opened until it's reactivated, it means that the file you’re trying to open has been archived by your IT admin or by IT policy. 

OneDrive file archived icon

What does it mean that my file has been archived in OneDrive or SharePoint?

A file that’s been archived is a file that’s been put on cold storage to save on cloud storage usage. Most frequently, an IT policy automatically archives files that have not been used in a long time, but files can also be archived manually. Archived files can be stored in OneDrive or SharePoint.

How can I reactivate or open my OneDrive/SharePoint file again?

If your organization is running a policy to automatically archive files, you’ll need to contact your IT admin to request the reactivation of the file. 

If you have sufficient permissions in the SharePoint library where the file is stored, you might be able to reactivate the file yourself. To do this, follow these steps:

  1. Open the file’s OneDrive OR SharePoint location in your browser.
  2. Locate the file and select the More Options menu (•••).
  3. Select Reactivate.
    OneDrive Reactive UI icon

How long does reactivation take?

After reactivation has been initiated, it may take up to 24 hours for the file to be available again.