OneDrive is an essential part of Windows 11. It’s integrated right into the File Explorer and the Photos app. When signing into your Microsoft account on Windows, OneDrive uses the same account to sync files to your PC. But lately, many have faced sign-in issues with OneDrive on Windows. Here are the best ways to fix the OneDrive sign-in error code 0x8004e4cf on Windows 11.
Microsoft has improved OneDrive with on-demand files, a new native app, and more features on Windows. But these improvements are irrelevant when you can’t sign into OneDrive on Windows in the first place. Let’s fix the issue once and for all.
1. Reinstall OneDrive on Windows
You can uninstall OneDrive from your Windows PC and install it again. You need to close the OneDrive process from the Task Manager app completely.
Step 1: Click the Windows key and search for Task Manager. Hit Enter.
Step 2: Select OneDrive from the list and hit End task.
Step 3: Press Windows + I keys to open Settings.
Step 4: Go to Apps > Installed Apps menu.
Step 5: Scroll to OneDrive. Click the more menu and select Uninstall. Confirm your decision.
Step 6: Head to the official website to download OneDrive. Install the app and sign into your account without any error.
2. Link OneDrive to Your Windows PC
You can unlink your OneDrive account from the PC and link it again. Go through the steps below to make changes.
Step 1: Click the OneDrive icon in the taskbar.
Step 2: Select the Settings gear at the top and open Settings.
Step 3: Select ‘Unlink this PC’.
The system will offer a dialog box to set up your OneDrive account on Windows 11.
3. Check the Network Connection
If you have network connection issues on your Windows PC, OneDrive won’t let you complete the login process. You should connect to a robust Wi-Fi network and try again.
Step 1: Select the Windows + I keys to open Settings.
Step 2: Click Network & internet from the side menu.
Step 3: Ensure ‘Connected’ status.
You can also use fast.com to confirm high-speed internet connectivity.
4. Run Windows Store Apps Troubleshooter
OneDrive is available to download from the Microsoft Store too. When such apps misbehave, run the built-in troubleshooter to fix unable to sign into OneDrive.
Step 1: Open Windows Settings.
Step 2: Navigate to System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
Step 3: Run the Windows Store Apps troubleshooter and follow the on-screen instructions.
5. Repair Network Drivers
You can uninstall network drivers to fix login issues with OneDrive on Windows.
Step 1: Right-click on the Windows key on the taskbar.
Step 2: Open Device Manager.
Step 3: Expand the Network adapters menu. Right-click on wireless adapters and select Uninstall.
Step 4: Restart your PC, and the system will install the required drivers during restart.
6. Check OneDrive Status
If OneDrive servers are down, you won’t be able to sign into the app on Windows. Microsoft offers a dedicated website to check OneDrive status. You can visit the Service Health website and ensure a green checkmark beside OneDrive.
7. Reset OneDrive on Windows 11
Resetting OneDrive is one of the proven ways to troubleshoot sign-in errors on your PC. Here’s what you need to do.
Step 1: Press Windows + R keys to open the Run menu.
Step 2: Paste the following command in the dialog window and hit OK.
%localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset
If Windows can’t find the OneDrive folder on your PC, use the following command.
C:\Program Files\Microsoft OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset
If you still face the error messages, paste the command below.
C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset
Now, hit the Start menu, type OneDrive, and open the app. Windows should start syncing the OneDrive file again.
8. Update Windows
OneDrive is a part of Windows OS. Microsoft troubleshoots bugs with frequent system updates.
Step 1: Open Windows Settings and select Windows Update from the sidebar.
Step 2: Download and install the latest Windows update and try signing into the OneDrive account again.
If you face issues installing Windows updates, read our dedicated post to fix the problem.
Manage OneDrive on Windows
You can always use the OneDrive web app to upload or download files. But it never matches the native OneDrive experience with a smooth integration on Windows. The tricks above should fix the inability to sign into the OneDrive problem in no time.
