Access Files

Question

Hello,

Please i need your help on this issue.

Unable to access my files in my one drive. 

I just had to repurchase my microsoft office 365 business basic license which was expired and now I can't open any of my files.

Answer 1

Hi @John Peter ,

Welcome to Q&A forum!

When your Microsoft 365 (Office 365 Business Basic) subscription expires, your OneDrive files aren’t immediately deleted—but access may be restricted. Repurchasing your license should restore full functionality; however, if you suddenly can’t open your files, here are some troubleshooting steps and considerations:

1. Verify Your Account and Licensing Status
   • Sign In With the Correct Account: Make sure you’re signed in with the same Microsoft 365 account that originally hosted your OneDrive data. Sometimes users have multiple accounts and accidentally switch.
   • Confirm License Activation: In the Microsoft 365 admin center, verify that your repurchased Business Basic license is correctly assigned to your account. An active, properly assigned license is required to access OneDrive files.
2. Check OneDrive Settings and Storage
   • OneDrive Web Portal: Log in directly at OneDrive online and check if your files appear there.
   • Storage Status: Sometimes after an expired subscription, OneDrive may temporarily enter a read‑only or “limited access” mode until the license is fully reactivated. Ensure that the license status reflects an active subscription.
3. Local Client vs. Browser Access
   • If you normally access files through the OneDrive sync client on your computer, try checking via the web interface instead. Conversely, if you’re using the web, try the desktop client. This can help determine if the issue is with a specific client.
4. Clear Cache and Refresh
   • Clear your browser cache or try a different browser. Occasionally, lingering cached data can cause display issues that make it appear as if files are missing.
5. Review Notifications and Data Retention Policies
   • Check the Microsoft 365 admin center and your OneDrive Recycle Bin. In some scenarios, if the account was unlicensed for a while, there’s a temporary period (typically 30 days) where the data might be inaccessible or flagged for deletion.

Hope this information helps. Please do let us know if you have any further queries.

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