OneDrive error code 0x8004de40: how to fix it

Applies to: the OneDrive desktop app on Windows 11 and Windows 10, with a personal Microsoft account or a work or school account. The related message 0x8004de88 has the same fixes.

What error 0x8004de40 means

The full message usually reads There was a problem connecting to OneDrive or Can’t sign in, followed by Error code: 0x8004de40. Microsoft describes it as OneDrive having trouble connecting to the cloud. Your account and password are normally fine. Something between the PC and the OneDrive service is blocking a secure connection.

The usual causes are no or unstable internet, a proxy or VPN that interferes with sign-in, TLS 1.2 being turned off, outdated cipher suite settings on managed PCs, or a damaged OneDrive app state.

Fix 1: Check your internet connection

• Open a browser and load a couple of websites, including onedrive.live.com. If you can sign in there, your account is fine and the problem is the app or the PC’s connection settings.
• Restart the router and the PC.
• If Windows shows no internet or a limited connection, fix that first. On a wired PC, see Ethernet doesn’t have a valid IP configuration.

On a work or school network, a firewall may block OneDrive. Try another network, such as a phone hotspot, to see whether the error goes away.

Fix 2: Turn off proxy and VPN

A proxy server or VPN can break the secure connection OneDrive needs to sign in.

1. Disconnect any VPN app and try signing in again.
2. Open Settings > Network & internet > Proxy. Under Manual proxy setup, turn off Use a proxy server unless your organisation requires it.
3. If your workplace uses a proxy, don’t change it. Ask your IT team whether OneDrive addresses are allowed through it.

Fix 3: Turn on TLS 1.2 in Internet Options

Microsoft 365 services only accept modern TLS connections. If TLS 1.2 is turned off on the PC, OneDrive can’t sign in.

1. Press Win + R, type inetcpl.cpl and press Enter.
2. Open the Advanced tab and scroll to the Security section.
3. Make sure Use TLS 1.2 is ticked. Tick Use TLS 1.3 too if it’s listed.
4. Click Apply and OK, then restart OneDrive or the PC.

Microsoft’s troubleshooting article also lists TLS 1.0 and 1.1 in this step, but TLS 1.2 is the one that matters for current Microsoft 365 services.

Fix 4: Reset OneDrive

Resetting clears OneDrive’s local settings and sync state. Microsoft says you won’t lose files or data. OneDrive disconnects your accounts and then runs a full sync when you sign in again.

1. Press Win + R.
2. Paste %localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset and click OK.
3. If you see Windows cannot find…, try C:\Program Files\Microsoft OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset, then C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset.
4. Wait a minute or two. If OneDrive doesn’t start by itself, open Start, type OneDrive and open the app.
5. Sign in again. If you only synced some folders before, choose them again once the sync finishes.

Fix 5: Update or reinstall OneDrive

1. Install pending updates in Settings > Windows Update (in Windows 10, Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update) and restart. If Windows Update itself fails to connect, see we couldn’t connect to the update service.
2. Go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps, find Microsoft OneDrive, select the three dots and choose Uninstall. In Windows 10 use Settings > Apps > Apps & features.
3. Download the latest OneDrive app from Microsoft’s OneDrive download page, install it and sign in.

Uninstalling the app doesn’t delete files already stored in OneDrive online, but don’t delete the local OneDrive folder until the new install has finished syncing.

Work or school accounts: cipher suites and Entra ID

On company-managed PCs, two more causes are common. These changes usually need an administrator, so check with IT before trying them.

• TLS cipher suites: Microsoft says OneDrive connects through Azure Front Door, which needs specific TLS 1.2 cipher suites, such as TLS_ECDHE_RSA_WITH_AES_256_GCM_SHA384 and TLS_ECDHE_RSA_WITH_AES_128_GCM_SHA256, near the top of the cipher suite order. Admins can check the order with the PowerShell command Get-TlsCipherSuite and fix it with Group Policy.
• Device join to Microsoft Entra ID: restart the PC while connected to the company network first. If the error stays, IT may rejoin the device by running dsregcmd /leave and then dsregcmd /join in an administrator Command Prompt, then restarting. Only do this on the company network, not while travelling. For related enrolment problems, see device management could not be enabled.

If Office apps on the same PC also fail to sign in or activate, see Word product activation failed.

Related guides

• Ethernet doesn’t have a valid IP configuration: 7 fixes
• We couldn’t connect to the update service
• Word product activation failed: how to fix it
• Device management could not be enabled: how to fix it
• How to stop OneDrive from syncing without losing files
• Error 0x80070184 when copying OneDrive files: how to fix it

Official sources: for more detail, see Microsoft’s own documentation:

• Microsoft Learn: Error 0x8004de40 in OneDrive
• Microsoft Support: Reset OneDrive

Frequently asked questions

What does OneDrive error 0x8004de40 mean?

It means the OneDrive app couldn’t connect to the OneDrive service while signing in. It’s a connection problem, usually caused by the network, a proxy or VPN, TLS settings or the app itself, not a wrong password.

Will resetting OneDrive delete my files?

No. Microsoft says a reset doesn’t remove files or data. It disconnects your accounts and resyncs everything after you sign in again.

Is 0x8004de40 the same as 0x8004de88?

They’re closely related. Microsoft covers both codes in the same troubleshooting article, and the same fixes apply.

Can I still get to my files while OneDrive won’t sign in?

Yes. Sign in at onedrive.live.com, or your organisation’s OneDrive web address, in a browser to open and download your files.